Government is partnering with interested development partners and stakeholders to make Dominica’s tourism product more attractive to visitors.
Specifically, at this time, the Roosevelt Skerrit Administration is working on increasing the number of visitor-ready accommodations.
“There is much interest in the real estate option of the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI), and the opportunity it provides to investors interested in constructing high quality rooms in Dominica. 160 rooms are expected to be constructed in the Cabrits under the Range/Kempinski Hotel Development,” Prime Minister Skerrit said. “Two other tourism infrastructure projects have received approval in principle, and these are currently being further assessed, with a view to granting full approval. The two projects which have been approved in principle, are the construction of a hotel at Picard which will consist of 201 rooms, and another at Grand Savanne, Salisbury with a room complement of 73.”
This is in addition to a proposed hotel development in Soufriere currently under review. That project will add 90 rooms.
Of course the employment benefits cannot be ignored.
“All of these new hotels will create significant direct employment opportunities in construction, provision of hotel services and other indirect jobs in support sectors like agriculture and fishing,” the Prime Minister believes.
According to Hon. Skerrit, Government is doing its share for nation-building, the attractiveness of Dominica’s tourism product also requires the participation of stakeholders.
“The programme outlined for the tourism sector, seeks to address the important components of a comprehensive strategy, to grow the sector. We expect to see the measures taken, redound to the benefit of the people of Dominica. We expect each stakeholder, to contribute to the growth of the sector,” he said.
The Prime Minister added, “Stakeholders are reminded, that the sustainability of tourism depends on visitors having a good experience, and as such, we must deliver the best service possible. Our service delivery should be no less than first class; we must be organised, diligent and punctual and must adhere to the rules and procedures set out to properly regulate the sector.”
Foreign investors beware. Dominica is where foreign money goes to die.
Amazing having pioneered the dive , whale watching and cottage resort industries in Dominica, cassava factories, empowering farmers, scouts, organic groups, manufacturing, renewable energy, hyperbaric chamber training….our motto ‘Synergistic sustainable development’
We wrote a proposals for a marina hotel development in the north 2006 where the yet to be completed Morocco hotel…despite having the funding we were told that the government would not entertain us because they had a group ‘pier one’ …nothing happened.
we presented another prpject for woodfordhill…told they had another group…their jet crashed at Melville hall that was the end…
again this year we presented yet another ideal community based project which we have invested over a million in value for the ssmr to create the best eco dive resortin the caribbean….ignored… not a word of response again despite our track record of developing many industries
that gov’t is not interested in professional business minded people – people with class and who are reputable. you have to be able to tell them what is in for them to get anything from them; The Morocco hotel after 4 years can’t finish they are now blaming the Arab League ; the abattoir can’t finish they blaming technical issues; the coffee plant is in cyber space somewhere -can’t finish; since the signing of the first 300 million dollar project they talk about a new hospital, that cannot be started. Under the first 300 million dollar project they were also to build a new Grammar school comprising two wings; they built one wing and said the other wing will be built soon it is over 7 years the other wing can’t be started not even the landscaping they can complete for the wing already built. I can go on and on I mean those guys are just a waste of time.
When you fix up Roseau and rehabilitate or house its vagrants, call me!
Government should be an enabler and as such should not be directly involved in hotel construction.
Amen! they just don’t get it. Instead they get ‘in the way’ of other locals who want to invest maybe? hmmm