Projects

On June 5th, Laborie Market Square was filled with pride and celebration as participants, community members and guests gathered for the closing of the Blue Tourism Initiative (BTI) Laborie Pilot. The ceremony was a joyful reflection on how far we’ve come — strengthening local enterprises, embedding sustainability, and showcasing Laborie’s unique tourism identity.

The afternoon opened with prayer and the national anthem, followed by welcome remarks from Mistress of Ceremony Carla Chiquot, who reminded the gathering of the BTI’s mission to empower small businesses and position Laborie as a model for community tourism. Local musician KC lifted spirits with music.

Augustine Dominique, Executive Officer of the Laborie Development Foundation, took the audience on a journey through the project implementation process, and unveiled three new experiential tourism packages — Catch & Cook, Kayak Tour, and Low Tide Saturdays — designed to immerse visitors in authentic coastal life. Certificates were proudly presented to MSMEs, trainees, and workshop participants, while the launch of the redesigned ilovelaborie.org website and Community-based Tourism database marked a new era of digital visibility and interaction for our enterprises.

During the participant Round Table, participants shared heartfelt reflections, speaking of new skills, confidence, and ideas gained through the project. Many pledged to implement sustainability practices such as waste management, energy saving, and cultural preservation in their businesses.

Gratitude was expressed to — Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) the implementing partner of the Blue Tourism Initiative (BTI) in the Caribbean, and the funding and global partners the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), the Paris- based Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) and the Spanish Think and Do Tank eco-union. Gratitude was also extended to global partners: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the Mediterranean; Coastal Oceans Research and Development Indian Ocean (CORDIO), Western Indian Ocean; and the Laborie Development Foundation.

Special thanks were extended to Local partners namely; Laborie Cooperative Credit Union, Heineken Saint Lucia, the Laborie Augier Constituency Council, the Honourable Alva R. Baptiste, the Small Business Development Centre, the Community Tourism Agency. Contributors such as Travish Harry, Brian Evans and Sherville Charles, Rhikkie Alexander, Vanguard Virtuals, and Hands Together for a Cleaner Laborie were also recognised.

The ceremony closed with music and a powerful call to action: “Together for a sustainable future.” This was more than the end of a project — it was the beginning of a new chapter for Laborie, where community, sustainability, and culture come together to shape a resilient tourism future.

Laborie Charts a New Course: Blue Tourism Initiative Pilot Wraps Up with a promise to transform community tourism in the Coastal Village

Laborie, Saint Lucia — June 2026

The seaside village of Laborie is fast emerging as a Caribbean model for sustainable, community-driven tourism following the successful completion of the Blue Tourism Initiative (BTI) Pilot Project. Over the past year, the Laborie Development Foundation (LDF), under the guidance of the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), and with the support of partners such as the Community Tourism Agency, and the Small Business Development Centre, has reimagined how coastal communities can thrive through eco-conscious tourism.

A Year of Transformation

Launched in May 2025, the BTI Pilot was designed to address long-standing challenges in Laborie’s tourism sector. Services were fragmented, informal, and lacked coordinated marketing. The project introduced:

• A redesigned ilovelaborie.org website with a responsive design.
• A community tourism database cataloguing over 45 service providers.
• Four signature visitor experience packages: Historic Tour, Catch & Cook, Low Tide Saturdays, and Kayak Tour.
• Formalized MSME clusters for experiences and accommodations.
• A digital-first marketing strategy for 2026–2030.

Building Skills and Standards

Training was central to the initiative. Local entrepreneurs and guides received capacity-building in business management, branding, sustainable tourism marketing, and climate resilience. First Aid training with the Red Cross further strengthened visitor safety.

The project also introduced the ilovelaborie Sustainability Label, a three-tier certification system: Aspiring, Committed, and Compliant.

Community Spirit at the Core

Looking Ahead

The BTI Pilot has strengthened institutional capacity, modernized marketing, and empowered MSMEs. Yet challenges remain — financing new products, consensus-building, and scaling eco-coastal packages.

Next steps include:

• Expanding visitor analytics.
• Negotiating financing for niche experiences.
• Strengthening partnerships with CTA, SBDC, and private sector.
• Establishing sustainability certification for MSMEs.

“Laborie is now a beacon for Blue Tourism in the Caribbean. The journey continues, but the foundation is strong,” affirmed the LDF leadership.

Conclusion

The Blue Tourism Initiative Laborie Pilot has proven that sustainable tourism is not just possible — it is transformative. By embedding eco-conscious practices, empowering local businesses, and celebrating cultural heritage, Laborie is charting a bold new course where the sea truly meets community prosperity.

For more information, visit:

• laborie.development@gmail.com
• +1 (758) 455 9910

Project Brief: Advancing Community-based Marine and Coastal Tourism in Laborie, Saint Lucia

On April 28, 2025, the Laborie Development Foundation (the Foundation) signed a grant agreement with the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) for implementation of a project under the Blue Tourism Initiative (BTI) in the Caribbean entitled, Building Community-Based Coastal and Marine Tourism in Laborie, Saint Lucia.

Laborie’s tourism sector holds significant potential for growth through community-based tourism (CBT) and blue tourism initiatives that leverage its rich coastal and marine resources, and its social and cultural capital. The project aims to address multiple issues, particularly fragmented information on available services; the absence of coordinated marketing strategies that hinder the village’s ability to effectively showcase its marine and cultural assets, and the capacity to meet the growing demand for authentic and eco-conscious experiences while ensuring the long-term preservation of its natural ecosystems and cultural heritage. Addressing these issues will ensure that tourism activities contribute not only to economic growth but also to environmental stewardship and sustainable development; and position Laborie to fully realise its potential as a vibrant hub for sustainable coastal and marine tourism. The BTI is co-funded by the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) and supported by Our Blue Future (GIZ), the World Bank, UN Environment Program (UNEP) and the project partners: IDDRI, eco-union, IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, CANARI and CORDIO. It will enable the Foundation to continue working in the direction of improving community tourism offerings, especially those reliant on marine and coastal resources, with the end goal of having an organised sector with a database of professional and reliable service providers.

Key project activities include:

Community Based Tourism Mapping and Database Management to Enhance the coordination and accessibility of tourism services by maintaining an updated database of accommodations, restaurants, and local tourism services.

Developing “Visitor Experience” Packages that are diverse and engaging and that showcase Laborie’s unique cultural and natural heritage that support community-based tourism.

MSME Cluster Development to include facilitating development of a cluster of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to improve innovation and efficiency in local tourism services.

Implementing a Marketing Strategy that involves revising the LDF 2020 Marketing Strategy, supporting its digitization; and ensuring that it is up-to-date, clear, consistent, and aligned with sustainable tourism goals to widen reach and improve engagement.

The implementation of the project will cost approximately XCD$262,000 over a 10-month period ending March 31, 2026. Overall, these investments are expected to advance community tourism in Laborie by:

• generating increased sustainable tourism revenue and enhanced environmental preservation.
• supporting improved visitor experiences.
• strengthening MSME capacity; and
• supporting coordinated marketing efforts.

For additional information contact:

In 2008, under the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) project and with assistance from the Soufriere Marine Management Authority and Peace Corps Volunteer, Mr. Aaron Doll, the Laborie Development Foundation has installed five yacht moorings in the bay. The goal of this project is to increase village tourism through yacht traffic. The moorings will be managed by the Laborie Development Foundation and the Laborie Fishers and Consumers Cooperative and efforts will be made to capitalize on the economic benefits these moorings could provide for the area.

Three persons in September 2006 – started the cultivation of seamoss in the Laborie Bay. This brought to 4 the number of people producing seamoss here. The Laborie Development Foundation provided technical assistance and support materials such as seamoss plants and rope. It also assisted in the search for markets for seamoss produced.

Participatory monitoring of water in the Laborie Bay was done by eight volunteer secondary school students from Piaye Secondary School, under the guidance of Gevanie Polius, a former student who participated in the volunteer programme two years ago, and Alan Smith, marine biologist. In October 2008, in addition to testing the fecal coliform levels in the Laborie Bay, the students also carried out similar tests in the ravines that drain into the Laborie Bay. Laborie is one of the few communities in St. Lucia where any water monitoring is being done.

Three young people – Clem Thomas, Alina Sadoo and Lydra Chicot – Engaged households from the Laborie village in discussions about water quality issues and ways in which sewage pollution can be reduced in Laborie. The project recognises that information sharing is a necessary component of educating residents and changing attitudes towards natural waterways, including ravines. It was undertaken with support and financing from the Sustainable Development Unit in the Ministry of Physical Development. The young educators-learners used data on the quality of the water in the Laborie bay generated by other students who participated in the Water Quality Monitoring and Testing Programme. The aim of the project was to increase awareness of these issues as a means of improving water quality in the Laborie Bay. The awareness programme started in June 2005 and ran until the middle of August. New information gathered will be shared with the community via the new notice boards.

This project seeks to develop and strengthen institutional arrangements, technologies and approaches to coastal development that optimize the contribution of coastal resources to social and economic development, through equitable and sustainable uses, and that provide effective and lasting solutions to the environmental problems faced by coastal communities in the Caribbean, especially those that stem from pollution.

The goal of this project was to stimulate the development of small scale lodging for visitors to Laborie, and to contribute to their viability by attracting patrons through various festivals. A study was completed to build a baseline of information, analyze opportunities and provide guidelines.

Two public toilets were completed by the Laborie Development Foundation Inc. with funding from the Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF). They were handed over to the Laborie Village Council on July 27, 2004. The project cost almost EC$200,000.00. They are part of the strategies to develop infrastructural support for community heritage tourism and enhance the physical environment in Laborie. These public toilets were built using environmentally responsible methods including a wastewater garden.

This Fund is administered by the Laborie Development Foundation Inc. and is managed by a Committee of seven persons. It provides financial assistance to Laborians who need medical treatment and/or services. Donations from the Fund may be used for hospital related expenses, prescription drug expenses, fees for specialist medical attention, air fare and other expenses directly related to receiving such treatment. Residents of Laborie and other people are encouraged to contribute to the Fund to supplement other fundraising activities.

The Laborie community undertook a three year strategic planning process from 1999 – 2002. The document produced contains the vision for Laborie and goals, objectives and strategies for achieving that vision. It reflects the ideas of a large number of Laborians who participated in a strategic development planning process from 1999 – 2001 which was characterised by several consultations, group meetings, discussions. This initiative was community initiated and driven and undertaken by volunteers from various sectors in Laborie.