Minister for Tourism, Denise Charles-Pemberton, recently revealed that Dominica’s visitor arrivals increased by 10 percent during the last fiscal year.
She made that statement during her presentation to the 2025-2026 National Budget debate this week.
“Let’s look at the results of all what I’ve said. Total visitor arrivals, 435,255. Compared to last fiscal year, this is a 10 percent increase, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 71 percent,” she said. “Cruise calls increased to 232, about 340,021 passengers disembarked. So that is 77 percent disembarking to go on excursions, 6 percent more than last season. “
According to the minister, stay-over visitors increased by 5 percent compared to 2024- 2025.
“But surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 35 percent,” she revealed. “Projections for next season. anticipate 251 calls with a total capacity of 533,611 passengers [and] 12 new inaugural calls.
Additionally, she said the cruise season is extended and wraps in August, as opposed to April.
“Business is bright and creamy in Dominica [and] our projections for our stayover visitors in 2025, 100,000 Mr. Speaker, and we are about 45 percent towards our target,” Charles-Pemberton said.
There is NOTHING to crow about tourism in Dominica. This is a lame attempt by the Tourism Minister to hoodwink the gullible that her ministry is functioning optimally. Nothing is further from the truth.
Just compare tourist arrivals with St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Antigua, Grenada and even St. Vincent. Dominica remains steadfast at the bottom rung of the ladder. That’s the unvarnished TRUTH!
stop blowing bubbles…compare to other Caribbean islands…are u proud of the port ? since Euginia Charles when she made the cruise ship beth….what have u all done to improve the port? container boats come and head back with companies goods ….are u proud? tourists and local walk around forklift and heavy equipment on the port….are you proud of this?you all are much to narrow minded