As Dominica joins the rest the world today in celebrating World Tourism Day, Minister for Tourism, Senator Robert Tonge is highlighting the importance of tourism as “one of the main engines responsible for thousands of jobs in Dominica.”
In an address to the nation, Tongue said the sector allows persons to support themselves and their families and helps them to be fully integrated into the national economy and society.
“Our industry is indeed one of the main engines of growth and an effective tool for poverty elevation and raising standards among people. This industry is what drives economic and social development in our country, linking with other key segments of the productive sectors in agriculture, food, and beverage, transportation, telecommunications, cultural entertainment and a host of other key activities,” Tonge stated.
“There is no doubt that we are on the course of something special in our tourism as we witness an increase in the level of investment in the sector by both the public and private sector. Private sector investment led by the development under the Citizen by Investment Programme (CBI) has manifested its confidence in the sector by undertaking a wide range of amazingly impressive and high-quality projects.”
He said this new confidence in tourism has resulted in the creation of hundreds of jobs in the construction of high-end properties, improvement in major infrastructures like roads and ports facilities and a number of new ventures supporting the industry.
Tonge added that not all jobs are restricted to only the construction of hotels and resorts as persons who are professionally skilled in jobs such as taxi and transportation services, tour guiding and vending of arts and craft are being employed as well as a wide range of administrative and managerial professions in hotel management, accounting and human resource management are also made available.
He further stated that the sector is also promoting a model of tourism where the local population benefits from the development of tourism in their communities or districts.
“We are investing in community-based tourism development and the transfer of scales to a large number of tourism workers. In the past few months alone, your government has invested large sums in training for tourism industry employees and we are hoping to soon establish a fully fletched tourism and hospitality institute to train this and future generations of tourism workers.”
Tonge said as Dominica celebrates its 41st year of independence, the tourism sector is commenting itself in building a more resilient country and seeking to rejuvenate the sense of community and togetherness among all Dominicans.
Same old broken promises Tonge.
Pay the people’s insurance claims instead of coming on here and talk your nonsense
whats up with my comment?
ADMIN: Please check again if you still don’t see it let us know.
Always negative comment when will our people say thanks for a good job and show some kind care and love for country even is not your party at work its for your fellow country men that are getting the job.
Constructive criticisms should be welcomed by any sensible government. Dominica, with all its physical features and natural beauty has the lowest tourist arrivals of all the major OECS countries. Is that something to applaud? Tourism, like all things economic, is underperforming. There is nothing to smile about in this country. Things are bleak and getting bleaker.
Wallace, what job well done BULLOCKS you talking bout? Them man can’t account 1.2 Billion dollars, monies donated by various agencies after Maria, Forcing Ross to abandon our shores after 30 plus years, drove agriculture into the ground and you still believe they need a big thank you? Man you are even sicker than than these hooligans you seems always to be sucking up to. Come on bro, for once please put country first and call a spade a man. WOW! SMMFH in disgust!
The tourism industry is rapidly declining thanks to the worst minister of tourism in the entire world, Robert Tonge. The prime minister had every right to reject you even after you lunched yourself with a group of gangsters and mostly drug dealers. Only in the public sector would a failure like you still have a job.
My fervent hope is that the school children listening to you, grow up with their “”shame glands”” intact!!
Robbie you are so shameless my friend!!!!
I am really feeling sorry for you!
Hundreds of jobs for foreign workers!
I suspect Melisa will not be the candidate for Roseau Central so Tongue is trying to see if he can impress Skerrit? You see, Skerrit fired, rejected and recycled Dr, Darroux and Petter St. Jean so another reject is trying to see if he can make it through the recycled policy of Skerrit
Man STOP using the young men of our past school in your garbage. Is a habit you all have now using innocent children in your BS. Why the Catholic Church and principle of SMA allowed the boys to be used in this propaganda political pic anyway? You Robbie went to SMA where morals, integrity, honesty and the principle of country first reigned supreme but you have none of these left in you. Time will tell
Mister again!!!! Does mister-man get some sort of thrill standing in front of a microphone and talk, talk, talk, talk or wha. What is really wrong with Tonge’s tongue nuh?
Stteeeeeuuuuuuuppppppppssssss!!!!
All you, look another article where Tonge is standing in-front a microphone this time talking about flights from Miami – Dominica that he said was supposed to have [SURELY] materialized in 2018.
Reminder – https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/business/tonge-promises-miami-to-dominica-flights-this-year/
You see dem fellas dere boy……………..
#Cabal_of_Jokers
Robert, you need to shut up, what thousand of jobs has tourism created in Dominica?
Guy we are talking about Dominica, where a few, very few tourist ship calls during the tourist season.
The employment it creates perhaps a few taxi drivers might take a few people for a short ride!
It is not as if in Dominica we have exquisite cuisine; and restaurants employing thousands of people dependent on the tourist season to earn a living.
You are a dman liar; tourist eat aboard the ships, they are entertained on the ships, any form of entertainment you can think about they get it on the ship, it is not as if they remain in port for night entertainment.
Man I lived in Europe, been on the largest of tourists ships; I know how it works!
Stop lying you are a liar.
The few people in the streets of Roseau selling scraps of junk, in a whole season might be lucky to make a hundred dollars.
Be back:
So, in conclusion, let me say; if there was an International Airport in Dominica, and the hoteliers, not government were able to attract tourist into their hotel, and able to maintain full capacity, of over-nigh-ting tourist for at least a five or ten day vacation, maybe that may have created a few more employment.
However not in the thousands!
Remember, the many jobs that would be created would be seasonal, that liar don’t know the season does not last year round.
Let Tongue remember and realize that in Carnival time of all the so called hotels in Dominica, none are ever filled with people.
Pick the most popular festival on the island, and if the so called hotel operators want to be truthful they will admit their so called hotels are never filled to capacity!
The last time I talk with some in Dominica about that they told me there are more band instruments in the rooms than people, at that time there was 700 hotel rooms available.
tonge u not ashame skerrit have you doing his dirty work for him in roseau and mel is just there crossing her leg it will be gone very soon