CASTRIES, St Lucia — Virgin Atlantic’s decision to review its global flying programme that will cease flying to Saint Lucia from June 8, 2020 ‘for the foreseeable future’ has primary and secondary attributes on many fronts.
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority in a statement said, “While there are concerns over the loss of the Virgin Atlantic flight operated from London Gatwick (LGW) to Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), the public and private sectors have arrived at a consensus that the demands from the British carrier were too onerous on the destination.”
“This was made clear at a meeting on Saturday, July 27, 2019, chaired by tourism minister Dominic Fedee at Harbor Club,” the statement continued.
“During the meeting, some hoteliers subscribed to the view that paying a large subsidy of EC $20 million over a three-year period for the carrier’s seven percent global contribution to Saint Lucia’s arrivals would create a ripple effect with other carriers to follow suit. The minister for tourism unveiled the government is proactively addressing the situation; has already commenced dialogue with other carriers from the United Kingdom and will also continue to explore global options for more airlift into Saint Lucia,” Fedee explained.
Chief executive officer (CEO) of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Beverly Nicholson-Doty, contributed significantly to the discussions.
“We understand the possible impact that the British carrier’s withdrawal can impose on the industry, however, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is committed to effective ways of building ‘Brand Saint Lucia’ with the investment of additional revenue to increase robust marketing and advertising efforts globally,” Nicholson-Doty says.
Expectedly, a meeting of that stature did not report via the statement, load factors and/or profitability of the London Gatwick (LGW) to Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) route. Neither were there public reports of the success or lack-there-of the marketing thrust in the UK and Europe; and mitigating factors of countless unsolved murders of British Tourist over the years and rising criminality on the island.
Notable, “The Justice for Roger” campaign blog, which was set up to seek justice for Roger Pratt, a British tourist who was murdered in Saint Lucia almost five years ago, described the island as a “gangsters’ paradise” and asked if tourists should boycott Saint Lucia.
The Telegraph newspaper recently published an article titled ‘Murder in Paradise: The Dark Side of Life in Saint Lucia,’ which also focused on the murder of Hathaway’s friend, Roger Pratt, another UK citizen, who was killed by intruders aboard his yacht in Saint Lucia several years ago.
However, Saturday’s agenda welcomed questions from the audience, which were met with satisfactory responses. Concerns arising at the meeting include local hotels taking a collective position to Booking.com new website commission policy of 15 percent on service charges paid to hotel employees.
Hoteliers also provided positive feedback on the recently held seventh annual Saint Lucia Showcase, which welcomed 22 buyers from North America who sell Saint Lucia as a primary market. Chief executive officer (CEO) of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA), Noorani Azeez asserts the meeting highlighted the cohesive nature of the various organisations within the hotel and tourism industry.
“The general positive feedback expressed at the industry meeting is encouraging and at the SLHTA we stand ready to assist our sister organizations and our general membership in the development and management of the hospitality industry,” Azeez said.
Progressing collaboratively towards an improved tourism product, the ministry of tourism, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) and the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) will continue to meet with industry stakeholders to share concerns, ideas, and recommendations that would seek to advance tourism locally.
The report from Saturday’s meeting is quintessential a high degree of consistency with a government that caters to psychological disparagement, far from being clear and transparent.
Tourism minister Fedee ‘not too surprisingly’ previously stated:
“During those talks, Virgin indicated to local tourism officials that in order to continue operating its existing five flights weekly in the winter months, and three in the off-season summer months, it would require EC$20 million or USD7.5 million over three years.
“While the government of Saint Lucia appreciates the need for governments to share the financial risk on new flights until the maturing of the route, Virgin’s requests goes against our principle having been in Saint Lucia for 21 years.
“Saint Lucia presently supports Virgin Atlantic flights with marketing agreements annually but presently has no subsidy arrangements with any airline in any other tourism market. Virgin Atlantic represents seven percent of total UK arrivals.”
Responding to changing customer requirements for ease of access, location, and convenience, likewise business to the consumer market and business to business are very important. In a sense, everything is programmed as possible and other players operating in circles believe it isn’t a problem if Virgin Atlantic cease flying to Saint Lucia for the foreseeable future.
“Saint Lucia has been in very fruitful discussions with other carriers and has received very good feedback from at least one other airline to increase capacity from the UK market in the very near future,” Fedee said.
