Positive growth in stay over visitation for 3rd quarter of 2011

Tourists in Dominica. Photo credit: quintanomedia

The preliminary third quarter review showed a 4.6 percent growth in stay over arrivals in Dominica for July to September 2011 (20,736) over 2010 (19,827).  Arrivals during July just surpassed the previous high of 9,935 in 2006 by only two arrivals, but this represented a 12.5 percent growth over 2010 (8,831), and almost 20 percent over 2001’s 8,292.  There was a 1.5 percent growth in August (7,312) while September (3,487) saw a 7.9 percent decline in arrivals over 2010.

Despite the decline in September, the quarter presents a positive outlook for tourism following declining arrivals in both the first (-5.6 percent) and second (-7.3 percent) quarters.

Intra regional arrivals grew 5.8 percent to 12,407 during the 3rd quarter, driven primarily by a 9.3 percent growth in arrivals from the OECS territories and an 8 percent growth in arrivals from the French West Indies.  There were also increased arrivals from North America; US visitation grew 2.1 percent, while Canadian 3rd quarter visitation was the highest for the decade and grew 10.3 percent over 2010.  Overall, there was 2.3 percent contraction in European arrivals for the quarter, with the highest percentage of that decline as a result 20.4 percent contraction in arrivals from France.  However arrivals from the United Kingdom and German Speaking Markets both grew in the quarter, at 7.5 percent and 45.2 percent, respectively.

There was an 11 percent increase in the number of visitors (excluding medical students) indicating Hotels, Guest Houses, and similar accommodations as their intended place of stay during July to September 2011. Vacation and other leisure reasons for visiting Dominica represented 70 percent of stay over visitation for the quarter, while Meetings and other Business accounted for 10.5 percent and Medical Student arrivals 7 percent.

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10 Comments

  1. Ron
    November 19, 2011

    This is some good news. Congratulation to the tourism sector for their effors. Hope to see a steady increase in the near future.

  2. Oh my
    November 19, 2011

    September is probably because no ferry ran then. Is there any way to keep the ferry running year round now they have 2 boats?

    Most tourists are from French islands in summer/autumn. Ian Douglas ought to take an advert out there instead of wasting money on ‘holidays’ in the UK for Discover Dominica/DHTA.

  3. Tourism Practitioner
    November 18, 2011

    Interesting data. Can we do some comparism with the other OECS countries to see how well we are doing with our immediate competitors.

    Did we have an increase or a decline for the first 9 months of 2011? What about the first and second quarters declines, was the third quarter increase able to offset these two periods or are we showing negative growth for the year to date? This should also be included in your analysis. Also do we have projections for the last quarter of 2k11??? and the calender year 2k11??? Your anaylses must be more thorough that just the increase experienced in the third quarter… this is not good enough Discover Dominica Authority. But good showing for the third quarter noetheless…

    • WIKILEAKS
      November 20, 2011

      Are you really are tourism practioner? What the heck is that, by the way

    • Oh my
      November 21, 2011

      I would think that is easy.

      The other countries have been relying on US and UK visitors that traditionally like beach holidays. Those visitors are drying up for them.

      We on the other hand attract mostly European, young outdoor types. These are increasing.

      Continue doing what we are doing.

  4. ONE STONE
    November 18, 2011

    Why is it that whenever their are good/positive things happening to Dominica the comments are never rapidly flollowing? But for some reason always flows fluently when it’s against Dominica, such as politics. BAD POLITICS!!!!

    • Anonymous
      November 19, 2011

      my guess is there are alot of uwp supporters just waiting for bad news to start commenting! 8)

      • WIKILEAKS
        November 20, 2011

        The role of the UWP is to destroy the country to get Roosevelt Skerrit out.

      • c.bruce
        November 20, 2011

        THE ROLE OF THE OPPOSITION IS TO RESCUE THIS COUNTRY FROM THE CORRUPTION OF SKERRIT AND THE PARASITES WHO SUCK THE WEALTH OF THIS COUNTRY AND I AM NOT UWP. I AM DOMINICAN

  5. ONE STONE
    November 18, 2011

    Why is it that whenever their are good/positive things happening to Dominica the comments are never radidly flollowing? But for some reason always flows fluently when it’s against Dominica, such as politics. BAD POLITICS!!!!

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