Tourism Minister Ian Douglas has expressed confidence in the cruise tourism sector, stating that Dominica is holding its own in that area despite the world economic crisis.
Douglas, who spoke at the media launch of Tourism Awareness Month at the Fort Young Hotel last week, said that there has been a significant increase in the percentage of cruise visitors for the period 2008-2009.
“In 2008-2009, tourism generated more than $193 million in foreign exchange, while the cruise sector generated $33 million. The stay-over or overnight sector brought in $159 million. While stay-over saw a nine percent decline in visitor numbers in 2009, the declining from the 81,000 in 2008 to about 75,000 in 2009,” Douglas said.
“However, the cruise tourism sector grew by an impressive 37.2 percent or 386,000 visitors in 2008 to well over 530,000 visitors in 2009. And I believe that in fact we can say that we achieved the Tourism Master Plan’s target really well beyond our target time, so the cruise sector continues to hold its own,” the minister said.
Douglas mentioned however, that in 2009 the tourism sector was negatively affected by the world economic crisis as in 2008. This he said, has made it difficult for small economies like Dominica to sustain their livelihood.
“ This unfortunate circumstance has made it increasingly difficult for persons to travel thus slowing the demand for tourism worldwide and making it difficult to attract our core customer base, those who seek nature, culture and adventure,” Douglas added.
Despite this, the minister expressed optimism in the country’s ability to rebound from the period of crisis.
“We are fortunate however, that tourism as an industry is much more resilient, much more robust in overcoming those major economic and manmade shocks like the global meltdown. With signs of some recovery, although some much slower than the original anticipation we can expect that our industry will rebound from yet another period of crisis to be able to hold its own in the international and global market place,” Douglas stated.
– By DNO Correspondent
Afew weeks ago in a previous article all you were the same people saying that cruise ships don’t bring money in the country. I hope all you still reading and seeing the figures? I will still say we need a better pier with a nice terminal with shops to encourage the cruise ship guests to buy and leave some of their money on our island. Fix the pier and then Boast. Been all around the world I know exactly what i am talking about. we will definately be boasting more money if we use the little we get now to improve what we have, again, TAKE ST MARTEN AS AN EXAMPLE THEY DID IT AND THEY DO NOT HAVE HALF OF WHAT WE HAVE. SO WE CAN DEFINATELY DO IT. We just have to spend the money wisely….
Great Stuff Ian…that’s called accountability….The number of people visited and amount of revenue generated. Your explanation was quite valid and on point. Good job…Every penny counts and is vital to your struggling Economy….”one one cocoa,full the basket”…..
Now on that note,Dominica need a couple of Five Star Hotels,which will help the Tourist Industry tremendously,without those we will never generate the kind of revenues that we need to and won’t be competitive in comparable to our neighbors in the region. Remember,we are not blessed with white sand beaches,so we have to infuse other things like more duty free shops with a modern touch of sophistication. Along with planning,strategic placements and designs..That,added to our Natural beauty and resources,will allow us to compete in a global market.That,Sir,is going to require hard work and dedication. I do not expect the Govt. to get involve in building Hotels etc.That is the Part of the private sector. What i do expect,( and it is the Govt.’s duty,) is to facilitate the opportunity by creating an atmosphere that is attractive to investors for such ventures,and must do so responsibly without destroying or affecting our Eco system. Then we will begin to generate the revenue that we all dream about.
Another thing Sir,can we do something about those vessels that ran aground in the beautiful port of Prince Rupert Bay? It is by far the most beautiful port in Dominica….from Carbrits clean all the way to Point Round. Those said Vessels,Sir, are a soar eyes that is destroying or has destroyed part of the beauty of Dominica and MUST be removed if we are serious about Tourism…We must clean up our act. People must be more responsible….I will end with my original word..accountability…
…Thank you Sir….and all the best to you.
Peace Profound!!!!!!!!
MANCHAT!
If each visitor buy one jelly for one US, that is $US530,000.
Isn’t that better than US$0?
Plus the ship have to pay a tax for docking on our shores.
In these tough economic times, every cent counts.
It is true that the cruise ship industry is not as profitable as the the stay over tourist industry, but that doesn’t mean that we have to get rid of it all together or is a waste of time, was suggested. We can make some money out of it if we have the right services.
Dominica has a niche tourism market. We should exploit that from both the cruise ship and the stay over perspectives.
Sider you right Ian should know that what we are reaping right now is the work of Mamo. What should have been done and can be done is to take the momentum to an elevated level. Ian should push for the development of a Yacht mariner in Portsmouth and to encourage more use of the cruise ship berth in Portsmouth. A yachting facility is what they should be building in Portsmouth instead of a fisheries dock. A yachting facility would provide so much more economic activities within the Portsmouth area.
Portsmouth deserve much more than that from the Labor Party – At least Euginia gave portmouth a Cruise Ship Berth and more. The Labor party should plant a gold mine in Portsmouth – ahhh who cares Portsmouth people wil still vote Labor – Dum A****
Look at the numbers. Cruise ship tourism is a waste of time. The headline should be more about the decline in. Stay over tourist than the increase in cruise ship. Quite frankly, I would get out of the cruise ship business completely. It cheapens the brand and adds little or no value.
IT IS VERY INTERESTING TO SEE GUYS LIKE IAN DOUGLAS WALLOWING IN THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND ALMOST TAKING CREDIT FOR THE SAME. THESE ARE THE SAME GUYS WHO CRITISIZED EUGINIA CHARLES WHEN THE CRUISE SHIP BERTH WAS BUILT AND DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATER FRONT. BY THE WAY I GREW UP WITH IAN. THIS GOVERNMENT IS NOT THINKING ABOUT DEVELOPING PEOPLE AND PROVIDING THE MEANS AND WAYS FOR ENTERPRISMENT AND ENTREPUNERAL ACHEIVMENTS.
I look at the nice numbers from cruise tourism with some skepticism. In the master plan it is mentioned that one should monitor the cruise tourism numbers very carefully and the effects on the environment ,as for now, that is the only asset we have.
When looking at the number of people at the destinations when there are 5 ships on island. One can see that a master plan is being followed but not as was given to the government by CHL.
Where do our core customer base come from? The US. This is not the only market. Mere representation and one or 2 fairs in Europe will not make us attract many people from there. We need to go at this market harder.
Another thing that needs to be noted is that world wide tourism dropped only 4% and Caribbean tourism 2%.
We are not pushing hard enough on tourism.
what we need is a international airport in wesley thats what need
Why should it be in Wesley,is that the best place?
For a country which claims to be the NATURE ISLAND OF THE WORLD these figures are very depressing. nothing to party about
You guys are right the focus should be more on stay over visitors. The cruise ship tourist don’t spend a lot of money so the numbers don’t not necessarily translate to a marqued increase in revenue per se.
CONGRATS IAN! THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING EVERY MEETING OF PARLIAMENT LIKEE WE VOTED YOU IN TO DO! FEEL FREE TO TAKE A VACATION ANY TIME! JUST A FEW DAYS THOUGH (5-14)
Visitors -2008 Visitors -2009 Headcount Dif Revenues-2009 Avg spent by a tourist
Cruise sector 386,000 530,000 +144,000 $33M $62
Stay over Sector 81,000 75,000 -6,000 $159M $2120
Totals 467,000 605,000 +138,000 $192M $2182
By reviewing the ” Avg spent by a tourist column in my table one can see clearly that cruise tourism does not generate anything near that of stay over tourism. The government might want to work on ways to increase cruise tourist spending activity while on Island. Only then will the minister truly be able to claim achieving any tourism master plan target. Increasing revenues should be the target..Not increasing headcounts with decreasing revenues and more overheads. If only the additional 144, 000 cruise tourist had spent an extra US $10 that in itself would have generated some US$1.44M additional revenues. The drop of some 6,000 stay over visitors cost us some (6000 * $2182 = 13, 092, 000) $13.1M.
It is necessary for We Dominicans to improve on the quality of service within the tourism industry. That way we will stimulate tourist spending. We also need to creates avenues for tourist to spend there hard earned cash.. the world over people will pay for quality goods and service, Much more than we can imagine.
As we speak I am working towards investing in my village to capture some foreign exchange and play my part in nation building. God Bless Dominica and everything therein
Please build a Resort in Dominica to have an increase with the STAY-OVER visitors, Mr Douglas. Understand that tourists look for the features and luxuries of a Resort while on vacation. I believe that a Resort in Dominica is necessary which will give people employment opportunities while also generating money for the country. This will give the tourists the OPTION of going to either a Resort or an ECO Hotel.
I think that the high numbers are from the cruise ships. The cruisers aren’t spending much other than on the tours.
This is not an easy or inexpensive island to get to via air.
I think that the govt. should pursue a ferry or ship service in conjunction with some other islands that would enable travelers to get on a boat in Puerto Rico and then cruise on down to their destination island and be able to island jump without using LIAT.