Cruise Tourism stakeholders hope Dominica will be ready to accept cruise ships by January 1, 2018

Cruise Tourism stakeholders hope Dominica will be ready to accept cruise ships by January 1, 2018, notwithstanding the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in September 2017.
 
Tourism Director, Colin Piper said Heads and CEOs of cruise lines have been contacted on the matter, and several local tourist sites are being prepared.
 
Tourism Minister Robert Tonge is reported to have written to the CEOs and the heads of each of the cruise lines, indicating to them that Dominica’s intention is to have the tourism sites in Dominica in a state of readiness to accept cruise ships by January 1, 2018.
 
Meanwhile, Piper said the authorities intend to invite members of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and cruise lines to visit Dominica, “and satisfy themselves” on progress made on tourism sites, in addition to viewing videos that show the progress being made on preparing the sites for visitor accommodation.
 
These include the popular Emerald Pool, Trafalgar Falls and others, which are to be cleaned and rendered free of debris, and to further ensure vehicular access to the sites, as well as safe visitor movement at the sites.
 
Piper said Tour Operators have been asked to get their packages ready, and to begin discussions with the shore excursion managers of the cruise lines.