Dominica is behind in achieving its target of 90,000 stay over visitors for 2015.
Chief Executive Officer of Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) Colin Piper said so at a press conference this week.
Piper said he hopes that the figures will increase in the remaining months.
“We are currently through July and are up about 6.4 percent for this year, and so our goal is 84,000 this year and we are this point in time kind of tracking just a little behind that. So let’s hope we have a good September, October, November and December,” he explained.
Meanwhile, he noted that the two worst months of the year for visitor arrival are September and November. “So it depends on what we do in both of those months that will really drive how we end up for 2014,” he said.
“If over the next four weeks we do a great job in terms of looking at this sustainable initiative and we are able to implement some of the things that we have been talking about over the next six to nine months, this initiative will play a part in helping us to communicate about Dominica better and have a larger audience which will result in more visitors coming to the island,” Piper contended.
He continued, “The hope is that if we get to 83,000- 84,000 this year that we would have built somewhat of a base, a larger base on which we can grow.”
He said the figures for visitor arrival for the month of August will be available soon.
Sleep walk sleep talk. Tourism snore, snore.
How should we expect much more from a Government who refuses to invest into Tourism. Some time ago the Prime Minister ask a hotelier that she cannot even buy a tin of paint to paint her hotel; unfortunately he never saw it as his failure because if the economy was so good she would be able to. We have a few hotels and my god requires much more to be desired of. Instead this Government try to assist in improving and refurbishing their hotel they compete with them. I just do not get it! This government claims that we must go into tourism but guess what ? They refuse to invest meaningfully in it. They now building more hotels yet they do not have the compliment in place- An international airport! Shame on those guys!
Round in circles
Only two years ago we hired Nikima Royer as new Marketing Manager for the Discover Dominica Authority. What happened? Wasn’t she successful. Did it not work out? Haven’t heard about that lady for a while now. I was told she even had a direct line to the P.M.
She is only there to take the pay cheque every month.
“We are currently through July and are up about 6.4 percent for this year, and so our goal is 84,000 this year and we are this point in time kind of tracking just a little behind that.” When i read that part i was like ” Ok, we maybe just at 77,000-79,000 stay overs already tallied this year…That’s a good pace”
But then I read this “The hope is that if we get to 83,000- 84,000 this year that we would have built somewhat of a base, a larger base on which we can grow.” and i was like “we must be in the late 60s early 70s we could also be in the early to mid 60s which is not good”
Question to DDA and DHTA: Why don’t y’all just set up a joint committee and bring y’all concerns to the minister of tourism? Because it’s apparent y’all have a common goal but not forceful enough when separated.
One is public and they receive a pay check, the other is private and they owe the bank and hardly ever gets a pay check. You figure this one out?
Mr Piper it is about time you spoke to your LEADER about much better air and sea access. LIAT needs to give Dominica a better service. If this is not changed then Dominica will never catch up with the other caribbean islands. Little Saint Kitts among others have left us behind and improving their tourism in leaps and bounds. Come on man get real and do something for your country.
De Dominican Latrine Party only good at opening red clinics and building toilettes, if u want people with brains and vision vote Linton, if you want to be beggars vote skerro.
“when in a land of some much natural scenery a government cant get no tourism is nothing strange its time for change”
that is what they should have been concentrating ..not Lennox Linton, Lennox Linton……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
It is unfortunate that Skeritt and the DLP supporters are not concerned about the revelations of Mr. Linton but instead blasting him with political mepuis. Every opportunity he gets he tells them that Dominica is either behind in the Eastern Caribbean countries or it is last. Instead of trying to fix the problems, they believe by calling him thief, tick, uneducated and the latest by Tony on Kamala Heng show this morning, he has the Ebola virus, will solve the problems.
DDA losing focus, go back to the drawing board, that is the solution.
OK.hmmmm. Surprised? No! Worried, YES! it seems like when all of the other countries are taking 2 steps forward, Dominica is taking one back. All the other Islands are passing Dominica when comes to tourism like we’re reversing. St.Kitts, St.Lucia etc. Come next year or so even St.Vincent will be getting twice as much visitors as Dominica, seeing that they will have an operational international airport. We do not need an international airport to boost the sector, all we need is good management both in the head of the tourism industry and the Government. When it’s only the big shots who get all the assistance form the banks etc., we are going to be idle for a while since they try massive project, that are destine to fail. Typical eg. That Hotel at Ans D Mai, I would like to see that hotel suceed but i am sorry, it looks like a waste where it is located. Very beautiful hotel, wrong location. Lets see what a year or two will bring.
I am independent, I am Dominica(n)
@ Mee3 you have a good point but here is something we Dominicans fail to realize also, Grenada -The Spice Isle was devastated by hurricane so bad I was actually in fear like “how are they gonna turn this devastation around?” Only to find out after researching that Grenada is up a moving and are pulling in more tourists per season than us.
In St. Kitts they have less land space than us and they have an international airport and a Marriott Hotel and are moving towards agro-tourism. They are expected to get 1 million tourists to there shores this year.
I don’t get why smaller countries are movie so rapidly and we are chilling like all is already well with Dominica. The ppl need to rise up.
In 2014 we are targeting 90,000 stay over visitors when the government decimated agriculture for tourism. One would expect that we would be targeting a minimum of 500,000 stay over visitors. The question that need to be answered is what have we done in significance to compensate for the loss in agricultural production and to meet our tourism expectations.
Here it is we have targeted a ridiculous 90,000 stay over tourist and we are struggling to get there. It is past time for the people to wake up and realize that until we actually get a bus driver with a valid driver’s license and able to drive that next level bus is not going to appear. It has not for the past 14 years and some of our people are still waiting to catch the vision and then the next level bus.
It’s absolutely pathetic. 90,000, they can not even achieve that lowly number. Incompetence wherever you look.
We should not be struggling to meet a little target. The Government said the Economy is good, we are doing better than the rest of the OECS so what is the problem then. Millions spent on the airport for night landing and travel into Dominica and yet arrivals is on a long time low. Give us the stats on travel for the last three years, let’s compare the growth or should we say the decline in arrivals. That is the problem, bad planning in the country, vie kie vie, clearly the governance of this country never had the skills, their efforts were being masked all along and the result is the suffering of the whole country. The situation is coming home to roost Mr. Piper, you can apply all the strategies you want it will not change the situation because the enabling environment is not there. Think about that.
I believe in taxes every thing in the us are taxes reason why U Should is a great country not only US other countries their people contributing, reason why Dominica behind our people like to rely on our government they like free stuff instead try to contribute, Dominicans people failed to contribute for decades reason why our country behind if our people had contributed and without bobol our country would have been a develop country,
Nonsense. The US is not great because of taxes. In fact the US became independent because the people hated taxes without representation. The US do have taxes and every other country has taxes. The US wealth is based on productivity,innovation and continuous revolution.
Stop the propaganda. Taxes must be reasonably proportioned to average income. Do we have that reasonable proportion. Also can we honestly say that our taxes are going into productive use?
Your poor command of the English language confirms your lack of intellect and understanding of even basic economics
Mr. Piper you better start packing your JOB will be in trouble soon, for you to disclose that information in this heavily charged political environment watch out bro
Why you guys comparing other countries , these countries put the resources to achieve their goal.
It’s gonna remain the same because you guys really doesn’t have a plan to achieve that goal without an International Airport the goal never will achieve.
It’s gonna remain behind if you guys decide not to build an international airport, that goal will not any achieve because no plan to achieve that goal.
Stay over for wat? After they see all wat it have in the day there is nothing to do at nights so wat they staying for?
Duhh…why do you think? We NEEED to develop more products and services here to keep visitors. After people hike and dive and explore what is there in the evening on the average week night? Big month end on a friday and saturday night and the capital dead like a ghost town sometimes. just people walking around looking for something worthwhile to do. The natural attraction sites are all over used. Develop new areas, create new attractions. Government needs to have more of an investment in tourism. 365 rivers but none are developed as a main attraction with ammenities like changing rooms and security. pick one and make it The River Spot to be at if you talking about going to a river. government can develop and manage some projects themself as sources of revenue instead of taxing their citizens day in day out. This is why we dont have the stay over numbers. building hotels year in year our wont help. there must be more complimentary products and services or class and standard here.
Damn it! The cruise season is upon is but what have we done to improve things since last year? Roseau still looking and smelling like a sewer, only looking more tired and older. You all think tourist must come here because we have emerald pool and trafalgar falls. Ask yourself why little St. Thomas that has none of these gets many more tourists?
It is the reason why Dominica will charge 27.00 EC per person who enters the country + EC 59.00 already this makes a total of EC 86.00. Keep on like this! You are becoming every day more attractive to tourists.
Piper you guys are behind time,stayover,just trying to get to dominica is a major struggle,Liat is incompetent,unprofessional,what the heck are you talking about.
If you keep doing things the same way, you will keep getting the same results. We need to revamp the entire Govt Tourism infrastructure, and get some new experienced people in to work the issues!
To solve the problem we must face the underlying conditions honestly; and honestly Dominica just does not have it. We need 10 years of preparation and mind conditioning to understand and appreciate the evolution of the Tourism industry. Tourism is a 2 billion dollar industry in Thailand and it evolved through a culture of the natives that aroused the curiousity of travelers. People want value for their money, and since we have so little to offer, can we start with some cleanliness – cleanliness in our towns, our dress, our attitudes and manners? Let us start now! this is not cost prohibitive. St Kitts is clean!
a uwp headline .
That tune have been piping for years now..and it still is in 2014.The only way to change the tune is to work towards bringing about a new one..
Much speeches won’t do it…
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SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
St. Kitts Eyes New Milestone With 1 Million Cruise Passengers Projected for 2014/2015 Season
By Newswire | September 25, 2014
Projections call for St. Kitts’ cruise tourism sector to exceed 1 million passengers in a season for the time in the island’s history.
Filed under : Cruises, Saint Kitts and Nevis
What are we doing to change the current situation in Dominica? The government imposed an entry tax of US$10.00 plus a $5EC for security to the departure tax secretly in the night. It’s now differed for the time being due to the backlash, but will certainly be back after the election. Is it going to help the stay over target? I’ll continue to comment while you do the judging.
It’s the same thing over and over again, the right does not know what the left is doing. Result: one step forward, two steps back. The only thing this administration and it’s attached agencies can do very well is: talk, talk, promises and more promises. What they can not do…deliver meaningful results. Worse even, we all sit and watch and let them get away with it over and over again. Poor country!!
Interestingly I was speaking to an attendant at a hardware store Wednesday morning and when I opened my mouth a man asked me where am I from. I said Da. Well he said, ” Dominica, what a heck of a country to get to, fly to Panama, then to Trinidad, overnight there” and so on. Well I was a little ashamed but he was kind enough to run a few french lines by me.
Toneh build the flipping international airport a stop your foolishness.
St vincent is over 1 billion in debt and still have not finished their international airport. A project of this scale will bankrupt Dominica.
Your point is not well made. In the UK i had to take 3 busses home – so what? Good connection times and affordable flights is where we need to focus ourenergy on.
So what strategies have been put in place to help us reach the target? Maybe if these were known to the general population, then we would all feel responsible for achieving the goal. Increasing visits to Dominica and increasing the number of overnight stays must be everyone’s business. The Discover Dominica Authority and the Tourism Office cannot do it on their own. We all have a role to play – Dominicans both at home and abroad must be informed of those strategies so we can support and promote them.
Strategy #1 Add a new $27.00 tax on persons entering the island. What great motivation and strategy
Why should Dominica not be behind in stay over visitors when Skerrit places more emphasis in building hotels than access to Dominica. Let him continue to build hotels for mosquitos, sand flies, and poopoo flies.
Be positive. Do not give up on the hotels. You never know. These hotels may come in handy sometime in the future and Dominicans may reap the financial benefit. Those who invested in them will ensure that they are appropriately advertised and attract tourism. They could also serve as honeymoon areas/hotels for visitors.
And pigs MAY fly. Except in Dominica during the night when there is a tailwind. In that case they have to make track for Antigua.
What is Dominica not behind in? Skerrit has us behind in just about everything except in corruption. Where do we expect Dominica to be when a selfish, greedy and corrupt skerrit is PM and Minister of Finance and a moomoo like Ian is Minister for tourism? Stupes!!!!
Have spent the last three winters .Nov/Feb in Dominica.Because of local contacts and interest s in the islandHowever the cost of living inDominica has now become ridiculas.Travel to the island is a little difficult but that can be can be planned without to much trouble .
this year.Priced in American dollars without the standards 
However have to take a very hard look
It is no different in other islands. I often wonder why do tourists have to pay in US dollars? I recognize that US dollars yield higher profit than EC $. However, the US $ is what which may be killing tourism in also Dominica.
According to Team Dominica we need to double our tourism marketing budget, we need an international airport and a high speed ferry service. Most importantly we need to change the Government. Little st. Kitts will be having one million cruise visitors this year, while Piper, Ian and Skerrit continue to enjoy life at the expense of our tax payers. INCOMPETENCE HIGHLIGHTED BY DECEPTION IS THE ORDER OF THE DAY FOR THE SKERRIT LED DLP GOVERNMENT.
Is little St. Kitts as mountainous as Dominica? Does little St. Kitts have more sandy beaches than Dominica? Most tourists are seeking sandy beaches to also laze in the sun. The Dominica Tourist Board will have to devise a different form of strategy to lure tourists to the island.
Have you noticed that you have failed to list some of the many natural resources that we have in Dominica that does not exist in St. Kitts? There are millions out there who would like to hike our mountains and walk our national trail. We have white sand beaches in the Northeast as well as rivers and waterfalls traversing our land. Tourist don’t only come to laze in the sun as you put it, they come to enjoy many other unique pleasures. JUST ADMIT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS LAZY AND INCOMPETENT AND THEY ARE SUFFERING FROM A SERIOUS DEFICIENCY OF CREATIVITY.
…..” WE will hit our target, NO we will not hit our target, OH maybe we will hit our target, come September, or November. They all over the place, The moral of their story is. One cannot hit a moving target. Typical! Every thing is upside down, everything is inside out! God help us!!!!!
It must be understood that people all over the world are experiencing difficult economical times. They are not traveling as they previously did. Consider Internet and TV with their various entertainment programs have decreased traveling and outdoor activities.
Today, with a higher cost of living which has escalated as income remains stable, how many can afford to take a vacation and the type of vacation they would like. These must be taken into consideration.
I met a white couple recently who told me they took a little vacation to Dominica. They had many connections to get there. At the end instead of the airline taking them to DA, they were sent to Dominican Republic. They arrived in DA with only two days left of the week. This air access is a mess. They didn’t say it but I could tell they’ll never return to Dominica again.
Thats is the fault of the travel agent , or themselves if the booked online.
Maybe so but it also confirms our inability to place DOMINICA firmly into the minds of people as a a destination apart for the the Dom. Republic. And that despite the fact that we have had that name since 1493, maybe 400 years longer than the Republic.
sue their travel agent – then use the money to take a real vacation in Dominica.
What a grave error, a disappointing and frustrating one for the couple. This is putting it mildly for not having an enjoyable vacation. They must have been extremely angry. I hope they ensured that either the travel agency or airline authorities who were responsible for this faux pas compensated them and with another vacation spent in Dominica.
We already know that. Now, the chikungunya is adding insult to injury. The relapse is deadly.
Ko-ki-yo-ko!!!
The island of St. Kitts is on schedule to welcome over one million tourists from cruise ships in the 2014-15 season. What say you my beloved homeland? Go ahead and make my day with your plans to impose your entry tax on visitors. Keep fattening your DLP cow so you can continue to give monies to your cronies, beggars and supporters. only time will tell!
Among the reasons why this goal is difficult to achieve is , the tourism minister is incompetent. Either he can’t convince visitors to come here because of poor communication or he is just plain stupid.
You were the same one that in’l airpoty woundn”t solve a problem.?.
and imagine that these moomoo going to implement an extra tax on people visiting Dominica, can you really believe them/
There is one thing I don’t understand. Mr. Bardouille is the Chairman of the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) and yet he defends a new tax that is detrimental to tourism.Where is the logic in that? As the well known calypso says: Dominica upside down, back to front. I feel sorry for mr. Piper.
The new arrival tax should help to improve this…..shouldn’t it Mr, Blackmoore??
I don’t know what you can do to get the numbers up. I know what will NOT get it up, and that is the new travel taxes the government is contemplating introducing.
What vain hope! Is that how you expect to fill rooms in Dominica Colin? It depends on what we do for the next couple of weeks? Everyone who is versed in marketing of rooms for stay over visitors is aware that in order to secure an occupancy above 50% during those months, your campaign has to be on at least a good 6 months in advance. These last minute deals will not take you anywhere. There is no magic there Colin. Give up some of those posts you holding and get ppl in there to market Dominica so that the hoteliers can get a little help with their efforts. You yourself need to GO! Poor hoteliers in Dominica bursting their backs and their budgets to get heads in their beds…I can’t stand this nonsense you have reported. Dominica deserves better than to have ppl think that what you are inferring is that which will bring the numbers up.
what is a little behind?
Give us the accurate figure to date.
You are bluffing – as CEO you should be telling like it is – lack of access, lack of hotel rooms of good standard and lack of funds to promote
Stop wasting tax payer money!!!
Who wants to come to Dominica when things here are so expensive. The people see the same goods in their country for next to nothing and at an escalating, ridiculous price in Dominica. The other day I saw a British lady quarrelling with herself in a supermarket. She took the picture of the price and left the trolley in the aisle of the supermarket. We have the natural habitat but is that all?
Some of the tourists are not rich people. They are just as working D/cans, making a living, some from pay cheque to pay cheque. They also have their monthly obligations to meet. Some D/cans are living better than they. There is no doubt the majority of them utilize their Visa, Master Cards and others or obtain loans. It will take them a few years to pay off their debts. This is something those who are not aware of must know and keep in mind. Therefore, when they view the cost of items and some inflated ones which cater to the tourists, they may not purchase any.
The Minister of Tourism and Discover Dominica Authority should be aware of that, if they are not. They must also take a look at the cost of those items. If they are too high, as this British lady, they will simply turn their backs in disgust and not purchase them. They cannot be blamed.
The reality is that DA is not a popular tourist destination for several reasons and the type of tourists that it does attract are mainly the eco-tourists not the beach goers which are the majority.. Contributing to the downturn is the poor economical picture worldwide.
eco-tourists spend money tho
Hahaha,… maybe is bitcoins they want to spend.
This includes those who are avid bird watchers. Some of them love to view the sceneries and D/ca is notable for beautiful sceneries. Some love to party and to go to the beach and lie in the sun for a tan. There are some who simply want a quiet vacation. One thing, they expect good food. Two things which they will brag about upon their return are the hospitality and food.
It all depends on their preference. Therefore they choose the country which meets their needs. While tourism is important to a country as Dominica, it should not be penalized for it. There is a vaste choice of islands to visit for their vacation.
Know too, the travel agency shows them a list of countries, its geography and history to mention a few and they choose the ones which are suitable for them and for their enjoyment. Think also the criminal element of a country plays an important part in their decision.
The food is not great , oily and carbohydrate laden and to top it really expensive
How do you find the time,how?
What do expect, getting to Dominica is a hustle. No direct air access and that will continue to be the case unless direct air access to Dominica from North America, Europe etc is address. Unless that changes it will be the same every year. Mr Piper wake up and smell the coffee.
Yes! Lack of a direct flight is a hindrance to additional tourist visits. Some tourists are of a certain age and may not want to travel to a country if there is not a direct flight. What with the type of service that LIAT offers also from A/gua and B/dos which is an ongoing problem, this could turn them off.
Once they visit D/ca, they may not re-visit it. You know how news travel fast and far and wide. They will also inform others about it; no exception the travel agency.
They expect after flying to those countries for hours and being tired and anxious to arrive at their destination, to get a flight which is operating on time to Dominica of all and arrive with their luggage intact. Therein lies a problem of less tourists visiting Dominica.
The U.S. immigration dept. still routes everyone through Puerto Rico even if they already cleared in St. Croix or St. Thomas. Try to get around that Mr. Piper.