Dominica has begun to receive funds from $3.5-million allocated by the European Union (EU) to help boost the country’s tourism industry.
The money will go towards marketing, according to Tourism Minister Ian Douglas.
“The 10th EDF Budget Support Program will provide an amount of $3.5 million to be allocated to access marketing, aimed at driving the increase in visitor arrivals to accurately capture tourism contribution to the national economy,” Douglas stated at the start of a three-day national tourism summit on Monday.
He noted that the funds will be made available over a period of three years and the first tranche has already been disbursed to start up some projects in the current 2012/2013 budget year.
Douglas also indicated that the construction of a new facility at the Cabrits in Portsmouth will significantly enhance the nation’s tourism sector.
“Government has in the past, and is presently utilizing every available funding opportunity to channel investment into the sector. Consequently, with the support of the government of Morocco, the construction of the cabrits resort and spa, a 60-room hotel is well on its way and is expected to become operational in 2013,” he said.
Douglas said the venture will contribute to an increase in the number of export ready rooms in the sector and rejuvenate the Cabrits and Portsmouth area.
Meantime Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Claudia Bellot, said it is only with a strong, public, private sector partnership that the success in the Tourism Master Plan will be evident.
“The Tourism Master Plan embraces the entire tourism sector. The ministry counts on the continued collaboration on everyone,” she pointed out at the summit.
National Authorizing Officer for the EU Development Fund, Carlene Roberts, said the EU is committed to assisting Dominica in developing its National Tourism Policy and Master Plan.
The national tourism summit is being held to review the island’s tourism policy and tourism master plan.
Good news for Dominica.
I was talking to taxi drivers in Barbados and they all said that they had heard and seen ads for Dominica, but nobody comes still. 5 ppl got off on DA rest was antigua.
They men said they would like to see, but the ladies? Nah man … they want elegance and we doh have that.
So, stop advertising to barbados right away.
Guadeloupe and Martinique is the 99% energy. THAT is the only use of that money. All else is chop.
The EU is the biggest generator of Tourism in the world and we have not taped into that potential (Nathaniel).
I suppose when you say the EU, you mean the European Union, well the European union is made up of practically all of the nations in Europe, and I assure you that I have lived in Germany, England, and spent some time in Denmark, I can tell you Europeans when they decide to take their annual vacation, the Caribbean is not usually part of their plans.
They travel by trains, and ships to their neighboring countries, their favorite play grounds are usually Las Palmas, the Cannery islands, the isle of man, Australia and places like that.
As for Dominica, I have never heard a European talk about visiting Dominica, and when I did try to influence some friends of mine in Cuxhaven West Germany to visit Dominica, the first question to me was how do we get there. When I told them their best option would be to fly to London, via a connecting flight to Antigua or Barbados. The next question was how many hours it takes from England to one of the destinations mentioned, I told them approximately eight hours.
Someone said to me it takes two hours from Cuxhaven to London, then eight hours to the Caribbean making it a total of ten hours, then I them person they would have to transfer from a Jet to a commuter aircraft, I was asked why would one want to go through all that trouble to get there, when they could fly to places like Spain in two hours, with no hassle, and enjoy themselves just the same.
We can dream, but as everything else everything we dream in Dominica, simply boils down to talk!
There is no way that Douglas, or any Dominica politician can influence any European to come to Dominica on vacation when they are very much aware there is no International Airport operating on the island. Believe it or not the name Nature Island will not serve as an influence either.
Ian and company should do what is necessary to get more tourist to visit the island, however, without an International Airport we had better stop talking!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Dorival, I do not intend to be the policeman of this site, but when I read the sort of things that even you write I am forced to respond. Sometimes, the situation is not as we deem it; perhaps it would be proper to do some research before we talk.
Jamaica, the same as all of the other English speaking islands of the Caribbean are former colony’s of Britain, the economy of Jamaica was vibrant, even after their independence. The Jamaican Dollar was the highest in the Caribbean: at one time the exchange was eight (EC$8.00 ) dollars East Caribbean currency to one Jamaican Dollar. Remember in the colonial days Jamaica used the pound sterling the same as England.
Figure that out if you can!
After their Independence they continue to use the pound, until they decided to print their own money, whatever the problem they decided to let their currency float, and I am not going to explain that, perhaps some Dominica economist can explain that to you.
Things went don hill from there on so too the Banana industry which held the economy together became extinct, no more bananas are ship from Jamaica to England. In spite of that, you cannot compare Jamaica’s economy to Dominica’s, if anything, the two International Airports in Jamaica, is serving a very successful purpose, because millions of people travels to Jamaica annually.
So, be the case the economy of Jamaica is supported by their International Airport, and the many other industries on the island.
You might be happy to learn that the Resorts Sandals originated in Jamaica, owned by totally by a Jamaican, our people need to stop making foolish comparisons between Dominica and elsewhere. You people are cowards, and afraid of progress, Dominica will never become a productive place as long as such mentality persists!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
“The money will go towards marketing, according to Tourism Minister Ian Douglas.”
That joker Ian Douglas is at it again; here he come talking about three million ($3.5 million) five hundred thousand dollars to be used in promoting, or marketing Dominica. That small amount of money can only be spent in Dominica on advertisement; perhaps it might be wise to give some of that money for their services, and allowing the name Dominica to be seen in print internationally on their site.
If this guy has to buy Television time to advertise Dominica on any network at prime time in North America, or Europe, that meager amount may not be enough to buy a sixty second spot.
If Ian believe it is cheap, and cost peanut change to advertise, and promote tourism, perhaps he should talk to the management of Dominica’s Jungle Bay Hotel. I saw then advertise once at prime time on the Price is right, where a woman won a trip to Dominica complements of Jungle Bay, since then I have not seen anymore of their commercial on any other network in the United States.
I suppose it all has to do with the high cost of such advertising!
Perhaps the people who are giving you their money to waste does not know that Dominica does not have an International Airport. You Ian can go into your pocket, and use your personal Dominica dollars to market Dominica as a tourist destination; nothing different will happen unless you and the Government build an International Airport.
And that Blue and White thing that they say was just certified, and made trial flights to Dominica is not going to change anything, that will not bring any more tourist to Dominica, and certainly your dream of regular night flights and landings at Melville Hall is a dream the Labor Party will never realize!
Build an International Airport; if nothing different happens, look for me the kid, and either shoot me or chop off my head with your Dominica cutlass, and when the police arrest you for my murder, tell them I agreed to my murder for giving you bad advise.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
My advise is sound and founded so that is why I insists on the construction of an International Airport.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Jamaica has two international airports and look at the state of the Jamaican economy.
Antigua has an international airport and the gov’t cannot even pay public servants on time. (The Antiguan gov’t just told public servants they cannot get paid for March until after Easter…that is after public servants were paid two weeks late in February).
St. Lucia has an international airport and Kenny Anthony telling St Lucians to brace themselves for tough times and the St Lucian government is in deadlock with the civil service union because it doesn’t want to grant pay raise because of the lack of money.
Is an international airport really the answer? You maybe right eh, I not saying you are wrong…but I don’t think just building an international airport is going to make everything good, just like that.
We need the ability to accommodate at least a narrow body jet. A 34-Seat aircraft is not the answer. It is not cost effective.
Dorival I understand that you have an emotional responsibility to defend your party by and on any means necessary. You laborites are always so quick jump on board the misery and company ship. Just to facetious when we were giving Antigua and Anguilla money according to SKERRIT that is we didn’t have an international airport.
FET is very adamant about having an international airport and I agree with him. Dorival does not have an argument at all so seeks refuge in pointing out the miseries of St Lucia and Antigua. But let us be honest bot islands have gone ahead of Dominica with the aid of international air access. Dorival forgot to mention that St Vincent has fiscal problems too but they are opening up their international airport.
It is people like Dorival who made arguments that night landing is all we need but night landing has not yielded any insignificant improvement. Dorival also forgot to mention St Kitts who 11 years ago also did not have a international standard airport and now is way ahead of Dominica.
So those apologists like Dorival who think that we are incapable of managing and utilizing an international airport facility to make us more competitive with the other islands I can only say I do understand your position cause for the last 13 years people like Dorival has sailed a ship of mediocrity, insolence, ineffeicience , underperformance, retrogression and depression. Keep sailing while using your intelligence to protect fools.
yes u idiot,stop being brainwashed.
Mamizoo, so because I think Dominica cannot afford an international airport at this time, I am a laborite?
Hahahahahaha
You people are incredibly small minded.
“perhaps it might be wise to give some of that money for their services, and allowing the name Dominica to be seen in print internationally on their site.”
Francisco boy , you blew it again!
What that boy wanted to say was “perhaps it might be wise to give some of that money to DNO for their services, by allowing the name Dominica to be seen in print internationally on their site.”
I believe they are doing a better job advertising Dominica, than what your meager three million five-hundred thousand dollars will do!
Pay DNO for their services, and by all means for having your picture on their site. I closing mine down as of the end of this month, caus caus, nobody doh giving me no advertisementeh, have not advertised one single thing in more than twenty years.
Well, the truth is I did not want to advertise anything; money was not the alternative, or motive.
FET.
Dominica’s tourism product will not see any significant improvements until the “Elephant in the Room” Air Access, is properly addressed. While an international airport appears to be out of reach at this moment for various reasons that have been lamented on this website, overall air access needs a total make-over as the promises of Melville Hall Airport upgrade/rehabilitation did not pan out.
1. We need the capability of “Real Night Landing”
2. A runway capable of accepting at least a narrow-body jet is required
3. Customer service and hotel accommodation (More hotel rooms are also required)
4. A vibrant night-life
5. I will give the present administration credit for a vastly improved infrastructure. Our road network has definitely gotten better during the last five years.
This is a case of the “Chicken and egg question.” I’m not sure which one of the issues on my list should be tackled first, but I am confident that the current status-co atmosphere will not yield the desired outcomes that we have been patiently awaiting.
Someone in a leadership position in Dominica has to beat their chest and stake their public service record on securing a proper jet airport for Dominica. Failure to do so will yield more status-co results.
Building an international airport in Dominica at this point in time is like building a house without a foundation.
Presently Dominica doesn’t have the infrastructural foundation to support an international airport. Our roads, hotel rooms, night life and the like that will attract visitors en masse to the island are nothing to write home about.
Many of the other islands with international airports have to actually pay airlines to land at their airports. Just check how much Jamaica and St. Lucia are paying AA to come to these islands. With our already tight budgets Dominica cannot afford to pay airlines to land on the island.
When we have the infrastructural development and support, then I will say we ready for an international airport.
At present we are not.
Dorival my friend, don’t you know that an International airport in any country is absolutely part of the country’s infrastructure?
Roads, buildings, such as hospitals, and all government buildings, even the State House, Elude mansion, the sport stadium, the junior college, primary, and secondary school, the court system, and prison, the guess houses they call hotels in Dominica churches, and the homes we dwell into all are part of our nation infrastructure.
Now if you tell me we need to develop hotel, and resorts of that part of the infrastructure I will agree with you, however the foundation exists for the international airport; if Stupidity did not cause the coalition government to shut down the one the UWP had began working on it would be in operation a long time go.
Be reminded if St. Vincent has the foundation to support an International Airport so too is Dominica.; however the Labor Party followed Gonzalez advise, and squandered approximately four hundred million dollars on the pink and green Elephant Melville Hall Airport; talking about installing landing lights which will cause aircrafts to land all day and night: up to now not a single one has landed after eight o’clock in the night.
When I was a young boy, Carlton Felix St. Lucian born was the first air traffic controller at Melville Hall he was my friend, I would sit with him, until the last flight of the day landed and took off, he would then take me home to Wesley, and then go to his home in Roseau.
Aircrafts (LIAT) would sometimes land and take off between 7:30 and 8:30 P. M. without landing lights, today the tradition continues. If you find an aircraft landing at Melville Hall between 7:00 & 8:00 P. M. it is not due to the landing lights on the pink and green Elephant.
So you see political stupidity has caused our country to be so backward?
The moral of my comments here is simply that the money which the Labor Party wasted on the landing lights could have built an International Airport decorated with the same lights now on the airport, and that a fact
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Garçon doh worry wiff dem EU people,,,
Since beginning of time dem Albinos have been manipulating economies and look at their banks and economies still failing they moved all deir manufacturing to Asia and India and depended on Service industry and look at dem now,,,
Garçon you ever heard of the concept of creating residual income???
Take dat money and revamp the “Farm to Market” program that we had in the 80s,,,
Right dere in front of your doorstep was Ma Olive doing her huckstering vibes, think about it for a minute and see how mamzelle built an empire on just buying produce and reselling it over there in them lands dat cannot produce food like how we can on Dominica,,,
Garçon you should look at the failing tourism industry in Neighboring islands, Marn know you was in Barbados for a while studying , if dem man dem hurting and they have all the various attractions for Tourism is not Dominica that can reinvent the Wheel,,,
How RBD made his money was with Hamstead Garçon what is going on wiff allyou nuh,,,
There is a saying “if you not part of the solution you must be part of the problem”,,,
No matter how much investment funds EU or dem Chinaman dem dump into the tourism sector in Dominica, Dominica will never have a thriving tourism industry,,,
Well done rasta. It’s all about building Dominica up to be the sustainable island that it used to and still can be.
Dem fellas always getting assistance, can’t u fellas do anything, it was a waste of money education the tourism minister.
We need good sidewalks… promoting health and tourism as well.
Some tourists would prefer to walk around in Roseau to also the Botanical Gardens. The first view of the town the tourists will notice is the condition of the streets of Roseau. They should be repaired with proper drainage and sidewalks. This should be one of the priorities. In addition, clean roads and not smelly ones.
I hope the money will be wisely spent. Time will tell.
they have a master plan i hope they are thinking of the argricutural as part of the master plan. cause they work hand in hand
Yes and yes, BUT we all got to understand that we need to stop the banana blindfold and get the crops that the world want to pay good money for.
Anyway …. that boats sank … you gonna row that food?
Any one we put there are going to be the same or worse, the are six of one, half a dozen of the other. All of them are the same. Once u put them in charge, the rest is history. Every one is looking for their selves. This is a doggy dog world.
I know someone already mention airport ..but guys there lies our solution to tourism issues. mr minister while we have the chinese here and this is only a suggestion .let them help to build and finace this project.rest of caribbean would never see dominica after that ..so folks wake up and get this ball rolling for dominica .
Yessss Mr.Miniter..Tourism marketing,that’s good.
But what are you all doing about the violence towards the tourist and more so at large.
Yes.. it’s one story to get them there…but it’s another when they get there..What awaits them..only to be robbed,beaten,reaped etc.
It’s like shooting you’ll selves in the legs.
Mr. Minister, how are these tourists/visitors supposed to get there? We have a 34-Seat aircraft leaving daily from San Juan and one a bit larger in LIAT’s ATR aircraft. Do you understand that we are being robbed on the San Juan to Dominica route because we cannot accommodate larger aircraft with more people, thus reducing the price of each ticket? Do you also understand that given the state of the global economy, those who can afford a vacation will fly more economically if they can?
Thanks.
name me an independent nation that is doing without an international airport.
nowhere in history an independent nation can survive without an international airport.dominican need to study economics.they to stop repeating after skerrit,and do their research.
But The questions to ask is how much longer will DOMINICANS allow these guys in Govt to continue playing them for fools all of a sudden we get funds for all sort of projects except for an International Airport which will not only bring more people into D’ica but will also create jobs for all especially young people so why it’s only when election fever is in the air money begin to flow into DA and still doesn’t go to the right projects
yea,i would shake your big toe man.
That, of course, is nonsense. Andorra, Lichtenstein and San Marino have no airport at all… nither does Palestine or (the glaring one) Monaco. Half the Malanesian and Polynesian Islands have airstips smaller than Melville Hall and ALL of these countries have thriving economies and massive tourism industries. (look it up … quick Google search will do this). Fixating on this lack of an international airport as the impediment to our advancement is at best misguided and at worse an illusory political stick to beat successive governments with. Most of all it provides an excuse for us not to get of our butts and look for viable creative solutions … as the others listed above have done
u sound so ignorant,go back to school.
Well Dominica don’t really need an international airport yeh as Guadeloupe and Martinique right there 30 minutes on either sides with one each,,,
All we need an inexpensive service from either of those two islands and we can see some difference in traffic,,,
But even if we have international airport and even if Dominica gets the traffic where all those people going to drive when they all start coming, not on those little winding roads nuh,,,
where is the night life and entertainment for dem when dey come???
have you all thought about dat yet???
where are the casinos, horse and dog racing for them to gamble deir money, not even talking about a golf course for dem high-rollers to meet and exchange currency,,,
Garcon is not just putting an international airport and thinking dat will juss fix everything,,,
Too much mountain have to break down for for Dominica to be a competitive market for tourism, and it doh have enough Eco-Tourist to create one either,,,
When dem Caribs designed Dominica it wasn’t for any invaders to penetrate and come over populate to trash, it was deir hideaway, so juss let it stay dat way nuh,,,
In Peace!!!
we need an internatioanal airport.dominican need to stop beening ignorant.
Barbados, Antigua, St. Lucia, Jamaica all have international airport and all are failing economies,,, yes look at the migration of those peoples and that will answer your questions,,,
Was just in Antigua there and the only place that shows signs of a strong tourist presence was at the airport and it was because dem chinaman dem was dere renovating it to make it look a little presentable as it have a huge Hotel/Casino ting right dere next to it,,,
All over the island everybody bawling how tings hard and dem Albinos not coming anymore, all kinna place dem Canadians come and develop are in dilapidated state,,,
Now the only ting Antigua have going for it what dem people doz look and wait for is race-week,,,
Barbados self is another story for another day and not even talking about the overcrowded conditions of St. Lucia where people starting to build make-shift homes over tombs at one of the old cemetery in Castries,,,
Is dat how allyou want Dominica to come nuh???
Don’t believe Marn nuh and go see for allyou self, cause you know d only ting dem man dem artvertising and talking about through the media is D next fete,,,
Rasta-man, I do not wish to call you by any other name beside what you call yourself, however, it the foolish sentiments such as yours which helps to keep Dominica Backward, you talking economics; you do not know what you are talking about.
Before Jamaica, and Barbados International Airport, they had a sound economy! As a matter of fact, Antigua, and St. Lucia International Airports are inherited, from the Government of the United States, although the governments in recent years has invested in developing these facilities.
For your information: Guyana and Cuba are also recipient of those left over from the World War II, the one in Cuba is still operated by the government of the United Stats, and I am not getting into that. However, if you knew better you would focus on Antigua, and perhaps your eyes will be open to the fact that without the International Airport in Antigua, there would be no economy to talk about relating to that island!
I can detail it you, but to people like you who’s mind are made up, set in concrete backwardness will never understand the how imperative is an International Airport in the development of our country. I can tell you right now without Antigua International Airport Antigua would long be declared a bankrupt nation.
How do I know that?
Sway I told you that my former wife, was an executive in the government of Antigua, she was employed there for more than twenty years prior to us immigrating to the United States okay, and she told me that there are times had it not been for Antigua’s International Airport the government of Antigua would have gone bankrupt.
Ask any Antiguan, old enough to remember Keith Edwards, they may tell you there are many months in the late 1960/1970’s with him lending money to the government to pay civil servants and keep some other instructions operating, Antigua economy would not have survived!
If they do not remember Keith Edwards, perhaps you can remind them that Radio ZDK owned by the Birds used to broadcast out of one of his buildings in St. Johns, even at the time when Julian Rogers of Barbados, formally of Radio Antilles (The Big A) worked there.
You people need to stop talking crap and do what is right in order to get the country on the right economic path, it all right to talk, however, talking rubbish will not get our country anywhere!
Our backward minds are the hindrance in the development of our country.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
u guys r being brainwash.
Who going to pay back that money. All you see Europe in crisis all you just accepting funding. Look at Cyprus! Imagine you work all your life to save for your retirement, and now you have 100,000 euros set aside, and the government taking 30,000. Pray we don’t reach that stage.
My people there is nothing wrong with being indebted if its going to improve the living standards of the people.All countries have debt.Yes even the great US is indebted to China and Saudi Arabia among others.If we keep crying about who will repay,then we will never advance as a nation. The countries you mentioned have all made bad investment choices,some even living way above their means.
Who says some Dominicans did not have money in Cyprus off-shore accounts too?
How about that, eh? I heard on the news that the Cyprus government will seize funds in the bank. Those who have over $100,000 will be affected. The condition for the government being bailed out is that its nationals must help.
People are unhappy. After working hard, saving and yes for their retirement they will lose a substantial sum of their savings. How sad.
As I am writing this, it was just announced on the late news that those with less than $130,000 will be protected.
Stay tuned. There is more to come and to occur different countries as overseas governments are listening and taking note. Signs of the times. Beginning of the labor pains. The worst is yet to come. We must not be too comfortable.
@ my oh my if dem fellas can put a 4% levy on poor Dominicans, what will stop them from imitating cyprus in DA, u think mister care he expanding his villas on the backs of poor people.
What you talking about?asked them at scotia bank,when you leave your account dormant for a little while,while you try to make more to put there,check how they fishing your money out,without proper explaination.
Why can’t it be for manufacturing instead?
Can I suggest alongside tourism? in the seventies, we had two amazing products selling throughout the Caribbean, Bello and Coconut products. We allowed both to fall by the wayside. We have citrus rotting on the ground, every island is selling bottled jams, juices, pepper sauce, where are the Dominican products? Whoever is in charge of this sector of promotion needs to be replaced. When the diaspora comes to visit, we tend to go to the areas in the supermarket where can buy local produce, it is normally very limited. Why!!! Did you know that coconuts are the biggest selling produce worldwide particularly to the US? Coconut oil, water, butter, anything coconut is now the latest health kick. Come on Dominica, get with it.
Boy that money is to pay thoes who like to talk tourism,and for them to go on phantom trips, in the name of meeting with cruise ship companies.
Boy you HEAR ‘LIES,’that is LIES,Politicians lying again,when will they be honest with the people.
this is money to pay the tourism talkers,how many trips they went on already without result?more lies.
Ian what about the meeting with Carnival Cruise chief executive? What is the attest nun?
A little bird on south beach told me that there was no meeting at all. Allah they make the poor port fella make a fool of himself .
It s time for those Lapo Reng Deng their to go but not without some of them going up to Stock Farm.
Funny, I heard that little bird tweeting too! Apparently the chairman’s diary did not have an appointment with the “three wise men” from Dominica showing. Is it true?
What is the attest ‘nun’? Is this correct?
:)Whlie many of us will acknowledge there is much to be done to cintinue promoting tourism in our homeland Dominica, it appears that no matter what the current government does will never satisfy politically motvated individuals.As a D/can leaving overseas and visits occasionally it both disturbing and discouraging to read so many negative vibes over an announcement made by the mini ster of tourism.Yes,there is much to be done but lets give credit for the effort. For the record I am not a political Dominican,just an indepedent thinking citizen who left as a young man many years ago but still love my country and respects the authorities of the country put in by the majority of the electorate. Lets move on.
Hendo my friend who in the kitchen feel the heat. We know what’d have been dealing with for 14 years. We know the lies and the deception that exist ; we know what could have been.
You want s to give Ian and his govern,ent credit for money made available by the EU to small developing countries for tourism. You gt to be kidding. Hendo Dominica need serious leadership in government not jokers and thieves.
The hotel resort being built in Cabrits is not 600 bedrooms ?? Can this statement be confirmed.
Although the completed resort,due to operate this year will be a welcome addition.
600 bedrooms? This is a huge hotel with many floors and rooms. If so it will take up many acres of land.
Mr Minister, closer to home St Lucia, get the information on how much money is spent on marketing annually, you can also seek that same information from Antigua then you will see if you are any where close to what Dominica Topurism product would need to be given the boost you talk about, i need you to take a close look at the budgets when the freedom party was in office decease Charles Maynard was minister then and the budgeted some for tourism marketing was about the same , in conclusion with that pittance Tourism will get no where under Labor after twelve years
lol so you really think st lucia is doing better than dominica?
I was gonna say the cure for you is to send you to the curb, but you’re there already!! lol.
It angers me when I hear or read about boost in tourism or improvement in tourism or anything to do with tourism in Dominica. In order to deal with the tourism problem, we got to start with the Ministry responsible for Tourism. Have you ever been to this particular Ministry. The staff there is no replica of what the Tourism Industry is or supposes to be. When we stop playing the ‘pull string’ games, the ‘who know who to get in you in’, our Tourism Industry will thrive. You got young fresh brains coming from studies, utilize them in the Ministry. They got creative, innovative ideas. Majority of the people who should be employed in this Ministry should hold some certificate, degree in the Tourism and Hospitality Field. Stop putting people in position because of longevity in the Ministry and no tourism back ground. STOP IT!!!! It is all those things that crippling the Industry. You got to have a passion for the Industry, nature, the love for exploring, you got to be a people oriented person to be in this Ministry. Not those unfriendly hardly want to say good morning, always late employees you got their at present. Hon. Minister start with your Ministry of Tourism in order to see a turnaround within the Tourism Industry. It is in urgent need of a reshuffling. Thumbs up to Discover Dominia Authority and Invest Dominica Authority. I admire you guys and the work you all are doing for the Tourism Industry in Dominica.
Amen. A person with sense and know-how speaking. You are just so on the button. They need to weed out the current staff (behaviour and attitude is as you described them). Surely, surely the Minister and managers etc know their staff are like this and just don’t do anything about it. They are just as bad colluding with them. Then next step, proper marketing to reach some different markets. Last step, let’s be consistent with customer service etc. Oh, and I forgot to mention, please clean and fix up Roseau town before we start ant marketing!
Stupes, you hit it on the head. Wrong people in a people oriented job. Marketing will not help if the infrastructure is not there. Dominicans need to welcome visitors, Dominicans are not welcoming. Just look at the rabble at the cruise terminal or the rabble at the airport. Luckily the last time I visited this had been under control at the airport. There are paros begging and harrassing people in the town, the town is filthy. I could go on and on. Sort out the problems that exist first before you try to sell it to visitors. People will not use their hard earned cash to come to a place with all these issues, there are too many lovely welcoming places in the world that people will visit first. Dominica used to be a wonderful place to visit in the 60s, 70s, get it back to that kind of place once again
MAN, i wish i could put that comment on a CD and play it on krazy T radio station on tuesdays and saturday nites.
allow people to express themselves,stop it the cover up.
Surely the Morocco funded hotel and spa is NOT a 600 room resort. Maybe 60 rooms, but NOT 600.
but where did u read 600?
Read the Ministers statemeent
There has been a correction to the original printing.Now reading the correct no of rooms
EU funds or not – nothing will change.
It seems that tourism promotion only gets a boost when EU funds become available.
EU funds are only for promotions in the EU – if the powers that be are not smart and insistent – it is almost impossible to use any funds for promotional purposes in the US or Canada.
Not to mention the long drawn out process of drawing down the funds – be bureaucracy the admin costs etc.
I would hope that you are right and the fund are only for promotion in the EU. The EU is the biggest generator of Tourism in the world and we have not taped into that potential yet. For our market in particular this the best way to go.
It would be more advantagous to us if all the money was pushed in the EU. They spend more on tourism and travel more than the USA and Canada together.
One may talk about a Euro crisis but with all this Europeans are still travelling more than the rest.
It is just a pitty that our politicians and the people responsible has not made a greater effort to capture this Market.
Nothing to shout about funds or no funds from the EU
The cure for Tourism and other sectors in Dominica
Simple Kick this Corrupt Labour Regime out of Office
Then fresh air and healthy aspects will emerge in Dominica!
You didnt get the memo….a poll was conducted in the three uwp seats and the govenrment got a 63% rating….hector jean name….was not even on the list….edison got 23%….go crawl back under a rock
“Kick” them out and replace them with who? Show me a real alternative team and I may consider it.
UWP
I can only see on replacement (PAPPY) (PPP)
i support you
from the story :”the construction of the cabrits resort and spa, a 600-room hotel is well on its way and is expected to become operational in 2013,” he said
He meant 60 rooms not 600 rooms?
We are focusing on the wrong things in DA. Bring in some fresh minds, brains and attitudes into Dominica’s tourism product. We need some great communicators with innovative minds, winning personalities and great customer service skills to jump in and steer this ‘tourism ship.’ We need motivated individuals onboard who are not just there to receive a monthly paycheck for a way below standard product. Otherwise, Mr. Minister it will be the same old same old with a little extra money to burn.
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