Tourism plays significant role in rebuilding economic resilient Dominica, says Prime Minister

During his budget speech in the Parliament, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit stated that tourism plays a significant role in rebuilding economic resilience, maintaining sustainable livelihoods and in enhancing the ability of the economy to rebound after the disaster.

Notably, the tourism sector of Dominica was dramatically impacted by Maria in the year 2017, air access was reduced, whereas sea access was also interrupted for several weeks and for some period the roads also remained impassable. Following the same condition, PM stated “we were not daunted. The Ministry of Tourism executed a recovery plan that has resulted two years later, in the remarkable recovery of our tourism sector. We have not only returned to pre-Maria visitor arrivals, but we have surpassed and exceeded our expectations.”

According to the visitor’s statistics report, a strong performance in stayover visitor arrivals in the first half of 2019, was recorded at forty-three thousand, seven hundred and seventy-four (43,774). The numbers show an upward trend as compared to 2016 and 2017.

“The decision of this government to use the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBIP) to help develop five-star branded hotels, is part of a wider effort to expand economic activity and creation of sustainable jobs and opportunities for our people,” said Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit.

While addressing the nation, PM exhorts benefits of Citizenship by Investment scheme as a ray of hope for people. He said three 5-star hotels would be opened in the year 2019, providing full-time employment to the inhabitants of the country and it will also push forward the agriculture and livestock farming as hotels will be in dire need of vegetables and livestock for tourists.

“The first of the CBIP projects, Jungle Bay Resort, is now open to guests and employing sixty-two (62) full-time staff. The Cabrits Resort and Spa, a Kempinski branded Hotel, is accepting reservations for October 2019 and they have already started employing full-time staff.”

He also added that while these hotels are under construction, hundreds of Dominicans are getting employed. “During construction of these properties, including the Anichi hotel, branded by Marriot and Tranquillity Beach resort, branded by Hilton, it is estimated that over 800 construction workers are employed. As I stand here, over five hundred and fifty (550) workers are on the Kempinski site, working to ensure they are ready for the opening of the hotel on 14th October 2019”, he added.

“Significant emphasis has been placed on the training of our people and stakeholders to ensure that visitors and locals receive consistently excellent service. It will be necessary for us to deliver five-star service at all levels of this society if we want to position ourselves as the destination of choice. We have to be ready to deliver the level of service that this requires”, said Skerrit.