A former planning officer and regional director of St Lucia Tourism has returned to the country after a six-year absence to take the top job at the organisation.

Lorine Charles-St. Jules, who spent 11 years with the tourism authority, replaces Beverly Nicholson-Doty as Chief Executive with immediate effect.

Mrs Charles-St. Jules has more than two decades of tourism and leadership experience and was most recently US Account Manager for the Anguilla Tourist Board.

She first joined St Lucia tourism in 1995 as planning officer before a nine-year stint as regional director, departing in 2016.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Mrs. Charles-St. Jules to the organisation and we are in no doubt that her track record as a tourism professional will lead brand Saint Lucia along a sustained growth trajectory,” Chairman Thaddeus M. Antoine said.

“Her diverse experience in tourism marketing, sales and strategy will contribute greatly to our mission.”

Mrs Charles-St. Jules described her return to the island as an ‘honour and a privilege’.