Working Paper Series: Special Edition of 2016 to 2018 Interns

of GDP contribution, by 4.0 per cent on average per year over the next ten years, supporting 370 million jobs in total globally by 2026, equating to 1 in every 9 jobs worldwide. Saint Lucia with its captivating, scenic natural landscape, politically stable environment and culturally warm people has made a name globally in the tourism industry and it is expected that the sector will continue to grow over the medium to long term. The new government has expressed its commitment to continue the thrust towards expanding and diversifying the sector both locally and internationally. Given the favourable natural, political and tax environment, it is expected that the Citizen by Investment Programme enforced by Act no. 14 of 2015 will attract further investment in the sector over the medium term. The government has expressly stated its desires towards developing the cruise, yacht, heritage, health and sports sub-sectors of the industry. If this portends the development strategy, it is foreseen that there will be scope for new employment in services to these sub-sectors which will require technical vocational, post-secondary and tertiary training. These include repair and maintenance of yachts, health and fitness professionals, therapeutic and recovery services. There is a challenge to use the natural resources more sustainably. Short term gains will quickly be overturned once the natural resources have been depleted. It is imperative government promotes green tourism as part of the strategy. Green spaces and natural products should be complementary part of all tourism products. By so doing creating employment in related sectors including the environment, agriculture and renewable energy technologies. 6.2. Agriculture There is still a major role for the agricultural sector in growth and development in Saint Lucia and for the overall well-being of the country. In 2015, Saint Lucia imported food to the estimated value of EC$336.24 million, including fruits and vegetables at an estimated value of EC$57.16 million. This went towards feeding the estimated population of 175,000 plus the 1,073,017 visitors who were estimated to have visited the island’s shores during the year as stay over, excursionists, yacht and cruise visitors. The real potential of the sector has been largely unrealized due to poor cooperation and coordination among the actors in the various sub-sectors which has led to gaps

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