Omar Perez
From new and revitalized transportation infrastructure projects to increasing its room count by about half by the end of 2025 and introducing new tourism amenities, Dominica is preparing to welcome more visitors.
Numbers are already on the upswing. According to Statista, the island saw more than 339,000 tourists in 2023, an increase of 37% from the previous year. Dominica’s goal is to reach half a million annual stayover visitors and 1 million cruise visitors by 2030.
Dominica concluded the 2023-24 cruise season with 306,601 cruise visitors, an 11% increase over the previous season and a 62% rise compared with the prepandemic 2019-20 season, according to the Tourism Ministry of Dominica. For the current season, Dominica projects 230 calls and 365,311 passengers, increases of 8.5% and 19%, respectively, from last season.
Cruise port, airport plans
To accommodate the rise in arrivals at Roseau Cruise Port, the island’s primary cruise port, the government is close to finalizing an agreement to construct a new, larger cruise ship facility capable of handling larger vessels. On a smaller scale, for yachts, the island is constructing the Cabrits Marina, a $75 million facility in the town of Portsmouth that will accommodate vessels up to 150 feet and include a marine village with shopping and dining amenities. Yacht visits totaled 8,532 the first half of this year, according to Tourism Analytics.
Airlift from the U.S. has been a limiting factor for getting flyers to Dominica, the only direct service currently an American Airlines route from Miami. To attract more airlines, several weeks ago the island completed a 6,000-foot extension and grooving of the Douglas-Charles Airport runway, a move that opens the island to larger aircraft, in addition to reducing rainy weather-related cancellations and improving safety due to a slick runway.
Dominica officials are currently in talks with unspecified airlines to commence new airlift from the New York metropolitan area.
“The horizon seems positive for us to go beyond just American Airlines and engage some of the other major airlines,” said Marva Williams, the newly appointed CEO of Discover Dominica. “Pilots now have over 6,000 feet of runway that they can access,” Williams said. “And in the whole airport pilot world, that is really, really acceptable. That’s when people really listen to you.”
Dominica is currently in the construction phase of a new international airport, slated to open in 2026, that will boost connectivity and accept long-haul commercial flights.
Making room
Dominica is expecting to add about 500 rooms to its existing 1,000. New resort openings this and next year include the Sanctuary Rainforest Eco Resort and Spa; the Ocean Edge Hotel; the Anichi Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection; and the Tranquility Beach Resort, a member of Hilton’s Curio collection.
Arguably one of Dominica’s more anticipated projects is the completion of a new cable car system, which will take riders 4.1 miles from the Roseau Valley, where the cruise port is located, up to Boiling Lake, one of the world’s largest thermal springs.
When completed next year, the cable car project, the world’s longest of its kind, is expected to draw 20,000 visitors a year.
“People who come on the cruise are unable to take a six-hour walk to Boiling Lake,” Williams said. “So why not help them to soak in all that natural beauty in about 20 minutes? We’re really, really looking forward to that cable car project. It’s going to be an experience like no other for Dominica.”
Another project is the upgrade of the Champagne Beach facility, which will include spaces for local artisans, restaurants and outdoor recreation and entertainment. The area currently is home to some basic amenities, like changing rooms and rest rooms as well as a dive shop and bars.
Not all projects involve concrete. True to its “Nature Island of the Caribbean” moniker, Dominica will establish the world’s first sperm whale reserve next year on its western waters, encompassing some 350 square miles. Some 200 sperm whales are believed to reside in the area year-round.
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Publish date : 2024-10-01 04:27:00
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