St Lucia Announces Week of Activities to Mark World Tourism Day 2023
by Karen Rollins Sep 11, 2023
St Lucia is set to hold a week of activities to mark World Tourism Day on 27 September under the theme ‘tourism and green investments.’
Some of the planned events include a church service, ‘Community Tourism Day’ – an official observance to be held within the constituency of Micoud, a Tourism Policy Round Table, a culinary showdown, and ‘Blaze-in-Blue’, where the public is encouraged to wear blue which is the official colour for World Tourism Day.
Speaking at a recent press launch, Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information, Dr Ernest Hilaire, spoke about the success of the island’s tourism product. He particularly mentioned two coveted awards St Lucia won earlier this year when it was named the Caribbean’s Leading Destination for Nature and Adventure.
Dr Hilaire stated: “These two awards immediately tell you about the connection that Saint Lucia has to the environment and to sustainable development.
“So, when one speaks of “green investments”, it is a call to ensure that while the tourism sector expands, the investments leading expansion recognise the impact on the environment and the need to ensure that tourism is sustainable.”
World Tourism Day has been held on 27 September each year since 1980. This year’s theme was chosen by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to “highlight the need for more and better-targeted investments for people, for planet and for prosperity.”
The UNWTO adds: “Now is the time for new and innovative solutions, not just traditional investments that promote and underpin economic growth and productivity.
“World Tourism Day 2023 will be a call to action to the international community, governments, multilateral financial institutions, development partners and private sector investors to unite around a new tourism investment strategy.”
