Dominica to build and develop more five star brand hotels funded by Citizenship by investment (CBI) to expand economic activity, boost tourism and creating more jobs for locals.
Dominica has achieved a major recovery after the country suffered a the loss of 96% of GDP caused by tropical storm Erika and 226% of GDP caused by hurricane Maria, to an economy that is growing at nine percent (9%) this year. In 2019, three five star branded hotels scheduled to open
“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 Dominica PM Skerrit.
PM Skerrit announced 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 already started employing full-time staff.
As with job creation, 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. Over 550 workers are on the Kempinski site, working to ensure they are ready for the opening of the hotel on 14th October 2019.
The Dominica leader further added that significant emphasis has been placed on the training of our people and stakeholders to ensure that visitors and locals, receive consistent, excellent service to deliver five-star service at all levels of this society and Dominica will be ready to deliver the level of service that this requires.
Local farmers, taxi companies and fisherman are expected to vastly benefit from the hotel industry from three five-star hotels in operation by the end of the year to meet the standards that will be expected by the hotel industry. The availability of new hotel rooms is expected to meet the anticipated increase in visitor arrivals in Dominica.
The Prime Ministry of Dominica provided updates on the hotel sector during the Budget presentation for 2019-2020 last week
- The opening of the Kempinski five-star resort in October 2019 is no doubt great news for the people of Dominica, the tourism sector and players in the sector.
- With the expected opening of the Mariott branded, Anichi hotel, along with the Moroccan funded hotel, we can well appreciate the economic transformation that will take place in the north of the country.
- In respect to Jungle Bay, the number of rooms available are expected to increase by year end with a staff complement of 150 people.
- The construction of the Tranquility Beach, branded by Hilton Curio, a 75 room resort located at Grand Savane, Salisbury, is proceeding smoothly with the creation of 40 construction jobs currently.
- Our very own, locally branded Secret Bay Resort, has commenced construction of an additional thirty-six (36) villas, adding to six (6) which have already been completed making for a total of forty-two (42) villas. The service at this resort, Madam Speaker, is beyond a five-star. Ninety-nine percent of the resort staff are young Dominicans.
- In October 2019, we will see the commencement of construction of the Sanctuary Rainforest Eco Resort and Spa, a 72 villa resort situated in the Roseau Valley.
- In a few weeks time, Government will sign agreements for three additional tourism developments, one in the Portsmouth area and two in the Roseau.
- We are also witnessing the reconstruction and expansion of the Fort Young Hotel which will take its total room to 100 rooms on completion. We are advised by the proprietors that there is a strong positive possibility of being international branded.
“we are starting to see the manifestation of the vision and declared objectives of the Government where tourism is concerned”, said Skerrit.
The establishment of these hotels is good news for those seeking jobs; it is good news for the farmers, it is good news for the taxi operators; it is good news for fishermen, concluded the Dominica leader
