Construction work on a new Tourism Resource Center costing $400, 000 for the Layou community has commenced.
The project, which is being funded under the Tourism Sector Development Programme under the European Union’s Special Framework of Assistance (SFA) 2006, and the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, was officially launched on Wednesday.
Tourism Minister Ian Douglas told residents that Layou has the potential to become one of the best tourism destinations in Dominica.
“You have the great potential for boating, yachting, kayaking, swimming and tubing on the river into the sea. This community could be taken to the next level,” he said.
According to Douglas, while the reception center will serve its purpose and cater food vending units; two drinks and fruit vending units, two craft vending units, washrooms and change room facilities, it could also be used as a way promote the community.
The tourism reception centre will also serve as the main administrative hub for the Layou Improvement Committee, and will aid in promoting the culinary and cultural aspects of the community.
The facility will be used as a base for dispatching tours to attractions in the Layou area.
Meantime Parliamentary Representative for Layou Kelver Darroux has encouraged residents to take proper care of their facility.
“You need to ensure that the facility is well protected, it is kept clean, that no one vandalize the facility and you have to make it your priority to police the facility,” he said.
The project is expected to be completed in October. Darroux has encouraged the villagers to maintain the reception centre as is done with the one in Mero.
“Villagers of Mero ensure they place garbage bins at the beach and it is kept clean every day. We should never take for granted our role in ensuring the upkeep of this project” he said.
He requested that the facility be kept crime free.
DNO CORRESPONDENT.
Ma Kilbert, why would you say such a thing about a village? Hopefully this project will encourage the young men and women of Layou to take pride in their village, learn some arts and crafts, develop their cooking skills and improve their village. This may just be what the Improvement Committee needs to help them improve their village. Let us show them some support. The river walk (with the white railing) is a great attraction for visitors; adding the Tourism Resource Center will definitely bring more people to the village to buy ti-ti-wi, bathe in the river and go to the beach.
ian doglast!!
It would be extremely valuable for Dominica to film it’s natural assets and provide them on the internet for international consumption!
I know USA organizations that would be more than willing to take up the task for free
In summary, though a nice tourism building is very helpful, I believe until the world knows that “Dominica” is not the same as the “Dominican Republic”, tourism will greatly suffer!
They should never put that layou jean layou so untidy and nasty but then again they have so much lazy young women in layou so it will make them get up their lazy a**.one question who in layou can make arts and craft to sell?which one of those young women can cook a good piece of food to sell to tourist?but let’s wait and see and listen to hear ok