Tourism Minister Senator Robert Tonge has revealed that up to 43 percent of hotel accommodations in Dominica has been restored following the passage of Hurricane Maria.
He was speaking during the sitting of the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament on Wednesday.
“We’ve begun our visits, another round of visits to all of the hotels to understand where they are at and how they are moving forward, because right after the storm we only had about 20 percent of our room stock and as you can well imagine many hotels had to layoff persons, but as of today we are up to 43 percent of our room stock in terms of hotels that have reopened their rooms and they continue to work, and we are hoping that by the end of the year we should be up to 60, 70, 80 percent,” he said.
He said hotel owners were encouraged to make use of a special facility at the AID Bank.
“We encourage them again to use the loan facility at two percent for a 15-year repayment period or a one-year grace period at the Aid Bank so that they can upgrade their properties and again to be ready,” he stated.
Meantime, he said 95 percent of the country’s tourism sites are ready and presentable for visitors.
“Normally it takes 15 minutes to walk to the Emerald Pool and after the storm it took my staff members over two and a half hours,” he noted. “Right now over 95 percent of our sites are ready and presentable to our visitors and therefore visitors are now coming to our country and enjoying what we have to offer.”
Tonge stated further that the government will continue to work to make sure the remaining sites are in a proper order.
“All our premier and signature sites such as the Trafalgar Falls, the Middleham Falls, the Emerald Pool, the Fresh Water Lake, the Indian River are all done,” he revealed.
Tonge said thousands were spent to clean up some of the beaches on the island.
He said in terms of dive, “our dive is still one of the best in the world, top 10 in the world, only a few of our sites close to shore have been impacted, but all of the other sites are open.”
“Out of 10 operators only one is not operating,” Tonge remarked.
He said Dominica is still a pristine area for dive and the government will continue to work on that.
Hi Robbie…what’s up? You are like Reggie now man? Tell us what it will be ..60,70 or 80%? How do you feel now seeing that Skerro had to go buy a foul mouth boaster bragga to replace you…..all your ‘facebooking’ was a waste eh. All your disrespect off Allo will come back and hunt you. Guess the secret poll showed that you had no chance. The boaster bragga does not think too much of you either…..neither does Skerro……welcome to the jungle,my classmate.
Waiting for the next round.
95 percent of tourism sites ? That is completely untrue. Most of the island’s hiking trails remain blocked by trees and landslides (including at least half of the National Trail and all of the mountain trails), there is no access to Champagne Beach, no access to Jaco Steps; this statement really proves how little the people in charge of toursim know about this island.
♬ ♭ ♮ why you always lying, ♬ ♭ ♮ hmmm oh my god, stop hmmm lying ♬ ♭ ♮ always lying to me. y you lying so much ♬ ♭ ♮ ♬ ♭ ♮
Toung a u the cadidate for Roseau Central in next election their is MR Vital MR Soso and Judas am just asking.
The cart before the horse, how are you gonna full them when air access is bad???
This is the most boring and inefficient government minister. Our tourism product is dying under his watch.
You guys are so disorganized , I don’t believe anything you say.
Hotels in Dominica does not get the support form DLP Government like many other hotels in St.Lucia are getting from its Gov’t .
You guys are not ready and just waiting on tourists to fortunately stop-by in Dominica and hopefully spend some money.
When is Mr. Robbie Tonge going to take the big step and sell Dominica on the international tourism market?
Can you credit this statement 60 or 70 or 80 percentage of tourist accommodation could might be ready at the end of the year..Not a clue.Listening to the garbage if what is called Parliamentary Debate,sound more like a DISORGANISED play school.The Speaker,as usual played Her biased part.