SLHTA - The Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association (SLHTA) in collaboration with the Martinique Chamber of Commerce is proud to have hosted a Martinique Business Delegation’s visit to Saint Lucia, comprising 17 companies, March 3-6, 2015.
The objective of the mission was to encourage public and private sector relations between both islands, and most specifically, to facilitate trade development and exchanges.
The SLHTA organized a packed three-day itinerary for the Martinique delegation which allowed the group several opportunities to build long lasting affiliations and relationships with public sector officials, stakeholders and SLHTA members.
The business mission ended on Friday, March 6, 2015 with a very well attended Product Display and Networking Forum held at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort, followed by a Panel Discussion.
Mr. Nigel Mitchell, a consultant, was the guest presenter at this forum and Mr. Donovan Williams, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and the Creative Industries, along with Mrs. Allison King, mayor of Gros Islet, and Mr. Noorani Azeez, chief executive officer, sat as panelists.
The purpose of the Panel Discussion was to inform the group of the various sub-sectors which constitute Saint Lucia’s tourism product; growth of the heritage and creative industries over the past years; visitor arrival figures and source markets; niche markets that Saint Lucia is currently seeking to tap in order to grow visitor arrivals (weddings, honeymoons, eco-tourism, culinary etc.); economic impact of tourism on other sectors, such as agriculture, and contribution of the tourism industry to Saint Lucia’s GDP.
Overall the Mission was a success and amalgamated the shared interest for increased trade and a mutual beneficial relationship between Martinique and Saint Lucia.
The sentiment was shared by Mrs. Troubetzkoy, president of the SLHTA: “I sincerely hope that this is the beginning of an ongoing trade collaboration between our two islands and we look forward to continued dialogue.”
The SLHTA looks forward to the continued collaboration with the Martinique Chamber of Commerce, and the Association focuses the attention now on the review of procedures on legislation that will facilitate trade between Martinique and Saint Lucia.