The Collection de Pépites scheme will feature local B&Bs, boutiques, inns and luxury villas – all offering 35 rooms or fewer – that may not be as well-known as some of the island’s larger hotels and resorts.

A listings page will feature on the SLTA’s website with information on each accommodation, its location, pricing and family-friendly suitability.

Visitors will be able to access the accommodation’s website and for commissionable properties, agents can book with the property directly and the SLTA said it would help set up links between the properties and trade partners.

Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Tourism Association and the SLTA have all collaborated on the programme’s development.

Initial property listings include Caille Blanc Villa & Hotel, Jungle Escape Eco Lodge, Nescape Studio, Paradise Hotel, Rabot Estate by Hotel Chocolat, South Sea House, Têt Rouge, and The Suite Spot Apartment.

Lorine Charles-St. Jules, chief executive of SLTA said: “We know from visitor feedback that there is a real demand for these distinct properties, many of which give the opportunity to get closer to the action for an authentic experience.

“The motivations to choose a more intimate stay come from a range of reasons. It could be a desire to have total privacy, to celebrate a milestone event in a smaller setting or to bring extended families and friends together in a destination as special as Saint Lucia.”