Travel Agent - March 31, 2008 - (Page 54) DESTINATIONS CARIBBEAN & BAHAMAS Meet St. Lucia’s New TOURISM DIRECTOR Louis E.A. Lewis expects island to be the number one Caribbean destination BY JOE PIKE TRAVEL AGENT RECENTLY CONDUCTED a Q & A with St. Lucia’s acting Director of Tourism Louis E.A. Lewis, who told us he expects the island to reign as the Caribbean king in the years ahead. “In the next five years, I see St. Lucia as the leading tourism destination in the Caribbean, with a good mix of resorts, numerous attractions for out-of-property activities and strong linkages to the rest of the economy,” he told us. “This will materialize not by wishful fantasy but as a result of the deliberate policies and decisions that are taking place now to guide the expansion of tourism as the sector to lead the country’s growth in the future. “My primary goal as the acting director of tourism is to ensure that St. Lucia is well marketed as a premier tourist destination with an eye toward increasing arrivals to the country,” he told Travel Agent. “However, that growth must be balanced, sustainable and consistent with our broader development objectives as an island nation.” Catamarans on the shores of St. Lucia Travel Agents’ Role “Currently, our relationship with travel agents is good,” Lewis says. “Despite the developments in technology and the increasing use of the Internet as the platform for research, agents continue to play a pivotal role in the decision-making process of travelers. With this in mind, the 54 | TravelAgent March 31, 2008 St. Lucia Tourist Board will continue to work strategically with travel agents who feature our mix of accommodation and product offerings. We continue to have an occupancy level that averages in the upper 60 percent range, with dips in particular months. The objective is to work with all partners, travel agents included, to increase the overall flow while minimizing the variations.” And while the anticipated suspension of Air Jamaica flights is expected to take place in April, Lewis notes that new additions will fill the void. American Eagle recently launched new daily flights to San Juan via Hewanorra Airport in St. Lucia, while American Airlines has introduced new nonstop service between CONTINUED ON PAGE 56
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