Guests staying at registered accommodations (Covid-19 certified hotels, resorts and villas) in St. Lucia will be required to pay a nightly levy on their stay, effective Dec. 1.
In the two-tier system, guests will be charged $3 or $6 per person per night, depending upon whether the room rate is below or above $120.
Guests who are 12 to 17 years old will be charged half the fee; children under 12 years of age will not be charged.
Accommodation providers will be required to collect the fee and remit it to the administering authority.
The funds generated by the tax will be used to promote the destination and to "maintain our competitive edge by further developing our diverse range of island experiences," according to Karolin Troubetzkoy, president of the St. Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association.
In addition, the government will reduce the Value Added Tax on accommodations from 10% to 7%, starting Dec. 1.