Over 400 employed in filming Pirates of the Caribbean (Chronicle)
May 6th 2005

Over 400 Dominicans are currently employed as a result of the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean 2 in Dominica by Hollywood film giants, Disney. Over 170 Dominicans are employed as drivers and another 250 as extras, security personnel, caterers and in other areas associated with the film.

In 2004, visitor expenditure reached $162 million, the highest ever in the history of Dominica

Tourism and agriculture in Dominica make significant gains (Caribbeannews.com)
Friday, March 4, 2005

ROSEAU, Dominica: According to a Government press release, Dominica's Tourism and Agriculture sectors have registered positive signs of growth during the period October - December 2004, compared to the corresponding period in 2003. 

The Tourism sector continued registering positive signs of growth with total visitors estimated to have increased by 41.80 percent, moving from 99,755 to 141,455.

The Cruise Ship sector continued its remarkable success with a 51 percent increase in cruise ship visitors in the last quarter of 2004 compared to the corresponding period in 2003. Stay-Over visitors increased by 5.43 percent. The net growth in visitors contributed to the 10.35 percent increase in visitor expenditure.

Cruise Visitors Up (News-Dominica)
24-Jan-05 Total Cruise arrivals to D/a in 04 is expected to exceed 391,915, compared to 177,044 in "03, an increase of 121.4%. In 2004, Jan to Nov arrivals were 328,915 compared to 136,628 for same period in 03.

Lights, Camera, Action! (Chronicle)
Government approves filming of Pirates of the Caribbean II & III January 21, 2005

Dominica becomes first country to earn eco-tourism designation(Caribbeannews.com)
Saturday, December 4, 2004

ROSEAU, Dominica: The Caribbean island of Dominica announced Friday that it has become the first country ever to receive benchmark designation from the prestigious eco-tourism organization, Green Globe 21. 

“We are extremely proud to be a leader in the promotion and development of sustainable tourism, not just in the Caribbean but globally,” stated the Hon. Charles Savarin, Dominica’s Minister of Tourism. “Not only does this designation from Green Globe 21 underscore our commitment to sustainable tourism, it helps us further position Dominica as a world class eco-destination. In addition, the benefits to the island in terms of protecting its natural beauty and environment as well as reducing costs and attracting more visitors are immeasurable.”

In addition to the national designation, five hotels on Dominica have also achieved successful benchmarking status from Green Globe 21. They include 3 Rivers Eco-Lodge, Tamarind Tree Hotel, Garraway Hotel, Fort Young Hotel and the Hummingbird Inn.

Green Globe 21 requires all of its 442 total participating operations and communities to be independently assessed and certified annually by independent auditors to ensure their compliance with Green Globe 21’s standards. The participating companies and communities must meet those standards in 9 key performance areas, such as energy consumption, solid waste production, social commitment, resource conservation, sustainability policy and more. 

Developed by the World Travel & Tourism Council and established in 1994, Green Globe 21 is the global benchmarking, certification and improvement system for sustainable travel and tourism. It is based on Agenda 21 and principles for sustainable development endorsed by 182 heads of state at the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit and provides companies, communities and consumers with a path to sustainable tourism. As of 2004, there are participants on all continents and in approximately 50 countries worldwide. 

The independent nation of Dominica (pronounced "Dom-in-eek-a") is located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean. The largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands, Dominica encompasses an area of nearly 290 square miles. Of volcanic origins with mountains reaching heights of nearly 5,000 feet, rainforests that are considered among the last true island-based rainforests in the world, more than 365 rivers, waterfalls, boiling lakes, and pristine coral reefs, Dominica’s natural diversity is truly unique. Dominica is also home to the last remaining settlement of the Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean -- The Carib Indians.

A place where man and nature live in harmony, adventurers and nature lovers alike will revel in the Island’s eco-tourism options which include scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking/trekking, whale, dolphin and bird watching, sailing and fishing. 

For more information on Dominica, visit Dominica’s official website at www.dominica.dm.

Signs of economic growth in Dominica (Caribbeannews.com)
Tuesday, November 30, 2004

ROSEAU, Dominica: Third quarter data from the Dominica’s Central Statistical Office in Roseau reveals that the incipient economic recovery which the International Monetary Fund identified a year ago has been sustained over the last several months. 

The tourism, construction and agriculture sectors all recorded significant increases during the period July - September 2004 compared to the corresponding period in 2003. 

Total agricultural exports increased from $7.55 million in the July-September 2003 period to $9.34 million in the July-September 2004 period, a 23.71 per cent increase. 

DBPL banana production increased by 44.28 per cent over the previous year moving from 2323.93 to 3352.88 tons as a result of the continued increase in yields from replanting and the additional inputs. Total banana exports revenue recorded a 39.61 per cent increase moving from $3.61 million to $5.04 million, with DBPL banana exports moving from $3.04 million to $4.47 million, recording a 47.04 per cent rise. 

There are indications that the decision of the Roosevelt Skerrit Government to make available $300,000 to banana farmers through the DBPL for the purchase of inputs has had a positive effect on banana production. 

During the period July - September 2004, the construction sector registered a 76.19 per cent rise in the number of construction starts recording a movement from 21 to 37, compared to the same period last year. An 87.22 per cent rise was recorded for the value of construction starts. 

The tourism sector continued to reflect improved performance moving from 20,210 to 67,072 total visitors, due in part to the significant rise in cruise ship visitors. Stay over visitors registered a 10.61 per cent increase. Total visitor expenditure increased by 21.91 per cent moving from EC$32.38 to EC$39.15 million. 

This latest data from the Ministry of Finance comes only weeks after an IMF Mission, which ended on October 29th 2004 reported signs of buoyancy in the Dominican economy. The IMF projected that the economy would grow by at least 2% this year. 

Golden Princess to make 18 calls to Dominica in 2004/2005 (Caribbeannews.com)
Thursday, October 7, 2004

ROSEAU, Dominica: The Golden Princess of Princess Cruise Lines will make 18 calls to Dominica for the 2004/2005 cruise ship season. That announcement was made at a short ceremony aboard the Golden Princess recently. The Golden Princess made its inaugural call to Dominica a few weeks ago.

In his brief remarks at the short ceremony, Ship Captain, Cesare Ditel lauded the diversity of Dominica’s tourism product. He highlighted the arts and crafts of the Caribs as well as other attractions such as whale watching and diving. Dominica is rated internationally as being in the top five of the best dive sites in the world.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, Enterprise Development and Establishment, Mr. Irwin Laroque presented a plaque to the ship’s captain in the absence of Tourism Minister, Charles Savarin. The ship’s captain also presented a plaque to the Government of Dominica.

Dominica entered the cruise ship business in 1991. During the 2003/2004 cruise ship season, a record 285,980 passengers came to Dominica. It is widely expected that the new season will be even greater than the previous one, with estimates of up to 336,901 passengers.

Let’s sell Dominica (Dominica Chronicle)
October 4th 2004

At a recent cruise conversion workshop hosted and sponsored by Tropical Shipping and the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA), innovative ways of increasing cruise visitor expenditure on the island were discussed among hoteliers, tour operators and other stakeholders in the tourism industry.

According to Director of Tourism at the National Development Corporation (NDC), Sharon Pascal, the cruise industry provides an opportunity to sell Dominica to a captive market of over two hundred thousand persons annually. She added that the focus is to encourage cruise passengers to return as long term visitors to the island.

She explained, “For the calendar year 2003, we welcomed one hundred and seventy-seven thousand cruise passengers and they generated a total of 13.5 million dollars in visitor expenditure, as compared to the 72,000 stay overs who visited the island and generated 100.5 million dollars or 88% of the total expenditure for that year.”

“WCMF worthwhile” - Dr. Keith Nurse
by Suprian George (Chronicle)
September 4, 2004

Positive signs for growth in tourism sector (The Chronicle)

The National Development Corporation (NDC) said the outlook for growth in the tourism sector for 2004 is positive.

In a press release issue last week, the NDC said that the most recent edition of Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB)'s report dated June 2003, confirms that economic performance of Dominica for the first half of 2003 appears to have improved, compared to 2002.

This improvement, the report states, is attributable to, among other things, “an expansion in activity in the tourism industry.”

Preliminary data for the second quarter of 2003 indicated an improvement in performance in the tourism industry compared with the outcome in the corresponding period of 2002. The ECCB report confirms that total visitor arrivals increased by 18.1 percent to 36.775 for the first half of 2003, reflecting growth in all categories of visitors. The report explains that the number of stay over visitors rose by 14.6 per cent due to growth in arrivals from the major markets. For Dominica, the major markets include the Caribbean region and French West Indies, North America and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, preliminary data from the local Statistical Office for the 12-month period January to December 2003 indicate a significant increase in visitor arrivals into Dominica so far.

Based on this data, the NDC expects a visitor arrival of 73,000, a 5.5 percent increase over the previous year.

“This suggests that stay over visitor performance for 2003 has matched the 1999 peak, when total arrivals reached a high of 73,501,” the release said.

It added that the increase in stay over arrivals was partly due to the special promotional efforts of Government to coincide with the 25th anniversary celebrations of Dominica’s Independence.

Preliminary data suggests that total stay over visitor expenditure increased from $111M in 2002 to about $114M in 2003.

“The NDC projects that this increasing trend will continue into 2004 due to the general settling of international market travel jitters, the participation of key tourism stakeholders in product and service enhancing programmes being pursued by the NDC, the expectation of repeat clientele and the lagged effect of the increased destination marketing activities of the Ministry of Tourism being funded by Government since the second half of 2003. All these factors should contribute to continued growth in the sector in 2004 and beyond,” the release stated.

Dominica to be featured on NBC (The Chronicle)

Dominica is to be featured on the American television cable network NBC TV in February.

A team from the cable network was on the island last weekend collecting footage of the island that will be viewed on the station’s “Today” programme.

Director of Tourism at the National Development Corporation (NDC), Sharon Pascal made the disclosure during the launching ceremony of a five-minute promotional video, “Discover Dominica” at the Fort Young Hotel on last Wednesday.

This five-minute video is one of three such projects, including a 30-minute commercial and a power point presentation that is being produced. The NDC’s Division of Tourism has commissioned a local production company, Link International Incorporated, to do the productions at the cost of $75,000 which is being provided under a programme of assistance from the Taiwanese Government.

The video is aimed at supporting the NDC’s marketing of Dominica’s tourism product in the major tourist markets regionally and internationally and was filmed on location at some 22 different sites. It features several of the island’s hotels and resorts, scenic tourist attractions, forests including the Morne Trois Pitons World Heritage Site, scenes from the World Creole Music Festival and enactments of people engaged in under-water and on land adventures.”

The male and female models portray Dominica’s diverse cultural mix, of African, European and Carib Indian blood. The writing and vocal talents of recording artiste, Michele Henderson and her band provided the sound track and the off-camera voice of veteran broadcaster, Dennis Joseph punctuates the kaleidoscope of shifting scenes, as he persuades the viewer that Dominica is the ideal, escape from the hustle and bustle of the cosmopolitan, to alternatively a romantic get-away or, simply a haven to savor nature’s gifts in it’s raw simplicity.

The NDC is to produce a French edition of “Discover Dominica” which will be distributed to travel agents, tour operators, regional and international marketing agencies, as well as regional and international organizations, educational forums, the media and the public.

Pascal who was among the speakers addressing the ceremony which also heard remarks from General Manager of the NDC, Vincent Philbert and Minister of Tourism, Enterprise and Establishment, Charles Savarin said the launching of the promotional video fell under the corporation’s 2003/04 $1.9M short-term marketing programme that came into effect in August of 2003.

Pascal praised the efforts of the private sector stakeholders in the tourism industry and described the NDC as being successful in the implementation of the programme.

According to Pascal, between August and September last year, Dominica had been highlighted in a number of travel trade shows in the Caribbean and international publications including the National Geographic magazine, World Scuba Diving Magazine, the LIAT Islander, Caribbean Star Altitude Magazine and the American Eagle magazine. The NDC expects to participate in several travel trade shows in the Caribbean, North America and Europe throughout the current financial year.

Increase in Tourist Stay-over

 And Tourism Minister Charles Savarin has high hopes the industry would see better results with plans upgrade sites and pump additional resource into marketing the island.

Roseau, Dominica: January 30, 2004

Dominica is currently enjoying a record breaking year for cruise tourist arrivals as the island continues to welcome record numbers of passengers during what is widely regarding as the best ever year for cruise arrivals.

Since the season opened on October 1^st, 2003, Dominica has welcomed more than 140,000 cruise passengers, and a total amount of 124 calls over the three months period. So far this season, Dominica has had eleven (11) inaugurals for ships docking at its Ports in Roseau and Portsmouth. This season has also witnessed the return of the carnival Cruise-line with two of its ships, The MS Jubilee and most recently, the larger and more luxurious, MS Carnival Destiny. The Destiny which started to call here since January 13^th,2004, will be making weekly calls to Dominica year-round, that is including the off-season period May-September.

For the 2003/2004 season, the sector expects to welcome over 350,000 passengers, making it by far the largest number of cruise passengers to visit The Nature Island. The previous highest was in 1998 when the island welcome 244,603 passengers with 268 calls.

From available statistical data for the month of January, 2004, Dominica has already welcomed an estimated 49,498 passengers compared to 29,152 for the same period in 2003, an increase of 44%.

Next week, Dominica welcomes the grandest, newest and most luxurious cruise ship afloat, The Queen Mary 2. Dominica is among the first few islands of the Caribbean to welcome this mega ship.

Cruise tourism is a major part of Dominica growing tourism, and is responsible for providing large numbers of jobs and generating millions of dollars in foreign exchange to the island.  The success of this record breaking year is attributable to the efforts and partnership between the public and private sector entities in the cruise industry. The role and contribution of the Ministry of Tourism, the NDC, the Dominica Port Authority, the cruise agents, tour operators, taxi operators and drivers, vendors, hair braiders, tour guides, land based activity specialists, water-sports operators, and the thousands of Dominicans who every day and every week, welcome the cruise passengers with their smile, their quality service and their excellent facilities, all contribute to this success.

Caribbean Star is Platinum at 6th Creole Music Festival
(CTO)

Caribbean Star Airlines has gone for platinum sponsorship of the 6th edition of the Annual Creole Music Festival. The festival, which is carded for November1-3 this year, is the Caribbean’s newest festival and has been successfully staged in ‘The Nature Island of the Caribbean,’ Dominica for the past 5 years.

A production of the Dominica Festivals Commission, the festival allows various forms of creole music from all over the world to be heard on a single stage in what has been dubbed ‘three nights of pulsating Creole rhythms and styles’. The forms of Creole Music showcased include Compas from Haiti, Zouk from the French Antilles, Soukous from West Africa and Cadence Lypso/Bouyon from host country, Dominica. 12 Bands, some from as far as France, and Africa will grace the Roseau stage. This year’s festival will also coincide with Dominica’ s 24th Anniversary of Independence celebrations.

The festival’s popularity has grown steadily in the past 5 years, both regionally and internationally. As such Caribbean Star Airlines has responded to the need for transportation to and from the island, as it is the official regional carrier for the music festival. The Star will not only be moving regional festival patrons, but they will also be connecting the visitors from around the world out of their hubs in Antigua and Barbados.

Director of Marketing, Sandra Scotland says that the Airline plans to continue to lend its support to this type of festival, as it is in keeping with their commitment to the social and economic development of all 14 of its destinations. In addition to sponsorship, the airline is very visible at these festivals, with their corporate tent, staging ‘under the tent’ games, and giving information on the airline.

Caribbean Star makes it even easier for the passenger traveling to the Creole Music Festival, with its all-inclusive Star Vacations Holiday Packages. For complete travel arrangements, inclusive of airfare, hotel booking, free travel insurance, and shopping discounts at select stores, one need only log on to the recently launched website- www.caribbeanstarvacations.com; pop over to their travel agent; or call toll free 1-800-744-STAR.

For a whole new altitude of products and services, as well as flight information, fares reservations and bookings, log on to Caribbean Star Airlines’ website- www.flycaribbeanstar.com

Tourism growing on low-key Dominica (By Laura Bly, USA TODAY, 1997)

ROSEAU, Dominica - ``There's an old Caribbean joke: If Columbus came back today, Dominica is the only island he would recognize,'' says local hotel owner and dive operator Derek Perryman.

Until recently, Perryman adds, the Columbus quip served to emphasize the backwater aura of this former French and British colony. More than 500 years after the explorer discovered its existence, the little-known island is so often confused with the Dominican Republic that overseas mail is routinely misdirected to Santo Domingo.

Now, the jab is becoming a sales tool - and a rallying cry among environmentalists hoping to insulate the rugged outpost from its neighbors' commercialism.

Home to endangered parrots, gurgling mud pots and a river for every day of the year, 29-mile-long Dominica (pronounced Dah-min-EE-ka) has been both blessed and cursed by its geography.

About 75% of the lush island is cloaked in mountains, which attract so much rain (up to 300 inches a year) that water is an export.

Beaches are paltry, and the same precipitous terrain that sheltered the region's indigenous Carib Indians from 18th century European invaders has kept modern development in check. Roads are tortuously winding, and the island's two small airports handle only daytime flights. The biggest hotel has fewer than 40 rooms; just 720 rooms are on the entire island.

But faced with the elimination of preferential European access for its banana crop, the self-styled ``Nature Island of the Caribbean'' is turning to tourism for economic salvation. And while the country remains a haven for hikers, bird-watchers and scuba divers, Dominica's visitor industry is expanding beyond its low-key, ecotourism roots.

Almost 200,000 travelers arrived here by cruise ship last year, a whopping 42% increase since 1995. The country opened its first U.S. tourism office last December and recorded 13,500 American visitors in 1996, a boost of almost 25% over 1995.

Effective in June 1997, nonresidents must pay entry fees at two of the island's most popular destinations: 200-foot-high Trafalgar Falls and the Emerald Pool, a fern-lined, waterfall-fed grotto that could double as a Tarzan set. The new fees will help pay for toilet facilities, interpretive centers, walkways and other improvements.

An expansion project at the island's larger airport could accommodate jet landings by 1999, and the tourism industry hopes to add about 3,000 hotel rooms over the next decade, including a riverside resort and spa to be operated by upscale Aman Resorts.

For now, the country's most exotic attraction - a flooded, Dante-esque fumarole called Boiling Lake - remains the exclusive province of hikers with strong lungs and sturdy boots. But there are rumors a developer wants to build a cable car that would let out-of-shape visitors skip the three- to four-hour trek.

Those changes concern repeat visitors like John Lennox.

``Dominica is on the horns of a dilemma: This place is still relatively pristine, but my worry is that the government will be hellbent on quick fixes,'' says Lennox, a microbiology professor from Altoona, Pa., who explored the island for two weeks this spring.

And they trouble locals like Perryman, who runs dive trips and boat excursions aimed at the sperm and humpback whales that congregate in Dominica's waters.

The boom in cruise ship visitors ``is good for me, but it's not good for the island,'' Perryman says. ``The type of person who comes to Dominica doesn't want to go to Trafalgar Falls and be with 200 other people. I don't think mass tourism and ecotourism can mix.''

Perryman's theory was put to the test one recent Thursday afternoon. The Trafalgar Falls parking lot was jammed with minivans, and cruise ship passengers had to walk a gauntlet of persistent tour guides before elbowing their way onto a wooden viewing platform.

Dominica's tourism leaders acknowledge the country's balancing act as it reaches for a wider market while preserving its unique natural attributes.

``We're a young nation at a critical stage in our economic development,'' and the banana crisis ``increases the danger of not doing it right,'' says minister of tourism Norris Prevost.

More than a quarter of Dominica is already protected as national park or forest reserve, and the 17,000-acre Morne Trois Pitons National Park has been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Officials hope to reduce the concentration of cruise ship visitors at Trafalgar Falls and the Emerald Pool by improving access to additional sites, and they plan a training and licensing program for tour guides by year's end.

Also on the agenda: construction of a traditional model village in the windswept Carib Territory. The 3,700-acre preserve is home to about 3,000 Carib Indians, the last remnants of a civilization that once ruled the entire region.

Charles Williams is one of them. As owner of the Carib Territory Guest House, Williams has been a beneficiary of the island's nascent tourism business. He's expanding his modest home from four guest rooms to 15 and, like many of his neighbors, sells distinctive baskets made from straw that derives its color from being buried in Dominica's rich volcanic soil.

``This is an island for people who love nature,'' Williams says, ``and we can preserve that.''

Dominica Tourism reports and Statistics