Caribbean Business Reports

St Lucia’s proposed Accommodation Tax will come into effect on April 1, 2020.

The St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) today informed its members of the implementation date, adding that it would be charged to each guest at check-in.

The levy, which is based on a Head Tax, was approved by Cabinet and will be used to ease the impact of the tax on existing contract arrangements, as well as supplement the Tourism Authority’s financial resources for the following year, said the association today.

“In the coming weeks, the Tourism Authority is to spearhead further discussions with the sector on the most effective modalities through which accommodation providers will collect and remit the fee to the Tourism Authority…”

– The St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association

The two tiered tax will only apply to guests 16 years and older, the SLHTA said.

In the first tier, the applicable tax is US$3 per night per guest for hotels with an average daily rate below US$120. The tax increases to US$6 per night per guest staying at hotels with an average daily above the US$120.

Additionally, the SLHTA said the fee is to be applied to all non-sharing platform accommodation providers.

“In the coming weeks, the Tourism Authority is to spearhead further discussions with the sector on the most effective modalities through which accommodation providers will collect and remit the fee to the Tourism Authority, to ensure high compliance levels, amongst other aspects related to implementation of the fee.”

Value-added tax to hotel accommodation providers will also decrease from 10 per cent to seven per cent.