Dominica targets one million cruise visitors as 2026/2027 season gets underway

Dominica: Dominica is targeting one million cruise passengers annually as its 2026/2027 cruise season gets underway, with 267 ship calls and 475,521 passengers projected for the coming months.

Tourism Minister Denise Charles-Pemberton said the season officially opened on Thursday, October 8, and expressed optimism about the opportunities the expected visitor numbers could create for communities across the island.

Cruise tourism remains an important contributor to Dominica’s economy, supporting employment and generating business for taxi operators, tour guides, retailers, restaurants and other tourism service providers.

Charles-Pemberton said the projected increase in arrivals offers an opportunity to ensure that more tourism spending reaches local businesses and workers.

“Let us make every passenger count,” the minister said, encouraging tourism stakeholders to focus on service quality and the visitor experience.

As the new season progresses, the government’s challenge will be to convert projected arrivals into local economic benefits while maintaining the quality of the visitor experience.

The minister also stated that the increase in cruise tourism is very significant for them as it provides an opportunity to put the tourism money in the hands of local people, taxi operators, retailers, restaurants etc. Tourism ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Environment to develop new eco-tourism sites.

The Minister also said that the government is working with all the concerned stakeholders to enhance the experience of visitors and ensuring that visitors feel no problem regarding delivery of essential services. The government is working with Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) for improving infrastructure.

The minister said, “We are encouraged by the steady increase in cruise arrivals over the past five years”. The government’s ambition is clear as to what it wants for Dominica- growth of arriving passengers to one million annually.

This must translate into stronger results for businesses, taxi operators as well as people of Dominica. The focus is to provide exceptional services so that the visitor experience becomes unforgettable.

ABOUT DOMINICA

Dominica, officially called the Commonwealth of Dominica, is also called the “Nature Island of the Caribbean”. The population is approximately 62,000 to 73,000. Its currency is Eastern Caribbean Dollar. The country gained independence on November 3, 1978 from the United Kingdom. Dominica is famous for its lush, untouched rainforests and also for white-sand beaches. There is little seasonal variation between wet and dry season, with heavy rainfall during the wet season.there are huge waterfalls and geothermal hotsprings.

Dominica is a land of 365 rivers.There is Titou Gorge,Trafalgar Falls, Boiling Lake etc. Dominica deserves more than a day’s trip. Anybody who actually wants to enjoy the beauty of Dominica must make out a week’s plan.