The Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association (DHTA) commends the Government on the Tourism-related items announced in the 2016/17 Budget Address, which identify tourism as a main growth sector and endorse several DHTA-recommended initiatives to enable Dominica’s tourism economy to reach its full potential.
First, a $15 million Eastern Caribbean dollar low-interest facility to target the upgrade or expansion of existing hotels, with a 3% interest rate and 1 year grace period on interest and principal. The facility is expected to enable existing hotels to modernise rooms and guest facilities in order to remain competitive and attract higher yields.
In conjunction with the low-interest facility, the Government approved critical adjustments to the fiscal incentives regime to support reinvestment in the upgrade or expansion of existing hotels, thereby enhancing investor outlook and securing continued viability of longstanding investments in the tourism industry.
Further, the increase in the destination marketing budget to $8.5 million Eastern Caribbean dollars, inline with recommendations in the Tourism Master Plan, will allow the destination to more effectively work towards increasing visitor arrivals.
“These measures, in our view, demonstrate the Government’s commitment to tourism as a key driver of the country’s economic development,” remarks DHTA President, Gregor Nassief, “as well as the on-going need for extensive public-private sector engagement and partnership in moving the country forward.”
DHTA also notes the adjustment of the VAT registration threshold, which will directly benefit tourism small businesses, the in-progress rehabilitation of the Roseau Valley road and bridge network, thereby securing access to tourism sites, and the Government’s commitment to engaging stakeholders regarding the phasing out of Styrofoam and plastics, in-keeping with Dominica’s brand positioning as the Nature Island.
DHTA applauds the commitment and support extended to Agriculture. Agriculture and Tourism are innately linked; and both productive sectors stand to benefit from growth in global travel for food-based experiences that spotlight fresh produce, authentic preparation and a farm-to-table and sea-to-plate connection.
Until air access is improved, these measures will not bear the desired economic fruit. Dominica by far, remains one of the most expensive islands to visit in the Eastern Caribbean. This deters the causal tourist from venturing to Dominica and it renders us, a niche market where we fall short with stay-over tourism.
What a joke when you listen to this people talking about boosting tourism. We at the bottom in the whole Caribbean in tourism, from last year to this year we lost 40 calls from cruise ship and they are still trying to tell us we are going to receive more passengers. We have a bunch of jokers from the minister down to piper that do not have a clue what they are doing so we wont see any changes. I was in carnival in St. Lucia just two weeks ago and met some tourist from the US and when i told them i am from Dominica they had never heard of the island. Very sad as more money will not make any difference as these guys do not even know how to increase tourism in Dominica. All hotels empty except Fort Young and they think that even if they renovate and upgarde the rooms toursist will come. We need to put Dominica on the map and get more flights in as it takes two days to get to Dominica and two days back so if i have 7 days holiday i wont go. We need people with vision not these lazy fools