The initiative is designed to expose children to the inner workings of Saint Lucia’s tourism sector, giving them a firsthand look at the experiences and opportunities within the industry.

Tourism Officer Deepa Girdari emphasised that the camp is a strategic move to build awareness among the island’s youth about the vital role tourism plays in Saint Lucia’s development.

“We are hosting our second tourism summer camp for children at the Ciceron Primary School. The aim of our camp is to introduce the kids to the whole concept of the tourism industry, the different experiences within the tourism industry, and to get them to have a greater appreciation for the work that is done not just by the Ministry of Tourism but within all the operations of the tourism industry,” she explained.

According to Girdari, planting this knowledge early is key to fostering a deeper connection between future generations and Saint Lucia’s most important economic sector: “We need to ensure that our generations coming up are also prepared and also embrace what the tourism industry does for the country, what it has to offer.”

The camp targets students at the primary and secondary school levels, aiming to empower them with information that can guide future career decisions.

“If we tackle it from now, from the primary school age and the secondary school, then persons coming up will have a greater appreciation. They will also be better informed, and it will also help them make better informed decisions in terms of what kind of career they would like to pursue,” Girdari added.