Hilaire Believes ‘People’s Tourism’ Will Lessen ‘Naysayers’

Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire believes that tourism that focuses on the people and allows them to benefit more from the industry will reduce the number its critics. During Monday’s regular pre-cabinet press briefing, Hilaire spoke about his belief in ‘people’s tourism’. He explained that he had asked for a national education campaign to promote it when he first became Minister. The Castries South MP stated that if the people of Saint Lucia understood that tourism is an economic opportunity to better their lives, they would feel less estranged from the process. The Minister stated that, as a result, the country would have a better industry. Hilaire noted that the Philip J. Pierre administration had invested in community tourism and granted concessions to ordinary Saint Lucians to invest in and own more of the sector. ” We have to show our people that they can benefit more from tourism. It is why we are lobbying the hotels and other service providers to pay higher salaries to our people so our people can benefit more,” he told reporters. The Minister declared that if people cannot see more significant benefits from tourism, they will rightfully be cynical. ” So we must fight...