President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA) Gregor Nassief has reported limited success in Dominica’s tourism sector.
Nassief made the remarks at the association’s 45th which took place recently at the Fort Young Hotel.
“Successes have been limited,” he said. “Yes, the government did concede on VAT on service charge and I know it is of the view that this is a major concession, but truth be told, we are only playing catch up with where our regional competitors and sister CARICOM destinations are already.”
He said Dominica needs to set the pace “and place ourselves at the cutting edge of creative and game changing legislation and practices if we are really to transform tourism and its economic impact.”
Nassief said he is optimisic of the tourism industry “if we do the things that need to be done.”
“I believe that the next 3–5 years could actually be the best years for Dominica’s tourism in terms of GDP contribution, stay-over arrivals and investment in new and existing properties,” he said.
Nassief, however, pointed out that to get to this stage breakthrough strategies in marketing, product development and air access are needed.
“In terms of marketing, Dominica needs to rethink how it defines itself and how we communicate our product,” he noted. “The last time this was done in a complete way was 2006. In the last eight years, technology has revolutionized the travel industry, travelers are looking for very different experiences and Dominica itself has evolved in many ways, as have our competitors.”
He noted that 50 percent of hotel rooms in Dominica are empty. The same figure goes for flights.
“Our supply exceeds demand,” he lamented.
The DHTA’s president noted that this must be reversed through more serious and more successful marketing so that demand for Dominica as a destination is high.
just hold on mr nassief, skerrit going and transform dominica as his manifesto say, so after 15 years he will
make the tourism sector a STATE OF DE ART SECTOR(phrase he likes to use).
Until Dominica comes to grips that tourism will never, ever solve or come close to having any positive impact on the economy, there is going to be distressing or difficult financial circumstances. Dominica IS an agriculture powerhouse, without knowledge of the fact! this country should seek to thrive on its natural resources and stop the Hemorrhaging once and for all. Dominica is considered the Nature Isle of the Caribbean, a title yet to be capitalized on….
I could not agree with you more. He always sounds and looks as if someone close to him has ‘died’. I have never seen him smile. Similar to the young lady who I think is now in charge of the Creole Music Festival, if you turn down the volume when she is speaking on tv, you would think she was on her way to a funeral and was late! These people are so unconvincing because they are not convinced themselves, where our tourism is concerned. A smile would be a good start!
Sorry, this response above is in full support of BMB’s comment below
Totally agree! As someone with a Marketing background I kept asking myself “Why do they have someone like this promoting the biggest show in Dominica?” She could not convince a fly to attend the event for $0.50!
I was never on a flight to DA that was empty no what the season may be . The poor scheduling to DA is hurting. The competition is not great getting a large airport to accommodate direct flights will change attitudes.
Of course it was not empty if you were on it! How many full flights have you been on, I mean with all the passengers getting off at Melville Hall?
I wonder if the President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association and its members read the sensible comments posted here!!
Sensible comments such as this one posted by ‘Anonymous’:
Quote:
“Gregor
With such low occupancy, have you guys looked at adjusting your marketing strategy.
For example, in many of the resort hotels in Dominica, one needs to stay a minimum of 3 or 4 nights.
I was in Dominica for 11 days during the WCMF. We stayed with family, but we would have liked to spend a night at one of the hotels, but with a 3 day minimum, we were not prepared to do that. As a matter of fact, I have heard many people say the same thing.
Take a look at that, market your hotels to visiting nationals and resident Dominicans and you might just see a bump in your fill rates.
In 2006, I spent a week at a resort in Jamaica and I was surprised to see the number of Jamaicans who stayed at the hotel for the weekend. I am talking about visiting Jamaicans who were staying at family and then booked at the hotel for a couple of nights and other Jamaicans who live on island.
At the very least give it a try.”
In Dominica mediocrity rules. Let’s clean out the stables and make a fresh start, please.
Service is the worst in the Caribean, the workers are not properly trained , food is Aweful. The desigin beds and furniture is second rate. Land scraping l ouisy. Bed and Lennon are cheap. Hotel owners should go to St Barts to see what service is and how a Hotel is run bring some workers with you. People in Dominica thinks they are doing you a favour.
Marketing, service is Awful management l ouisy food terrible. Attitude the worst in the Caribean, lacking decor landscaping none existence. Needs training in hospitality business. Go to St Barts and spend Two weeks to see what service and a clean well run Hotel is like.
You have point there. I’m still looking for a decent restaurant in Roseau.
way too much emphasis is placed on tourism! the government has to address and solve the issues of the country therefore taking care of its society which in turn would allow tourism to develop. they should not forget what tourism is, that which is the sell of your culture so as for appreciation from outsiders, so protect and embrace the culture of Dominica.
“…… and how we communicate our product,”. Mr. Nassief, do me a favour, close your eyes, sit back and listen to the CEO of the Discover Dominica Authority on ANY given day. Does this individual ‘spark’ any interest in coming to Dominica to you? Listening to that man is no different than listening to an OBITUARY…! The tourism industry under the watch of the present CEO has become no different than his voice and demeanor; DEAD..!
The World does not know Dominica. Nothing of it. The BIG and simple problem is that there is nothing that occupies the mind of the tourist when it comes to Dominica therefore there is no impetus to visit our island. Very simple – nothing in the mind, no cognitive reason to visit, or worse, the inertia of negative stereotypes relating to the Caribbean.
There should be a massive drive to market Dominica. The irony is that our island has more to offer than most – a natural beauty unparalleled. How many times have I imagined in my mind the videos that could capture this beauty to stun all those watching during the bitter Winters that hit America and Europe. A captivated mind will pay almost any currency for natural bliss.
Maybe the failure of tourism is a blessing disguise to protect Dominica.
Unfortunately there is a lot of truth in your observation. In a recent report published in the Daily Mail (U.K.) on 5 Oct. of this year we came 7th. in a list of ten least visited countries in the world with 78,000 visitors in 2013, narrowingly beating St. Vincent & the Grenadines, which had only 72,000 visitors last year. Still it could be worse, we came not last. That honour went to Kiribati with only 6,000 visitors registered during 2013.
But Ivor,, is now you find to say that!!!!
You trying something there man. Too negative at the moment.
You should be able to spend any amount of nights that you want at a hotel. Also the hotel should do more to encourage locals to stay there. Having visited many other caribbean islands, I see a lot of locals using the hotels. That way the hotels don’t rely solely on tourist.
In Dominica locals expect a special discount, as if it costs less to run a hotel for our own. That is a bad habit, especially when you invite all your friends and family along to make noise and mess up the place. Do you all ask for a discount price at the gas station also?
No, but if you take out a 50 dollars here that will give the person more of an incentive to come back. Dont you think? you may charge the person the full $100 ( using 100 loosely) and they only come once. but if your hotel is in portsmouth and the person living Roseau. you charge them $80, they more likely to say, lets go too that hotel again for a weekend, so they go again. 80+80=160. then they go again.160+80= 240. you just made 140 more than if you had just made $100 dollars and they never come again. Sometimes in business it’s not about making all the money one time, but building a relationship with customers. My girlfriend and I have been going Rosalie Resort for past…..4 years? and we always enjoy the little discounts and room upgrades truth be told that could be a contributing factor as too why we return over and over again. So if they take $50 off the price I dont see it as a lost for them, cause they make us want to come bck next month, and the time after.
My friend how are we paying for the hotel as locals, our income cannot even pay the bills at home.
Clothes we can’t even buy
Murder the price to high
Politicians killing we children
While we the adults starving
Cost of living is high
Prices out of control
Young men begging bread
On the side of the road
The chamber of commerce in this land
They don’t really give one darn
The more we try to economize
Is the more the cost of living rise
When they have power and authority
They don’t give a darn about nobody
They prostituting the island
To all and sundry
They letting my people starve
Exploiting , oppressing, sexual molesting
I wonder how we survive
Think it over my friend
Think it over again
Think it over or vey with me Lang mama
Think it over I sing it as I see
Modified version of King Shut Shirt
There needs to be a change of government. We should not keep waiting and hoping things will get better. We have been waiting for over 15 years . That is enough . Time for change in the government.
Dominica is last in everything, sad to say: tourism, agriculture, health, manufacturing, education and respect for others have been spiraling downwards.
Over the last 15 years we have been begging for money from here ,there and everywhere but there is nothing sustainable. There needs to be a change in government. TIME FOR CHANGE!
What other indicators allyou need to see Tourism is not the answer to fuel Dominica’s economy nuh,,,
Garçon soh long Marn telling allyou is agriculture to put the focus on, allyou still dere playing as-if!!!
Dominica is the Bread-Basket of the region start marketing Dominca as the only place on this Globe to get true Organic Produce and allyou will start seeing people smile again,,,
Quality is better than Quantity!!!
There is always a period where occupancy is low. It is all over. When this happens the prices are discounted to increase occupancy. You all should not be too rigid with your pricing.
Hotels do discount in the low season but it makes little sense to operate below cost. You never recover that in a country like ours and sometimes it makes more sense to shut the place for the season, that is less expensive than keeping it open.
I wish him luck.
Truth be told! In the eyes of a labourite that is not true. DOMINICA is last in everything not only tourism. That’s why there needs to be a change in government.
To Us , Much Clearer So Many Can Hear, Embrace And Be Diligent To Do . A Willingness To Give , Work, Sacrifice And Do What Is Required For Us To Do Is This.
There Are Limitless Blessings, People, Resources And More In THIS BLESSED LAND OF YAHWEH. For example look at us , my family! We came here and welcomed. We took, we were helped obtained so many things. We gained the people and took them to work for us. Now look at the empire we built. Consider this we have taken command in the dominant pillars: Import, Marketing, tourism, food and beverage, transportation, commerce, air and sea ports access and the likes.
Therefore Citizens It Is Your Time! So Wake Up! And Get To Work! Let Us See What You All Can Do!
Yes sir We Can And We Will WITH YAHWEH ON Our Side.
We Appreciate you speaking up and saying you have taken enough and Will Let The People Do What They Have Been CALLED AND BLESSED TO DO.
YAHWEH DO ALL YOU SAY YOU WILL DO. We Will Obey, Willing And Will Freely Give As We Freely Received.
Mr. Nassief knows full well that Dominica missed the boat when his people decided to remove a government that had the interest of tourism at heart, when they went all out to purchase land for the international airport. Today we would be sailing joyfully and the hoteliers would be happy. but alas they could not stomach a man from Marigot brining that type of development to Dominica.
I want to promise Dominican especially the tourism sector that if they commit that cardinal sin and vote the DLP they may as well close down all hotels . We will be doomed for life.
But you are committing cardinal sins and more. The views of people are not necessarily that of others. You are dictating to others who they should vote for. People have a free mind of their own and they will vote for the Party of their choice. Allow them their rights.
Minister of tourism working.
Need to focus the country in areas where you can grow GDP the most….Agriculture and attracting more institutions of higher learning. I would like to see the tourism sector grow as Mr. Nassief outlined, but reality says that will not happen within the 3-5 time frame mentioned.
It’s not only marketing. Sure it would go a long way, if it is done professionally. But what about LIAT? Now I hear they have cut several flights to and from Dominica. Surely that does not help. A friend of mine wants to visit DA over Xmas. Can get a flight to ANU or Barbados but no onward flights to DA available for 4 weeks. One visitor less!
If you read Mr. Nassief’s remarks carefully you will find that he highlights that air access is needed. However, he also realizes that at present existing flights to Dominica operate half empty, so it is not realistic to expect a company like Liat to increase flights to Dominica because that would reduce their load factor even further.. It is up to us to create that demand in the first place.
The present existing flights to DA are at the wrong times. Long haul flights arrive after 3:00PM in BIM and Antigua, and we do not have adequate service to Dominica at this time to accommodate these visitors. That means they have to stay over. More expense attached to getting to DA.
Mr. Volney I agree with you. That first flight out of Melville Hall necessitates a long waiting time in Barbados but I used to put up with it because of superior faciities and attitude in Barbados when compared with Antigua. Also, the airport has more connecting international flight than does ANU. However, I have given up precisely because on the return journey I can no longer connect with a flight to Dominica for same day arrival. I am now using St. Maarten (Winair) as a connecting point for international flights both to N. America and Europe.
Not one visitor less. If your friend could not get a flight, there are countless others who will be in the same boat. So There may be hundreds who will not make it to D for Christmas.
An airline won’t fly to a country for one person, if they have noticed they do not get full flights to Dominica obviously they’ll make fewer flights available to the island
When are we going to fire the people heading Dominca’s tourism sector? eh When? DDA is a disgrace to Dominica. Just pull-string and other wrong means have these low performing individuals working there. See them on TV is all about outfit and making an impression, but no substance. None. Hear them on radio the sound incoherent. They are not performing. The job is not for life. Teway yo!
We will go down, down, down in our country if we don’t make some drastic changes. The people in there have minimum communication or planning skills. They have zero vision. There are more honorable and qualified people out here who would be willing and able to take our tourism product hire and faster. We can represent Dominica to the region and the international markets. Send us!
L concur.
Setting all this aside but without ignoring those important concerns, we must not overlook that tourists have been attacked in D/ca. Such news travel quickly and can tarnish Dominica’s name. Even though these cases are few, nevertheless, the harm is done and cannot be undone. They will brand all nationals as being one and the same. We are aware this could occur.
If travel agents are aware of that, rest assured that they will not recommend and/or encourage their clients to visit D/ca or other Caribbean countries for that matter.
Granted, LIAT with decreased flights, this poses a travel hindrance to Dominica.
The cost of traveling is high and as much as tourists love visiting the smaller islands as Dominica for its beauty, etc., they want to be reassured that they will feel comfortable and safe wherever they travel to. If they are aware of those societal problems and in a small country at that, they will not travel to those countries if they feel their well-being may be in jeopardy. I wouldn’t. Would you? This may be another reason which accounts for decrease in tourism.
thumbs up*
Gregor
With such low occupancy, have you guys looked at adjusting your marketing strategy.
For example, in many of the resort hotels in Dominica, one needs to stay a minimum of 3 or 4 nights.
I was in Dominica for 11 days during the WCMF. We stayed with family, but we would have liked to spend a night at one of the hotels, but with a 3 day minimum, we were not prepared to do that. As a matter of fact, I have heard many people say the same thing.
Take a look at that, market your hotels to visiting nationals and resident Dominicans and you might just see a bump in your fill rates.
In 2006, I spent a week at a resort in Jamaica and I was surprised to see the number of Jamaicans who stayed at the hotel for the weekend. I am talking about visiting Jamaicans who were staying at family and then booked at the hotel for a couple of nights and other Jamaicans who live on island.
At the very least give it a try.
In problem solving one should not expect solutions by deliberately ignoring the elements of failure. In a nutshell you are saying that the hoteliers need to do a better job marketing theor product. Well that may or may not be so but destination tourism is not primarily dependent on the class hotels. In fact the type of hotel accommodation has very little weight in decision process. What Nassim is saying is that the packaging need to be upgraded.
“Market your hotel to visiting Dominicans and you will see a jump” you got to be kidding. Are you saying that you and your family did not know of the hotels in Dominica thus the reason you did not book at a hotel. Did you even try to understand why you ran into returning Jamaicans at hotels in Jamaica?Do realize that a STRAIGHT flight back to Jamaica from the US or Europe is approximately 50% cheaper which means that Jamaican returning home would essentially have $400 dollars that you did not have and if you had a family of 3 that is $1200 US more in your family wallet.
Too many of us choose convinient blindness just because we really don’t have to pay the optamologist,the glasses and maybe even surgery. So why pretend to be blin just so that we refuse to deal with reality.
If our hotels were operating at about 50% capacity maybe just maybe your point would hold some water but our struggling hotels can hardly sustain 35%.
If Dominicans all over the world could find much improved access at affordable prices I am sure that the hoteliers will see returnees spending time at the hotels.
if life was better on the island even Dominicans at home would spend weekends at the hotels just like people on the pke in Antigua,St Lucia,St Marten etc do.
So when the engine in your car cannot start try taking the tire for repair and then come back on DNO and tell how far you got.
Mamizoo, I suspect you were a bit hasty and you had your mind made up before you got too far into my post. Re-read what I wrote and you might better understand what I wrote. You quote one of my sentences and even that you got wrong.
What also kills this industry is the cost of hotels paid in US dollars, not only in Dominica. Also the cost of sightseeing and the cost of purchasing souvenirs etc. Obviously money must be made at a profit from their sales but if the cost is too high who will purchase them?
Do not lose sight of when Dominicans visit they bring as much as they possibly could to avoid purchasing them at home. This is a loss for businesses and the economy.
I agree with you that changes must be made to accommodate both resident and visiting Dominicans. In many countries people take off for a weekend and stay at hotels. With such booming economic prosperity, there must be many hardworking Dominicans who would like to spend a weekend away from home; maybe in Portsmouth or Rosalie, or other parts of Dominica. The tourist industry should begin exploring how to cater to locals and fill up these empty beds. Run specials for locals. Hotels can also look into entertainment that would attract people for a Saturday evening stay over. We need to do a better job at encouraging our own people to fill up those beds.
Booming economic prosperity?????? U cannot be tAlking about dominica
What are we going to pay the hotels with as locals ? red clinic medication ? We don’t have disposable income and unemployment is over 70% , civil servants cant get raise, agriculture dead, tourism underperforming. People be real
Carcon, it is not just about filling up hotels it is about making a profit. The more I sell my rooms below cost the more loss I make, so there is no point in that. Sometimes I can let a room at break -even to help me with my fixed overheads but I can not do that too often. Hoteliers are in business to make a profit like every other business, what is the point otherwise? Filling rooms is easy, making a dollar is not.
Surely you must realise as soon as a guest switches on a fan or the a/c unit all profits fly straight to Domlec. Also, what about laundering costs for bedding, cleaning if you do not have full time staff. What about giving away a room for one night and missing out on a possible week’s booking. In terms of room bookings, sometimes the bird in the hand is not always better than the one in the bush. As others have said, it may be more cost effective to just close in the slow season. I’m sure most hoteliers etc., would love to fling open their doors to accommodate all comers, however, particularly for the smaller businesses unfortunately 1-3 nights is not always financially viable in this present climate.