Dominica was spotlighted as one of the Caribbean’s fastest-growing and top-performing tourism destinations during a major presentation at CHTA Marketplace 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda.
The country participated as a Gold Sponsor at the Caribbean’s premier tourism marketplace, where CEO and Director of Tourism Marva Williams delivered a destination presentation during an official press conference held on May 14. The event brought together regional and international media representatives, travel partners, and tourism stakeholders, shared a DDA press release.
The Association reports that during the presentation, Williams outlined the island’s recent tourism performance, improvements in air connectivity, and several large-scale projects aimed at strengthening Dominica’s tourism industry over the long term.
“Dominica is entering one of the most transformative periods in its tourism development,” said Marva Williams. “We are seeing strong visitor growth, major investment in national infrastructure, and increasing global interest in destinations centered on authenticity, wellness, sustainability, and meaningful experiences. Dominica is well-positioned within that global shift.”
According to the release, Williams revealed that total visitor arrivals climbed by an average of 15 percent in 2025, increasing from 432,989 visitors in 2024 to 496,635. The growth was attributed to continued increases in both stayover and cruise tourism.
Stayover arrivals rose by 19 percent in 2025, reaching 99,846 visitors and surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 figures. Early figures for 2026 also showed continued momentum, with first-quarter stayover arrivals up by an additional 10 percent compared with the same period in 2025.
DDA indicates that cruise tourism also recorded strong gains. Between October 2025 and April 2026, Dominica welcomed 409,761 cruise passengers, marking a 23 percent increase over the previous season and representing the island’s best cruise performance since the 2010/2011 season.
The presentation also focused on Dominica’s destination marketing initiatives, including the “Nature of Love” campaign, which promotes the island as a destination for romance, wellness, adventure, and immersive nature experiences.
Williams additionally encouraged travelers to “Summer the Nature Island Way,” inviting visitors to explore Dominica’s hiking, diving, wellness activities, culinary offerings, and family-oriented experiences during the summer months.
Reportedly, several major development projects were also highlighted during the briefing. These included construction of the international airport, development of the geothermal energy plant, and the Dominica Cable Car project, which officials say is expected to become the world’s longest mono cable car system when completed in October 2026.
Updates were also provided on expansion within the marine and hospitality industries, including plans for a new full-service marina, continued development of wellness tourism, and the creation of the world’s first Sperm Whale Reserve.
Williams further noted Dominica’s growing recognition internationally, including its recent inclusion by National Geographic among the Best Places in the World to Travel in 2026.
During the event, Williams also pointed to Dominica’s inclusion in Caribbean Travel Trends 2026 Magazine, which identified the island as one of the region’s strongest-performing tourism destinations, citing 22 percent year-over-year growth fueled by increased demand for nature and adventure tourism.
As tourism development continues across the island, officials said Dominica remains committed to sustainable growth, climate resilience and community-based tourism initiatives designed to support the economy while protecting the island’s environment and cultural heritage.
The Discover Dominica Authority also expressed appreciation to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association for the opportunity to participate in Marketplace 2026 and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening tourism partnerships across regional and international markets.
DOMINICA
With its new geothermal plant going online, Dominica has a lot going for it.
I am by no means an electrical engineer, but in my humble layman’s opinion, if excess capacity can be built in, Dominica could also become a new destination for (AI) Data Centers. The demand for electricity by these international (AI) Data Centers is projected to be insatiable.
Let’s go Dominica!