The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Production Fisheries, Cooperatives and Rural Development hosted an inaugural Agricultural Symposium Friday 3rd October 2014 at the Royal by Rex Resorts from 9:30am – 4:00pm. This Symposium focused primarily on the consumption habits of the accommodation sector as it relates to local fruits and vegetables.
The event, which is supported by the SLHTA’s Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) primarily seek to forge closer linkages between the hotels and local farmers on the island. The symposium also endeavors to understand the challenges which the local farmers face on a daily basis as it relates to meeting the consumption needs of the industry.
A panel of five officials from various sectors and Ministries was been established to make presentations, answer questions and queries which the farmers may have as it relates to accessing support to better meet these needs of the Tourism Industry. The hotels have indicated a growing demand for more locally grown produce and for farmers to increase their production of certain fruits and vegetables.
