Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Dominica receives US $ 14 million from cruise visitors last year
The Dominican.net
In a just released report from the Florida- Caribbean Cruise Association, Dominica earned just over US$14 million from 269 100 passengers who visited the country during the 2008/09 cruise ship season.
This represented an average spending of US$ 45.87 per cruise ship visitor. The average spending was down from the 2005/06 season when the 225 400 visitors spent on average US$ 51.52 for a total of US$ 13.8 million.
The findings of the survey was based on passenger and cruise surveys conducted during the cruise ship calls to Dominica. The survey also determined that the cruise lines spent US$1.5 million in port and navigation charges.
Of the US$14.2 million in total cruise tourism expenditures, 263 residents benefited directly for a total of US$2.0 million in annual wages.
Adding the indirect contribution that results from the spending of those local businesses that are the direct recipients of passenger, crew and cruise line expenditures, the direct cruise tourism expenditures generated a total employment contribution of 405 jobs and $3.0 million in wage income in Dominica during the 2008/2009 cruise year.
Overall, the cruise visitors reported an overall level of satisfaction with their visit with Dominica scoring highly for courtesy, friendliness and guided tours. They were however less complimentary about their shopping experience.
With regards to other countries in the survey, Dominica came 26th out of 29 in terms of visitor spending.
The relatively low spending by cruise visitors have raised concerns in Dominica that the amount of resources and efforts spent in promoting cruise visitors may not make economic sense.
Compared to the stay-over visitors, which number about 70 000 on average, Dominica is estimated to receive over US$150 million per year.
The Dominica government has made the development of cruise tourism a critical part of their effort to develop the tourism product in Dominica.
However, the recent study raises concern about the long term viability of an industry that appears to afford a great product for the visitor but with very little economic compensation to show for it.
The complete report is available at FCCA Report
In a just released report from the Florida- Caribbean Cruise Association, Dominica earned just over US$14 million from 269 100 passengers who visited the country during the 2008/09 cruise ship season.
This represented an average spending of US$ 45.87 per cruise ship visitor. The average spending was down from the 2005/06 season when the 225 400 visitors spent on average US$ 51.52 for a total of US$ 13.8 million.
 The MV Vision is one of several ships calling at Dominica's ports. |
The findings of the survey was based on passenger and cruise surveys conducted during the cruise ship calls to Dominica. The survey also determined that the cruise lines spent US$1.5 million in port and navigation charges.
Of the US$14.2 million in total cruise tourism expenditures, 263 residents benefited directly for a total of US$2.0 million in annual wages.
Adding the indirect contribution that results from the spending of those local businesses that are the direct recipients of passenger, crew and cruise line expenditures, the direct cruise tourism expenditures generated a total employment contribution of 405 jobs and $3.0 million in wage income in Dominica during the 2008/2009 cruise year.
Overall, the cruise visitors reported an overall level of satisfaction with their visit with Dominica scoring highly for courtesy, friendliness and guided tours. They were however less complimentary about their shopping experience.
With regards to other countries in the survey, Dominica came 26th out of 29 in terms of visitor spending.
The relatively low spending by cruise visitors have raised concerns in Dominica that the amount of resources and efforts spent in promoting cruise visitors may not make economic sense.
Compared to the stay-over visitors, which number about 70 000 on average, Dominica is estimated to receive over US$150 million per year.
The Dominica government has made the development of cruise tourism a critical part of their effort to develop the tourism product in Dominica.
However, the recent study raises concern about the long term viability of an industry that appears to afford a great product for the visitor but with very little economic compensation to show for it.
The complete report is available at FCCA Report
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// posted by TheDominican.net @ 9:16 AM
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This article is no surprise to me. One does not have to be a Tourism professional to know that Cruise tourism does not contribute as much to the tourism industry as overnight stays.
This leads me to ask about the competence of our Minister of Tourism and his advisors.
The money that is being spent on the majority of the cruises coming from most the US is in my opinion wasted money.
This leads me to ask about the competence of our Minister of Tourism and his advisors.
The money that is being spent on the majority of the cruises coming from most the US is in my opinion wasted money.
# posted by 
: November 11, 2009 2:18 PM
: November 11, 2009 2:18 PM
I too believe it is a net loss for Dominica. The hundreds of thousands of tourists trample all over our fragile eco system such as the Emerald Pool, discard waste etc. and all we have to show for it is a miserly 14 million.
Come on people we can do better than that. Why invest in cruise tourism? Maybe the money spent in preparing for the cruisers who hate to spend on island should go towards marketing to stay overs....
Come on people we can do better than that. Why invest in cruise tourism? Maybe the money spent in preparing for the cruisers who hate to spend on island should go towards marketing to stay overs....
# posted by : November 11, 2009 9:22 PM
: November 11, 2009 9:22 PM
Yea had Dominica lost the 51% shares in the BVI you would have posted it on this news outlet. I am still awaiting something from you all.
Shirley Alcid
Shirley Alcid
# posted by : November 14, 2009 9:34 AM
: November 14, 2009 9:34 AM
Cruise shit passengers lead to overnight stays.
I discover many places that I later visit for a week or more
by originally visiting via cruise line(s)
As long as the net income is greater than net expenditure
I do not see why people are upset over this.
The $14m US spent is GOOD news.
Yes spending per passenger is down $5 per passenger
but overall visitors is UP!
In this economy for passengers to be UP is great news.
I know of many hotels shuttering doors because they can not
afford to stay open due to less visitors.
Tourism is huge in the Virgin Islands (using there as an example because of the large migratory pattern of Dominicans) and one of their top
hotels, Caneel Bay, was closed for over 2 months.
Closed because they could not afford to stay open at a reduced
occupancy. So for Dominica to have an increase in passengers/visitors
is good news.
I abhor the negativity in this post and comments.
Lest we forget that Rome was not built in a day.
I discover many places that I later visit for a week or more
by originally visiting via cruise line(s)
As long as the net income is greater than net expenditure
I do not see why people are upset over this.
The $14m US spent is GOOD news.
Yes spending per passenger is down $5 per passenger
but overall visitors is UP!
In this economy for passengers to be UP is great news.
I know of many hotels shuttering doors because they can not
afford to stay open due to less visitors.
Tourism is huge in the Virgin Islands (using there as an example because of the large migratory pattern of Dominicans) and one of their top
hotels, Caneel Bay, was closed for over 2 months.
Closed because they could not afford to stay open at a reduced
occupancy. So for Dominica to have an increase in passengers/visitors
is good news.
I abhor the negativity in this post and comments.
Lest we forget that Rome was not built in a day.
With the amount of cruise ships going to the Virgin Islands why could they not stay open? SEE THE POINT?
# posted by : November 29, 2009 6:17 PM
: November 29, 2009 6:17 PM Links to this post:
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