Tourism Minister Carlos James said it could take nearly two years for St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ tourism sector to recover from the devastating damage caused by Hurricane Beryl on July 1.
“Experts suggest it will take at least 23 months for a full recovery and strong economic activity to be seen after a natural disaster of this magnitude,” James said, after the government successfully tabled a EC$136 million (US$0.37) supplementary budget.
James highlighted that the Southern Grenadines, the island hardest hit by Hurricane Beryl, is heavily dependent on tourism. As well as allocating EC$22 million for home repairs, the government is prioritising supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which are vital for sustainable livelihoods.
The financial support includes $8 million for income support for tourism workers and an additional EC$500,000 allocated to the Youth Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Programme exclusively for Grenadine residents. In addition, EC$1.5 million will be dedicated to the rehabilitation of tourism destinations across the country.
Two technical experts from the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) recently completed a rapid assessment of the Grenadines’ tourism sector, which James said will guide ministries and industry players in future steps and further evaluation.
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Dispatch of tourism officials
Starting this week, James will be sending almost all of St. Vincent’s Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Board staff to the Southern Grenadines, including Mayreau, Union Island, Canouan and Bequia, to interview and collect data from tourism sector stakeholders.
James acknowledged that transportation issues had temporarily halted those plans. “We want to facilitate alternative transportation arrangements so we can get out there and support our tourism stakeholders and employees,” he said. “We need to go back to ground zero and get the necessary resources in place.”
James also stressed the need for a tourism disaster management framework aligned with the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. This policy initiative will focus on preparedness and response in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters.
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Additionally, the government is considering a tourism sustainable livelihoods framework, which will incorporate a disaster management approach to tourism. “These are two key policy initiatives that are part of the recovery and resilience building efforts,” James noted.
The Minister stressed that while rebuilding homes is essential, the focus must also be on tourism and related businesses in the Southern Grenadines. “Given that the majority of our people depend on tourism for their livelihoods, we need to put resources into supporting their recovery and helping them get back on their feet,” Minister James concluded.
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