CEO of Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), Colin Piper, has said that overall visitor arrivals to Dominica plummeted towards the end of 2015 and the organization is in the process of implementing new strategies to market the island.
Speaking at the launch of Tourism Awareness Month on Wednesday morning, he hinted that the passage of Tropical Storm Erika, in August 2015, was responsible for the great decline.
“The visitor arrival numbers increased from 74,000 in 2009, to 81,500 in 2014,” he explained. “And, in 2015, we were on par to accomplish our estimation of 81,500 visitors, until that fateful day of August 27, 2015. As a result, fourth quarter visitor arrivals dropped precipitously and we ended the year with final figures of 74,500.”
He pointed to natural disasters, health issues, access challenges — particularly air access — and name recognition issues with the Dominican Republic, as challenges to the growth and success of the industry.
Piper stated that the DDA is in the process of implementing new strategies to market Dominica as a tourist destination.
“DDA is in the final stages of a tendering process to strengthen its market representation in the US, Canada, France, and in the German-speaking countries of Europe,” he articulated. “DDA is also in the process of tendering for a rebranding initiative, to look at the destination’s positioning, its creative look, and communication strategy to target markets, and its website look and theme.”
In the short term, he said, DDA is working with agents in the French West Indies, specifically with a mandate towards summer travel.
Additionally, Piper reiterated DDA’s commitment to “attracting more of the right visitors to the destination, working to diversify and develop product offering to the destination, to train our human resource to be the differentiating factor of memories and experiences among other islands visited in the Caribbean.”
Meantime during the opening ceremony for Tourism Awareness Month, Special Recognition Awards were bestowed on taxi operator, Margel Durand, tour guide, Simon Rolle, and Jungle Trekking & Adventure Safaris for their outstanding contribution to tourism on the island.
Also, Managing Director of Whitchurch Tours, Gerry Aird, received the Director of Tourism Award, while Johann Werner, proprietor of Salton Waterfalls, garnered the Minister of Tourism Award.
This Guy Colin what ever his name is need to go back where he came from. Culture in Dominica was better off before this guy and his foolishness took control over Dominica’s cultural events. He needs to go he is bringing down the culture.
Clearly the officials at DDA along with the Ministry of Tourism and by extension the private and public sectors have failed in their collective effort to grow the tourism sector.
Mr Colin Piper as CEO/ Director of Tourism/ Head of DDA must take responsibility for the failure of the tourism sector in Dominica… He have to expose the Government’s unwillingness to support the sector with more marketing and administrative funds and in providing more incentives to allow the sector to grow not to decline… If Piper has any balls left then he should resign to show that he is not in support with the way things are done or accept the responsible for failure if he decides to stay… This is just a laughing stalk
In any other job this unproductive,uninspiring CEO of DDA would be fired. He has been in that position for about to 7 years and Tourism has only declined under him. What else can he do.
All this is a manifestation of Skerronomics. Putting square pegs in round holes.
But then again Skerrit is a square peg in a round hole so what do you expect?
Ka mem, Erika kay wivay bat zor akor. Stay and sleep in the office and say is Erika dat do. Fix up the capital, sakway toneh. Nothing wrong with Emerald pool and boiling lake.
Talking about people mixing up DR with Dominica. So when we change Dominica to La Dominique or whatever the h*8llll it is, and yet Roseau is the same old slum, what exactly will be the result? Ah tell me. But I do hope that by that time they cut the parrot’s face off the body and stick yours on it in the centre of the flag.
I wonder what was the old marketing strategy that was implemented? we NEED to focus on PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT! develop more viable sustainable products here which we are able to keep going for ages to come. No longer can we simply rely on emerald pool and trafalgar falls. these places are getting like dunns river with long lines. Our entertainment and nightlife industry needs a boost. We cant rely on hiking and day time activities. Roseau is a mess! our roads are a mess! WE have everything we need but we have no idea what to do with it! our playing fields are all a mess, why cant we develop sports tourism? we can be premier for health and wellness but no testing facilties for testing health and wellness products for personal body use. What is our problem here? why cant we see a clear vision and just go for it? why do think talking is all we should do? If we dont know what to do with the country just sell it! and let others give us jobs and better livlihoods because these people dont know
and by products i dont mean more hotels. i mean sites and attractions. 365 rivers we say. take one or two and develop it with pools and changing facilities and restaurants. Rebuild Layou or take advantage of the rivers on the East. There is basically nothing going on in the east. We need to start building up the little hamlets and communities where everyone can benefit. not jus those in roseau and portsmouth.
What strategy????????? Let’s start by developing Roseau, customer service and access and order at the sites for tourists since we want to maintain visitors even if the numbers are not that high. Only after we address these fundamental issues we can talk about air access – Before we even think of a bigger airport we need to build an advanced medical center in the north along with required facilities like hotels etc.
Do we really think the big airlines will land in Dominica when they know there is no accomcodation within reach in case of an emergency?
Do we really think the big airlines will land in Dominica when we do not have the numbers to fill up an airplane?
The people who run the tourism industry know very well what needs to be done. We need to stop talking and start putting in place measures to reach our goal since it will take time. Let’s all play our part…
Seriously! I am so sick and tired of hearing this crap year on year. A NEW Marketing Strategy??? What for? You people have so much money to waste on inpractical in-tray excersises and pay no attention to the hard realities that are steering you in the face. Dominica is a natural gem beyond compare that does not need superficial marketing campaigns to fool people into coming to her shaws. Dominica needs for her people and inhabitants to love her, respect her, protect her, clean her. We must simply remember that our island home is a beautiful and magnificent women, her name is interpreted as Tall is her Body. Every women loves and needs to be cared for, cherrised, loved, honored and respected. My advice to the so-callec Tourism Bods, stop wasting money just to keep your jobs and invest in a full scale development of a Green economy in Dominica and watch her flourish! Invest in educating her people on how and why they must care for this island and Dominica will florish.
You mean to tell me in 2016 you people are still speaking about new marketing strategies my foot. You have your staff on a plane everyday what do they do when they go out there, I thought that was part of marketing or is it a joy ride. With the amount of money spent, there is still a confusion with Dominician Republic, you must be dreaming. Dominica is not a real country. stupes
Dominicans stop attacking piper,we all know the problem is air access to dominica.it was not colin who advised the govt.not to build long range airport. So stop attacking the man for trying in such a difficult situation.
As if air access is the only issue right? Oh please…. He not seeing the state of Roseau? A big fat back yard ghetto? It upsets locals much less for visitors from first world countries. Air access is one of the drops of water in the bucket.
The last time I checked he said we did not need an international airport.
DDA is simply not “in it to win it”. Bad air access, indifferent expensive service, Roseau the pedestrian death trap, political hacks doing the marketing, and the list goes on. We have needed a major restructure for ten years or more…
Start all over. It can be done successfully, but not with the tools we are currently using. Our beautiful Island has so much to offer.
Once again where is the money ku wait government gave Dominica after the water and sewage project to reenstate roads side walk etc in Roseau? Look at the roads. Side walks. Abandon lots. And list goes on.. lord have mercy..
Man you guys are talking because you have a job and you must talk but you yourself don’t even believe what you are saying, beside TS Erika you outlined 2 to 3 other contributing factors which hampers tourism, and you cant find a solution, well at least you identify some problems….Do you know the kind of mathematical operation one has to do to get to this place called Dominica and even more so to get out ?. Whats kills me with you guys eh you all travel every day to other countries you all see how it is done out there yet you all come back to Dominica and just talk instead of implementation…Man do you know the definition of Madness ?
How can the tourism board expect people to come to a land where there have not been any proper facilities in place to receive those people?
Time and time again I have ask the Dominican Tourism Board to go to islands like SM , Bahamas and St. Thomas and see how they do what they do to attract that number of tourist and to replicate it here in Dominica.
But I guess hard heads make soft buuts , thus we are feeling the financial burdens . We maybe do not have the right people in the right places.
The same people doing the same thing getting the same result and no one asks why are they still there.
Mr Piper marketing effectiveness is most dependent on how you execute.
First and foremost, you need a hefty budget with detailed analysis of how DDA expects to spend money in future time periods. Will Skerrit give you the money you require – if not, forget it you are wasting your and taxpayers’ time and money.
Effective tourism marketing calls for a lot of bucks, so please don’t make a mockery of the discipline but trying to improve a bankrupt commodity sector – plague by a lack of funding or resources to make it better.
From Europe to Guadeloupe Martiniqe to Dominica. With scheduled trips from Express d’Ilses ferry this us one option. now from North America there must be a way by Ferry.
The travel agencies must work with the airline agencies to put packages together..
Where are the long term strategies of thees so called intelligent minds….in Tourism..
In the 21st Century we are repeating the same issues that hindered Dominica’s development since the 1800’s. What have Governments done for Dominica to overcome these challenges since we gained independence in 1978? “He pointed to natural disasters, health issues, access challenges — particularly air access — and name recognition issues with the Dominican Republic, as challenges to the growth and success of the industry.”
The sleep walking tourism destination planner, sounds strange but true. Time to pack up bro. Open the door for new blood.
Director of tourism one minute, CEO of DDA the next… I’m confused, a salary for each post or the one post split in 2 headings?, how it work nuh zor?
…. Anyway, looks like some people have too much for themselvses so the same cornflakes get soggied in milk, dried in the oven then go back in the milk. Same stale milk same old recycled cornflakes.
There are ways to get to DA without overnighting. You have to just be smart about it. You fly from the US into Barbados and then take the late flight to DA. My way of doing this is to book with an American airline to Barbados then book via Liat website for your trip from Barbados to DA. Book two seperate flights and you will be golden. You can also do this if you would rather go through St Martin or Puerto Rico. It just takes some effort on your part to organize your trip. I would rather go home on a staight flight but when better can’t be done you accept what you have and make the best of it.
Really ,like how much are they paying this moron to talk this crap every time with ZERO results….
Why put blame on de piper? What’s here in Dominica worth seeing? Chooooops
The tourist dem say Roseau Dominica has no place to walk and they tripping on broken concrete all over tong.
Aside from TS Erika, one of the problems is with LIAT’s airline service cut to Dominica and having to overnight in either Antigua or Barbados.
Another problem is tourists are accosted by criminals and their personal possessions stolen.
Recall the lady from Brazil who owned a hotel and was murdered.
News travel far and wide. These types of news could tarnish Dominica’s image. It is as disappointing for Dominica nationals who reside overseas.
I do not know what you can do about that. I will not offer you advice. You and your colleagues will have to decide what viable strategy you could establish to restore an acceptable level of visitors.
“Aside from TS Erika, one of the problems is with LIAT’s airline service cut to Dominica and having to overnight in either Antigua or Barbados.’
Madam the Facts face, you are once again caught by me the ugly crocodile from the black lagoon, according to that yellow woman. But once again you are playing games. You are now blaming Erika, and LIAT for the tourist not wanting to visit Dominica.
I do not wish to call you sot, and liar; because I know you very well know that people are not interested to put themselves in misery traveling to Dominica, to dabble in filth, get robbed, no decent places of entertainment and recreation to go to relax.
We do not have any modern, or class hotels to accommodate visitors, Dominica is a dead place, curiosity will cause a few people to visit, but their experience while visiting will prevent them from returning, and remember word of mouth when they return home can do plenty of damage.
LIAT cut back only happened last week, it has nothing…
Tourists cannot get to the country in the first place because of how hard air travel into the country is. And that is the whole reason why liat playing around with the country because they know we don’t have much options. When this government decide to get serious and build our international airport we can start to see a spark of change but for now we will just sit here and blame all kind of trivial things for our plight of a declining tourism industry
Please just stop thinking so small about everything or doing just enough. Even after the difficulty of flying there one must view it from a foreigners perspective, the roads are just too narrow, they needs to be at least twice as large to accommodate larger vehicles, foot traffic, bicycles, motorcycles and reduce the traffic significantly. If the government need to enforce imminent domain to do this they must. Besides being too narrow there is very little lighting at nights, you need this for security cameras and safe passage of pedestrians and crime prevention. Street lights don’t even need to be on the grid they can be solar powered, its a small Island all this can be done, .
Not often I agree with you Udo but I can not fault you on this one. All these things are obvious to anyone who cares to see. Dominica has become a cast-off. Why should people spend their money to come and visit us to see us in this state? I’m ashamed of my own country and that makes me mad.
Piper all of you are full of fart!
there is absolutely no marketing strategy you nor the devil in hell can develop to cause more people to visit Dominica.
Where are you marketing? Antigua, Martinique, or in Marigot and Wesley? Dominica is not known as a tourist destination, baloney talk will not bring people to Dominica. Have you ever traveled internationally on any large commercial passenger aircraft, and when you look into their flight schedule, and route where you see the itinerary in red.
Have you ever seen a red mark heading in the geographic direction to Dominica?
Well, each time I fly internationally I check: I see flights to Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobado, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico Guyana St. Martin, and other places to where that Airline fly’s.
Never once I saw a route and the name Dominica , nor nature island recorded there.
When you are leaving England traveling to Dominica, you do not here “passengers traveling to Dominica board the aircraft. You…
When you are leaving England traveling to Dominica, you do not here “passengers traveling to Dominica board the aircraft. You will here; traveling to Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad, or some other place, you had better know which flight you are on, and make sure you will get a flight from that destination to Dominica.
People cannot get to Dominica from many places and even if they arrive there, the streets are dirty, there are gangs robbing people and tourism system is not up to par in terms of hospitality. you have to put yourself in the shoes of the person visiting. Try booking a flight from the places you want people to visit from all over the world then you will see the magnanimous effort it takes to get to Dominica as well as the level of unprofessional ism people encounter. Dominica is just for Dominicans, and even now with all the negativity its hard to consider booking a vacation there. The Island has so much to offer but the people are whats holding it back, they are so caught up in negativity they cannot see their own potential nor trust and help each other develop.
So you are marketing Dominica to the INTL market with limited air access to the island Mr. Piper and you expect positive result for tourism.
Wasting the tax payers money again…when will they fire this gentleman?
Piper….Your presentation should be AAA( Triple A)- Access Access Access
Without adequate and proper ACCESS tourism is not going anywhere!!!!!!
Start measuring the money spent in Dominica per visitor…thats the only measure that truly matters…we dont need thousands of cruise ship tourists buying imported Chinese souvenirs in Roseau..we need small numbers of high spenders putting real dollars into across the island.
Heard of anything high spender worthy implemented by Piper lately?
Collin Piper should be relieved of his position!
And whom would you replace him with? Another manager that has to sing and dance to the whims of a puppet master, who pulls the strings? This ministry is micro-managed by Roosevelt Skerrit like everything else in this country and nothing gets done unless he approves of it and claim it as his credit. Nothing will change in Dominica until its head its changed.
How many new strategies and rebranding exercises has he overseen ? It’s high time for an injection of fresh ideas and personnel.
Piper, instead of these rebranding strategies that are drwan up in your office, let me give you a bit of free advice.
I am a Dominican and I love my country very much. I also travel extensively both for business and vacation. I travel to the Caribbean frequently. Nothing would make me happier than to visit Dominica. However, I seldom set foot in Dominica because of the hassle it takes to get there from North America. I just could not be bothered to spend my vacation overnighting in Antigua or Barbados, not to mention the added cost of doing that.
Instead I fly directly to other islands where I get off the plane and head to my destination.
If you make it easier for me to get to DA, I will come more often. I guarantee you that.
No marketing strategy will make me put up with the trouble to get to Dominica.
I think you’re overstating how much you love your country if that’s what’s blocking you from coming.
Stealth, there is a large world out there and when I spend I do not like to work too hard doing it.
P{iper you too got to go.. Dominica cant afford to have nerdish behaviors for that job.. All you do is carry suits around with no positive imputes..
LMAO!!! Excuses excuses! You mean to tell me travel agents and people coming to Dominica do not know the difference between us and the Dominican Republic STILL????? In 2016 with so much technology at everyone’s fingertips??? Come better than that sir!!
It’s too easy to criticise. Well done Dominica keep trying.
New marketing strategy??? You mean you had a previous “marketing strategy”?? I tell u, I have to start wearing stretchie pants before I read statements from these comedians, cause I always end up busting my pant button with laughter.
waste of money with that marketing strategy. Get access to this country in order. Air access, all kind of access.
If dem fellas were in America, they would be FIRED!
While the economy is nearing collapse,,,Skerrit and the gang of lazies are trying every trick in the book to remain in power.
The clueless so called Professional and Policy makers of Dominica…haha..
Good work guys…your numbers are highly impressive….haha
Bunch of Jokers!!!
Spencer a band on Labor Day weekend in NYC. Over 3 million people visit that carnival every year. We need a Dominica flag saying,VISIT DOMINICA.COM. Every little island has there flags on that day. Massive promoting for our island. You have to help the local bands to make that happen. Sir it is very expensive to have a band to promote where we came from so help the put Dominica on the map every year
How comes this man stayed in this job for so long? Only in Dominica!
The worst part is that, he has not produced any tangible results, unproductive! The country needs people who are willing to take some calculated risk for our improvement.