Drop in cruise ship visitors to Dominica in 2015

A cruise ship docked in Dominica
A cruise ship docked in Dominica

Dominica experienced a drop in cruise ship visitors in 2015, statistics released by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) have shown.

The statistics, released today (Tuesday, February 16), show in 2014 the island received 286,575 cruise ship visitors compared to 279,341 visitors in 2015.

This represents a 2.5 percent drop for the island.

Antigua and Barbuda received a 23.4 percent increase in visitors with 644,314 in 2015 compared to 522, 342 in 2014.

St. Lucia saw an increase of 5.6 percent with 677,394 in 2015 compared to 641,452 in 2014.

Likewise, Grenada experienced growth in arrivals with 280,518 in 2015 as compared to 235,140 in 2014.

St. Vincent saw a decrease of 6.7 percent with 64,859 in 2015 compared to 69,481 in 2014.

Overall the CTO said the pace of growth of Caribbean tourism outperformed every major tourism region in the world.

“Our region has set new arrival and spend records in 2015, far surpassing expectations,” Hugh Riley, Secretary General of the CTO, said while giving a state of the industry address on Tuesday. “Caribbean tourism grew by an estimated seven percent to 28.7 million visits, much higher than the projected four to five per cent. This performance was above the global rate of growth, which the UN agency, the World Tourism Organization quotes at 4.4 per cent.”

He said visitors to the Caribbean spent over $1-billion more in 2015 as compared to 2014 contributing approximately US$30 billion to Caribbean economies.

“That’s 4.2 percent higher than the US$28.8 billion spent during the previous year,” Riley stated.

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38 Comments

  1. lorde bord
    February 17, 2016

    Rubby doing so well for his first year he bought himself a Mercedes. . GOOD JOB Mr. LANG.

  2. brois
    February 17, 2016

    IT WILL GET WORSE . . . .after that sad accident where the little boy died simply push tourism even further.

  3. too late
    February 17, 2016

    Still Diasporas will come down like slaves again to support this inept administration.

  4. February 17, 2016

    There is only heat and malkasay bus drivers in roseau..the bus drivers don’t even want to use a little bit of air condition in the buses,,rubbish in broad day light in tourists eyes to see,cost of living is much to high in dominica,there is no shop with something special to buy cheap ,a lot of crap in shops at high costs,now when the 3 hotels will be built who is going to fill them?dominica is improving in the reverse..long ago dominica was much more prosperous,fridays were happy days for farmers,fond st.jean ,scotts head,soufriere and more villages always had a lot of fish ,now every thing is gone..

  5. Ronald Reagan
    February 17, 2016

    Tongue should resign

  6. Thorbjørn Jagland
    February 17, 2016

    Linton that do that

  7. Malatete
    February 17, 2016

    Unfortunately we can not expect a turn around any time soon. The cruise schedule for next season (2016/2017)* shows only 133 ship arrivals with the first ships, Britannia and Silver Whisper, not arriving till 2 Nov., 2016 and the last one, Royal Princess on 15 April 2017.
    This is significantly down on the 207 for 2013-2014 and even the historical low of 157 for 2012-103 (as Per Mr. Benoit Bardouille, DNO 28 March 2013).
    * as per cruisemapper.com

    • Malatete
      February 17, 2016

      PS. Correction. Someone pointed out that in fact the Celebrity Summit will be the first ship of the season, scheduled to arrive at Roseau on 26 Oct., 2016, bringing the total expected ship arrivals to 134 for the 2016-2017 cruise season.

  8. Dan is de man in de van
    February 17, 2016

    Get rid of them pourire little huts in the city and make the bay front area a no vehicle zone.where are The tourist village in city.where are the casinos. The clubs for a fresh rum punch and a beer.them lazy people in the Tourism industry should vacate they have warm up the chair for too long… Sacray gas…..

  9. lead singer
    February 17, 2016

    Drop in cruise ship visitors but increase in passport sale. It’s a corrupt government, don’t forget. We get poorer while they get richer.

  10. edmund darroux
    February 17, 2016

    I work in the cruise industry and I always hear from the visitors they love our island but says more needs to be done especially I’m Roseau.The taxis also needs to behave more professional. We keep hearing the government making all these promises about change coming .Weather it’s stay over or just visiting for the day more needs to be done those visiting for one day do have a big impact cause they can promote as well as discourage

  11. Traitor Alert
    February 17, 2016

    Our downfall is the attitude of our people. Dominicans blame LIAT for bad service but we ourselves are 10 times worse. We harass the tourists, we are not welcoming enough and we keep our city very dirty. Tourism should be everybody’s business not just a few, niether the Government or the opposition, we all must do our part.

    • February 17, 2016

      I have not been to Dominica but thanks to DNO and my friends who have been there I am convinced the island has much to offer visitors. God willing, I expect to visit, probably to conduct a gospel crusade if and when the door opens.

      The problems mentioned in Traitor Alert’s comment seem to be valid concerns. However, these are matters that can be addressed, and corrected. There are people who would like to see them eliminated for the good of all. If they will get busy it can be done.

      Your 2.5 decrease from 2014 to 2015 is reason for concern but not for panic. If I am reading the report correctly Dominica did not have the worst showing.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

      • Tjebe Fort
        February 17, 2016

        A gospel crusade it the last thing we need now Reverend. We need more tourists for people to make some money rather than spend it on a gospel crusade. And snake oil we can make ourselves. Than you but no thank you.

  12. Storm
    February 17, 2016

    What’s new? Is there any other news to expect under this failed government?
    The world knows of the bad things happening in Dominica.
    The problem with Dominica is Dominicans who still support this corrupt and wasteful government. ..
    20000% blame on the pm and his failed government. … you all are to be blamed for everything.
    Dominica is a failed state. ………
    What tourist coming here to see? Grass , rubbish , Paros and unkept vegetation……
    Tradedominica.come.
    The most annoying thing is to see this government ministers and their family getting richer on the poor Dominicans.. ….They took out Ian Douglas and put in a Tongue… all that tongue doing is blablahh.. giving his tongue chain. …
    It’s very immoral to support this oppressive government……
    From the prime minister to the last minister and all them ambassadors……. no commendation no pass mark.. you bunch of failures who killing the nation. .. Time for change.
    Skerriitt will give out money to…

  13. Air Dominica Crashing
    February 16, 2016

    It must be said here that under Skerrit, Dominica has done very poorly and got a owns a very poor rating in every thing that is good for the development of every country. It is a FACT, that under Skerrit, Dominica is LAST KAKARAT in:
    1. Cruise Ship Arrival 2. Air Plane arrival 3. In export of Bananas (2 years we cannot ship a grain) 4. export of agricultural produce 5. Access to justice for children 6. Child sexual abuse protection 7. Justice for all 8. Health care treatment and facility 9. Transparency 10. Anti Wood ants infested hospital 11. employment 12. keeping the country clean

    The question is, are we doing well and get an “A” in anything? Well I guess we are number one in: 1. Sale of passport 2. signing contracts for construction of hotels while tourism is dropping. 3. In the disappearance of money 4. corruption

    The question is, where will a country that rates poorly in everything good and rates highly in everything bad, end up? Signs that Air Dominica crashing

  14. Concerned citizen
    February 16, 2016

    Traveling is my hobby and I have been around the world and trust me many islands does not have what Dominica has to offer. Our issue is poor management, lack of coordination at the sites, and Roseau is a dump.

  15. Truth iTell
    February 16, 2016

    A fren ah mine came from de US on vacation some time ago. I was wit eem wen him gone a de bay front to buy eem fren dem some souvenir. De man on de bay frant wanting to buy eem som tings; but none ah dem vendors wasn’t paying eem no mind – Is the white people who only wanted to look was getting vendors attention. Boy I was so ashamed almost cried. He was axing a vendor for de price of a ting, but de vendor kept saying to de white peoples, “hi, welcome to Dominica, can I help you?” De white people didn’t buy a candy from dem. So now what dey get dem well deserve.

  16. indeed
    February 16, 2016

    Ok, lets be realistic for a moment, cruise tourism is not what brings sustainable tourism to the economy, all stats show that its stay over tourism. Just look around at the slum that has been created geared to the cruise ships…….the Bayfront is a slum on cruise days and even after the ship has sailed its a sea of garbage and tents and boxes and confusion. Vending on the sidewalks of Roseau is out of control…..who cares? The taxi drivers and touts still shout and harass the visitors……..though the NDC/DDA has tried and tried and trained and trained……sorry to say……..we eh going nowhere!!!!!!

    • Tjebe Fort
      February 17, 2016

      I don’t know who you are trying to insult with your Uncle Tom talk but you sound like an idiot. That is not funny at all.

  17. too late
    February 16, 2016

    Traitors that wrote this report

  18. wearedominica
    February 16, 2016
    • Me
      February 17, 2016

      What is the relevance of your posting?

  19. I want to know
    February 16, 2016

    Are we going to blame Erika again? Based on what I saw, I believe there was a significant increase after Erika, as many in the DIASPORA as well as none nationals wanted to see DA after the storm. Poor management of Skerrit and the DLP must be blamed for that drop, especially the cancellation of WCMF.

    • February 17, 2016

      Why can’t you think and stop being a puppet for UWP, this has nothing to do with politics, u think people don’t do their homework before they visit a country, DA have had some pretty bad news lately, rape, murder, holdup major accidents. Would you expose your family to this?

      • Tjebe Fort
        February 17, 2016

        Polo is a hole with a little bit of mint around it. Are you a hole?

      • Rasta
        February 18, 2016

        And the countries that saw increase didnt havent any such reports right??? lol lol silly people with silly logics

  20. Dan Tanner
    February 16, 2016

    The cruise ships use passenger surveys and on the basis of responses determine future ports of call. Dominica always does poorly on the surveys. You all know why.

    • Rat Poison
      February 16, 2016

      @Dan Tanner, you need to qualify your statement because Dominica was not always doing poorly in passenger surveys. Dominica had a very good rating in the mid 80’s to late 90’s, under the DFP and UWP. Under the Skerrit and the DLP Dominica started doing poorly to the point that some leading ships had to ban Dominica.

      • Dan Tanner
        February 17, 2016

        We started going to Dominica in the 1980s. Why would anyone go now, based on current ratings? The past is irrelevant.

  21. Ma Moses
    February 16, 2016

    I am sad to read that but it was predictable given that the authorities have done little or nothing to improve conditions here to make Dominica a more attractive destinations. With the best will in the world I can not see that anything has been done to tackle the vagrants and beggars problem or clean up Roseau. And we can not blame that poor performance on Erika because that happened after the end of our cruise season. I am afraid we will drop even further behind. All the focus appears to be on passport sales now and little of the benefits filter through to the ordinary citizen.

  22. Doc. Love
    February 16, 2016

    What else is new under the Skeritt led Administration. We have been holding the rear for the last twelve years. According to Brian Linton, de backside.

  23. enough is enough
    February 16, 2016

    congratulations to all the persons involved in the tourism industry in D/A !!!
    we are the last one !!!!
    BOY we have work to do …. the question is : are we really want to do it ?
    this result shows that we don’t .
    what a waste, a shame, it looks like tourism is NOBODY BUSINESS.
    but everything is fine….we getting new hotel, so what are we crying for ??

  24. February 16, 2016

    well dominica really finishing last in everything but first in last

  25. Tetcal
    February 16, 2016

    Apparently, there is much potential in Tourism, but preparation and marketing is the key

  26. Shameless
    February 16, 2016

    We seem to be at the bottom with our bro Dr.Gonsalves who crooked us for our international airport. Ebbeh bonda nou paytay! Nou toute fe-ni-bat! :twisted:

    1.No Agriculture
    2.No Tourism
    3.Incomplete hotels (Layou and Morocco Red Roof)
    4. No thriving business environment for private sector growth and jobs creation
    5. No more red clinic
    6. Brogodow running dry
    7. No account of passport monies
    8. Man beating the men sworn to protect us (police)
    9. Baroness telling us to Sousay Sel while leaving large and enjoying our money in her private party in charlos residence
    10. A Baron receiving monies on behalf of the state with no accountability
    11. PM advising DLP supporters to gasconneah opposition
    12. No beds at hospital so former PM stranded in casualty
    13. No cafenol and plaster for boeboes at PMH

    Oh well…But still we loveee our PM. Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. :twisted: Bonda nou toute fan-eh Dominique :mrgreen: :mrgreen:…

  27. cohenval
    February 16, 2016

    What have you done to the cruise tourism industry?

  28. cohenval
    February 16, 2016

    Oh Ruby Tonge. What have done to the cruise tourism industry.

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