Private sector awarded for hard work in tourism sector

A visitor receives a massage from a Jnugle Bay Resort & Spa worker. Photo: Jungle Bay Resort & Spa

Nine private sector individuals and organizations have been recognized for their contribution to the tourism sector for the year.

The Ministry of Tourism and Discover Dominica Authority presented the deserving persons with awards at a ceremony at the Fort Young Hotel on Friday.

Head of the Discover Dominica Authority Colin Piper congratulated the awardees and acknowledged the importance of the private sector in developing Dominica’s tourism sector.

“We understand the importance that the private sector plays in the tourism industry and in accomplishing the collective goal of increasing visitors to the destination, increasing the visitor expenditure left on island, attracting visitors for longer stays, or some combination thereof, and so we believe it is essential in recognizing the private sector since they play a key role in moving the industry forward. For years of continued sacrifice by the stakeholders have helped to make a positive contribution to the development and promotion of this sector,” he stated.

The Calibishie Lodges received the award for Accommodation of the Year, while Jungle Bay Resort and Spa received the award for Responsible Tourism.

Calibishie Lodges. Photo credit: images.travelpod.com

The Mero Enhancement Committee was given the award for Community Tourism Development, while Cornelia Guiste received the Industry Employee of the Year award.  Venelda Beautreau- a tour guide for 14 years- was named Tour Guide of the Year and the Tourism Vendor of the Year award was presented to Nouvena Daniel. She has been a vendor for the past 14 years.

Special recognition awards were presented to Isaline Carter for her work as a tour guide, while Jenner Robinson was recognized as a tourism taxi service provider.  Whitchurch Tours received an award for its work as a tour operator and Jason Benjamin received his prize as the tourism jingle contest winner.

Piper said that he hopes that the recognition of these private sector stakeholders will encourage other tourism providers to emulate the work of the awardees.

– Staff reporter

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6 Comments

  1. jah bless
    May 5, 2010

    dominica Needs an international airport in wesley so they can start to build five star hotels

  2. Thunder Horse
    May 4, 2010

    I do support the move and I think that awards and rewards to Hotels, Communities, Vendors to stimulate a competitive environment in Dominica sespecially in the tourism industry. This will sensitise our people thus creative the best tourism product in the caribbean.

    What we have to improve in Dominica is QUALITY not QUANTITY. We are moving in the right direction indeed. GOOD WORD MR. PIPER.

  3. germantourist
    May 4, 2010

    My mum and me stayed in february 10 days in the calibishie lodges… Since more than two years we have a lot of close friends in the village … I think they do not deserve this award. Look for example at the ideal seacliff cottages, the owners share the local life and encourage their guests to get close to the village life – the lodges seem to be far away from the Dominican welcoming.

    • pastense
      May 4, 2010

      agreed… not nearly the “escape from the city” type of facility. however we should not downplay others when they are encouraged, its this kind of push they need to have a reflection of some progress. on another note, they should not see it as a reason to stop striving for improvements.

  4. Nonesense
    May 4, 2010

    Is this really the best we have? Do we really expect to move the tourism needle with all this petty feel good antics? Really? The best reward all these people can get is increased pay due to increased stay over tourist. Anything else is just busy work.

    • Lystra
      May 4, 2010

      You really do live down to your name! Nonesense is all you talking! People like you should spend more energy trying to do our part to improve and increase the tourism product so that there is morfe money to go around! Maybe then you would not feel the need tolive down to your name….NONESENSE!!

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