The $175M Airport Transformation in Saint Lucia is officially underway
This most highly anticipated airport redesign in the region has officially broken ground
Saint Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport redevelopment began this month. This is part of a projected $175 million scheme.
The flagship of the project will be a brand-new, 337,000-square-foot terminal building. This development is part of an extensive process that will include a new air traffic control tower, new road structure and new parking facilities.
The development is wonderful news for Saint Lucia’s tourism industry according to Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet. “The state of the art airport facility, will become the standard of the region.”
The first images of the new project were released this month and show the extensive arrivals area, an impressive glass terminal and an enormous increase in space throughout.
The development, it is hoped will incentivize the increase of at least 1,000 new hotel rooms on Saint Lucia Minister Chastanet remarked.
The significant increase would add to the current room stock which is at about 5,000 in Saint Lucia right now. This room count takes into consideration large and small hotels, villas, apartments and guest houses.
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority said it was “ecstatic” about the project.
“We have outgrown the capacity at the current facility,” the tourism authority said in a statement. “This upgrade will significantly contribute to stayover arrivals. In an effort to secure commitments for increased international flights to the destination, the SLTA will continue negotiations with international agencies.”
The government of Taiwan has made the project possible through its continued financial assistance to Saint Lucia.
By the middle of 2021 the redevelopment should be completed, according to the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority.
Article source Caribbean Journal