Tourism officials committed to tackling crime

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 – Director of the Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB), Mr. Louis Lewis says local authorities are taking the necessary steps to safeguard the tourism industry against crime.

However, he says the support and commitment of all citizens are required if success is to be realised in the fight against criminal activity.

The tourist board director made the statement in the wake of a recent decision by Norwegian Cruise Line to remove Saint Lucia from its list of destinations for the 2011 – 2012 cruise season, following three attacks on cruise passengers.

Mr. Lewis says authorities are committed to reducing any further threats on the industry.

“We have not received any notification of any further cruise ships taking further action, but at the same time I must hasten to add, that it is something that we cannot allow to continue,” Lewis said.

“ It is about protecting an industry against incidents that could jeopardise the livelihood of thousands of people, and as a small island, the implications of crime go way beyond the industry because it really affects the viability of the state, so it is something that we have to pay particular attention to.”

The tourist board director says industry officials will continue to work closely with law enforcement, to clamp down on the incidence of crime, which can inflict a major economic blow to the country.

2010 has been forecast as a year of recovery and growth for tourism, but tourism authorities are leaving no stones unturned to ensure that the upsurge in crime does not offset that positive outlook.

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