01888cas a2200241 a 4500 AALejournalIMF018581 230101c9999 xx r poo 0 0eng d 5.00 USD 9781484362617 1934-7685 BD-DhAAL BD-DhAAL International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept. St. Lucia : 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for St. Lucia. Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2018. 1 online resource (86 pages) IMF Staff Country Reports <strong>Off-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required <strong>On-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students This 2018 Article IV Consultation highlights that the GDP growth in St. Lucia reached 3 percent in 2017, sustained by robust activity in several sectors. Favorable external conditions, coupled with hotel expansions and the addition of new flights, generated a strong recovery in tourism, with stay-over arrivals rising by 11 percent, the fastest growth in the Caribbean. Backed by strong tourism inflows, the current account balance strengthened. Unemployment declined from 21.3 percent in 2016 to 20.2 percent in 2017, but youth unemployment remains high at 38.5 percent and labor force participation has fallen. The short-term outlook is favorable, but prospects beyond that are sobering. GDP growth is expected to remain buoyant in the near term. Mode of access: Internet IMF Staff Country Reports; Country Report ; No. 2018/179 Full text available on IMF http://elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2018/179/002.2018.issue-179-en.xml IMF e-Library