Speaking at a joint press conference, Minister of Tourism, Dr. Kishore Shallow, outlined the strategic economic connection between tourism and agriculture. Shallow emphasized that while tourism serves as the engine for bringing foreign currency into St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the strength and capacity of the domestic agricultural sector ultimately dictate how much of that capital remains within the local economy.
“Whereas tourism brings that spending from outside of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, agriculture actually determines what stays in the country,” Shallow explained.
Illustrating the economic math, Shallow noted that if national visitor spending reaches $500 million USD, retaining an additional 10% of that expenditure would keep $50 million USD directly circulating inside the domestic economy—delivering substantial financial benefits to rural farming families.
Beyond domestic hotel and restaurant sales, Shallow pointed to significant regional trade potential across the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
With annual OECS visitor expenditure totaling approximately $2.6 billion USD, Shallow stated that building a predictable, high-quality agricultural supply chain in St. Vincent creates a springboard for exporting local produce to tourist markets across neighboring Caribbean islands.
Addressing persistent friction between local farms and the hospitality sector, Shallow acknowledged that hoteliers have long expressed a willingness to purchase local produce. However, hospitality businesses frequently face challenges with consistency of supply, predictable quantities, and competitive pricing.
To bridge this gap, Shallow stressed the importance of inter-ministerial coordination and improved crop aggregation to guarantee reliable supply volumes for commercial buyers.
Shallow urged stakeholders to view agriculture as a core component of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ destination brand rather than just a food supply chain.
He proposed creating immersive farm-to-table tourist experiences in rural communities such as Gregs or Chateaubelair. Allowing visitors to tour local farms and sample produce on-site offers authentic cultural experiences while directly funneling tourist spend into rural communities.
