Officials Tackle Challenges Amid Soufrière Tourism Boom

Soufrière’s booming tourism industry is bringing both opportunities and growing pains, with officials working to address key challenges such as traffic congestion and concerns over local boat operators.

Soufrière, home to some of Saint Lucia’s most popular attractions—including the Pitons, the world’s only drive-in volcano, and its mud baths—has long been a tourism hotspot. But since the town welcomed its first cruise ships last November, the influx of tourists has surged, bringing both opportunities and obstacles, according to officials.

Speaking at the pre-Cabinet press briefing on Monday, Parliamentary Representative for Soufrière, Emma Hippolyte, said she and other stakeholders are working tirelessly to navigate these growing pains. 

According to her, two key challenges stand out: the increasing traffic congestion and concerns over the behaviour of local boat operators, or “boat boys,” who offer transport and services to visitors.

“For this season, we’ve had up to 60 mega yacht visits in our bay, we’ve had up to four yachts in the bay on a particular day,” Hippolyte shared. “This has implications for our traffic management and everything else”

A major concern for officials is the growing number of people on the beaches, particularly at Jalousie and Anse Chastanet. While this influx benefits tourism, it also requires local authorities to implement measures that maintain order and ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for both visitors and locals.

Another challenge is the behaviour of local boat operators, or “boat boys”, who provide transport and services to visitors. While 21 of them received official boat captain certification about 18 months ago, Hippolyte believes additional training is needed in customer service and understanding the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority’s maritime regulations.

“One of the things that we have to do is more training in soft skills, especially as we have visitors coming in. They have the technical skills to manage the boats, but they need to know and understand how we interact with our visitors,” Hippolyte explained. 

To tackle these issues, discussions are ongoing with hoteliers, the Soufrière Marine Management Association (SMMA), law enforcement, and the Commissioner of Police. The goal is to establish clear guidelines that balance economic opportunity with the sustainability of Soufrière’s tourism product.