Saint Lucia to introduce tourism levy in December | News

The governing administration of Saint Lucia has passed designs for a new tourism levy adhering to two many years of consultation and progress.

The levy will be launched from December 1st and is made to allow for the island to increase its advertising and marketing price range and help tourism development.

Tourism minister, Dominic Fedee, stated: “The purpose is to guarantee that the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) is self-sustainable.

“The former finances allocation of approximately EC$35 million can now be directed to other demanding locations inside vital sectors of schooling, countrywide stability, and health and fitness care.”

Friends being at registered lodging support suppliers will be expected to pay out a nightly levy.

In the two-tier system, guests will be charged US$3 or US$6 for every human being for every night time, based on a room charge underneath or previously mentioned US$120. 

Company who are 12 to 17 several years at the stop of their continue to be will pay out 50 percent, while the charge will not apply to young children less than 12 decades.

Registered lodging company suppliers are required to implement and obtain the levy and remit to the administering authority.

In addition, with result from December, Worth Added Tax (VAT) will be lowered from ten to seven per cent for tourism lodging service companies.

The information comes as the phased re-opening of the island proceeds, with the certification of 30 villas and the start of a dine-close to programme for website visitors.

The more easing of certain limits has extra far more techniques to take pleasure in their island holiday for the duration of peak winter season solar time.

Site visitors can now remain in up to two Covid-qualified qualities as effectively as take portion in a broad selection of activities such as diving, sailing and hiking up the legendary Gros Piton mountain.

Up right until the finish of October, the location experienced securely welcomed extra than 17,000 site visitors since reopening July 9th.

The freshly re-opened villas give a personal accommodation different to accommodations and include a range of possibilities for people to larger groups.

There are also 8 dining establishments now accredited to host readers which includes the award-winning Orlando’s in Soufriere founded by British Caribbean chef, Orlando Satchel. Each and every cafe has a focused time and day when it can open up to holidaymakers.