Minister for Tourism and Legal Affairs, Hon. Ian Douglas has told stakeholders in the Tourism Sector in Dominica that their mission must be to “strive to be the best”.
In his first public dialogue with tourism stakeholders since his reappointment as Minister for Tourism in January 2010, Hon. Ian Douglas noted that Dominica as a tourism destination, would never be able to compete on the basis of price or accessibility.
“But we have been told and we all know that the only way up for us in tourism is to be the best ..… that is therefore our mission for us in Dominica , to strive to be the best in everything we seek to do in every way we seek to position the industry,” Hon. Douglas stated.
The Tourism Minister said further that to be the best, Dominica as a destination would need:
- to be more responsive to the trends in tourism demand worldwide;
- to be conscious of the high standards that we must set for ourselves in customer service and product quality;
- to improve the quality of the human capital and those who serve in the industry;
- to sharpen, maintain and further enhance the Dominica brand;
- to think differently of how we mobilize and provide resources to every segment and sub-sectors between and across the wide spectrum of tourism activities;
- to be world class in giving meaning to the processes of cultural preserving and the continued conservation of the natural resources of our country
- to be world-class in managing our waste, to keep our country clean and beautiful
- to integrate values of selflessness and warmness to our friends and visitors
- to excellently package and make the Dominica experience more authentic, rewarding and priceless to our visitors;
- to be world-class in finding new ways of controlling noise emanating from our various businesses and taxis;
- to be world-class in utilizing our culture and rich heritage to make the experience even more authentic and real.
- To be world-class will mean a renewed level of support for oneself and each other and by extension to the many visitors to our shores
The Minister also used the opportunity to highlight some of the projects undertaken by Government that have contributed to the development of the tourism sector in Dominica.
Since the 2006/2007 fiscal year, the Government of Dominica has expended $219 million ECD on capital projects in the development of infrastructure like roads; the Melville Hall airport expansion project; creation of the required institutional frameworks; revised or enacted new legislation for tourism; provided concessions and fiscal incentives to encourage and support investments across the sector; and implemented new tourism development programmes with support from the European Union.
Stakeholders present at the meeting included representatives from the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA), Dominica Watersports Association (DWA), Tour Guides Association, the various taxi associations, and officials from Discover Dominica Authority, Invest Dominica Authority, the Ministry of Tourism and the AID Bank.
Sean Douglas/Government Press Secretary press release.
“to be more responsive to the trends in tourism demand worldwide”
If we look at the trend well will notice that what is interested to us is the eco tourism part of tourism. >This has been one of the fastest growing sectors in the Tourism industry.
The fact is just that our people making the decisions have been blind to what we have and are unable to be creative in the development of our tourism product. We have all the natural resources needed to be more than competitive on an international basis.
To be the best. YES: If the right market do not know we exists and we keep on putting money into markets that are decreasing at and increasing rate. This would and is just another waist of time.
The statistics are clear go for the markets that spend more and willing to make the sacrifice to come to destintions like ours. No because we have white sand beaches but because for the past years we shown most of the world that we have an eco tourism product that is worth there money.
It is just a problem that to some of our people in power the market being talk about is just the US. We need to move away from the over dependence of this market and start to look further where our product is more highly rated.
Dear Honorable Ian Douglas,
I am writing to you with such disgust about happenings to my son in Dominica.
My plans to travel and visit Dominica with my husband, while my son is attending Ross Medical School has been ripped from our heart and mind.
Liat Airlines was responsible to get him both luggage on his return to Dominica Jan 8, 2010.
He only received one of his bags the other ….STOLEN !
Monday evening while walking back to his apt. he was mugged and had his laptop and bag of 4 textbooks stolen from him. His laptop contained years of his studies and work. How lost he feels and now, how can he compensate and continue to study to be a doctor? He feared for his life because the thugs had weapons, and also hit him with a rock.
Your airlines, police force and possibly mail service have nothing about them I trust.
Please respond back to me knowing you received this email and what can you do to help my son?
Sincerely a sad mom of a very distraught son,
Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Khan RN BSN
Well, well, Ian has finally awakened to all the comments and criticisms that were being made. I paid special attention to his remarks “to be world class in managing our waste, to keep our country clean and beautiful.”
Ian, the first challenge is Portsmouth, the town where you and your family were born and raised, and also the town you represent.
I was shocked when I read that there was no garbage pick up in Portsmouth because the only garbage truck was out of commission. I was also shocked when I read that garbage was being transported 2 hours away to Roseau to be dumped.
Where in the world have you ever heard of all these inconveniences? Only in Portsmouth.
I wish Ian and the town council members would get together and try to come to a decision to address all the inadequacies that is taking place in Portsmouth. This is the 21st century. Wake up and speak up Portsmouth people!!
I can help
I happy the Minister for Tourism finally realized this, “that Dominica as a tourism destination would need to be more responsive to the trends in tourism demand worldwide”……….. Trends in tourism, which means that a resort in Dominica would be necessary to bring in more stay over tourists………. I also believe that adding a casino to the resort would be attractive to the stay over tourists as well.
Excellent Ian!