CASTRIES, St Lucia — Travel Agents St Lucia recorded the fastest industry growth between 2021 and 2024, expanding at an annualised rate of 49.8% and significantly outpacing all other sectors as tourism-driven activity accelerated.
The sector’s constant-price GDP rose from EC$21.4 million in 2021 to EC$72.0 million in 2024, according to a new study by Singapore-based analytics platform Briefcase Index, which examined data from the Central Statistical Office of St Lucia.
The growth rate was approximately 2.3 times higher than the 22.0% average across the top 10 industries, underscoring the scale of expansion within tourism-linked services.
Tourism recovery lifts transport and accommodation sectors
The findings point to a broad-based recovery in St Lucia’s visitor economy, with multiple transport and hospitality sectors posting strong gains alongside Travel Agents St Lucia.
Sea Transport ranked second with annualised growth of 36.1%, as output increased from EC$8.1 million in 2021 to EC$20.4 million in 2024. Accommodation followed in third place, expanding by 29.2% and rising from EC$584.7 million to EC$1.26 billion over the same period.
Road Transport recorded growth of 24.6%, while Air Transport expanded by 19.0%, reflecting increased movement of visitors and goods as travel demand rebounded.
A Briefcase Index spokesperson said the ranking highlights the strength of St Lucia’s tourism recovery, noting that Travel Agents & Tour Operators clearly outperformed all other industries analysed.
Growth surge puts Travel Agents St Lucia ahead of all industries
Beyond tourism and transport, several service industries also recorded steady growth, pointing to wider economic momentum.
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation grew by 14.8%, while Professional, Technical, and Scientific Services expanded by 12.7%. Food and Beverage Services followed at 12.4%, reflecting increased spending linked to both tourism and domestic activity.
Agriculture showed moderate gains, with Other Crops excluding bananas growing by 10.8%. However, Computing and Information ranked last among the top 10 industries, with annualised growth of 10.5%, indicating slower expansion in the digital sector.
What the growth means for St Lucia’s economy
The dominance of Travel Agents St Lucia reinforces the country’s reliance on tourism as a primary economic driver, particularly in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, as Caribbean tourism growth has already surpassed pre-2019 levels.
International financial institutions have pointed to similar trends. The International Monetary Fund reported in January 2026 that St Lucia’s recovery was largely supported by tourism, while the World Bank previously noted that increased airlift and cruise activity were key contributors to growth.
For businesses and workers, the rapid expansion signals renewed opportunities in tourism-related industries. At the same time, the slower growth seen in sectors such as computing and information highlights ongoing challenges in diversifying the economy beyond its traditional strengths.
Methodology and data
Briefcase Index ranked industries using compound annual growth rates based on constant-price GDP data between 2021 and 2024. The methodology ensures that growth reflects real output rather than inflation.
The data was sourced from the Central Statistical Office of St Lucia’s national accounts, with broad aggregate categories excluded to allow for more precise industry comparisons.
The report places Travel Agents St Lucia at the center of the country’s economic rebound, highlighting how strongly tourism-linked sectors continue to shape St Lucia’s growth trajectory.
