For years, tourists flying into the off- the-beaten track to the tiny Caribbean nation of Dominica have been relying on island-hopping from neighboring islands using planes or boats to arrive at their destination.

While Dominica, known as “the nature island” of the Caribbean, has always had international flights from neighboring islands, the small nation couldn’t offer direct flights to and from Europe and Mainland U.S. — until now.

The buildout of a new international airport, set to be completed in 2025, will be a game changer for the small country that has been relatively difficult to access, opening up a world of opportunities for tourism and economic growth.

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And in a hyper-competitive market like the Caribbean, a new airport that can transport tourists directly from lucrative source markets like Europe can change the status of a destination like that.

“The international airport development has been a longtime goal and dream of our government, because we know the importance to significantly grow the tourism industry, and improve the ease of doing business in Dominica,” said Denise Charles, Dominica’s minister of tourism, in an interview with Skift.

Samuel Johnson, CEO of the Dominica international airport development company, agreed it will all come down to air access.

“You can have the best attractions, the best hotels. and the best brands, but if it’s difficult to get to the island, it adds that much more friction to the journey of a visitor. And we’re an island in a chain of islands, so they could as easily land in any of our sister islands which are easier instead of ours,” said Johnson. “So we definitely think it’s going to improve several aspects of the country.”

There is no price tag yet for the project as the bidding is ongoing but some press reports pegged it at north of $220 million.

The airport which has been in the planning stages for several years is being designed by a boutique American company Landrum and Brown, specializing in airports and aviation planning. The new international airport will meet world-class standards and will be located nearby to Douglas Charles airport, which it may eventually replace, Johnson said.

Dominica expects that once the airport project officially starts with the groundbreaking, it will stimulate the overall economy in a major way.

“This has already started because we expect to see a boost in the construction industry. And in the actual construction phase, we will see an increase in direct jobs associated with the construction of the airport and also indirect jobs,” Charles said.

Indirect jobs include people that provide accommodations services, restaurant owners, and transportation services contributing to jobs in the economy and overall improving the business climate once Dominica has an international airport.

Hotels will also add jobs to the economy and plans are already underway to prepare the infrastructure for the influx of tourists a new airport will bring.

A New Tourism and Trade Frontier

Unlike the rest of the Caribbean region, Dominica’s coronavirus story is one of success.

The Caribbean island currently sits at Level one – low risk on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of Covid-19 travel recommendations by destination and is on the coveted UK Green List. That’s because Dominica has managed to contain Covid-19, without community spread and zero deaths.

It’s good news for an island that pre-pandemic, had been pursuing developments of hotels on the island, including a combination of major chains and luxury boutique hotels such as Marriott, Hilton, Secret Bay, and the currently open Jungle Bay and Cabrit Resort and Spa Kempinski.

In addition to increasing tourism, the international airport will help Dominica with the transportation of goods and trading.

Charles said Dominica has a lot of agricultural, locally made organic, and manufacturing products to offer including flora, a variety of crops such as bananas and dasheen some of which are traded in the region.

“One of our challenges has been getting it on international markets because of the time and it has to get there fresh and crisp for the markets. So that will definitely open up a lot of avenues for us in terms of trade, not only into the U.S. market but also into the UK market,” Charles said.

It’s too early to put a dollar figure to how much revenue the new airport will generate for Dominica, Charles said, but she believes it will be tremendous revenue. Based on the expansion the island is seeing with hotel plans, trade, jobs, and the opportunity for further investment into the country, Charles believes the possibilities are endless.

“It’s definitely going to transform our economy and increase our GDP (gross domestic product) significantly,” said Charles.

Building an airport is paying off with increased tourism to the Caribbean’s St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Loop news reported. Opening a new airport also changed things for the better in St. Lucia, a neighboring island of Dominica.

“St. Lucia is often looked at as a sister island of ours with many similarities including the same French connection culture wise and the French Creole common language in addition to English, but Dominica is a little bit more rugged and not as densely packed which leaves a lot of room for expansion,” Johnson said.

Building New Routes

To avoid a cold start once the new airport is completed, Johnson is working feverishly to start international flights from Mainland U.S. to Dominica as soon as possible including making upgrades to its current airport to facilitate this. He has reached out to Delta, JetBlue, Caribbean airlines and is in active talks with American, Johnson said.

“We have the view that we might not be able to accommodate the larger aircraft, but there’s new changes in technology where for example the Airbus A220, a smaller aircraft that is very effective at running long thin routes which Dominica initially would be,” Johnson said. “Because our long-term plan is to gradually increase our visitor arrivals during the buildout stage so that it transitions nicely into the international airport.”

Dominica is also actively working on active route development for the current and future airports, he added.

American crewmembers join Dominica airport and government officials on the tarmac at Douglas Charles airport after completing a proving flight from Miami, Florida to Dominica in June. Photo Courtesy of Dominica International Airport Development Company.

In preparation, the island welcomed its first American Airlines flight when an American Eagle aircraft operated by Envoy completed a proving flight into Dominica from Miami, Florida in June, Charles said. Proving flights are one of the final hurdles airlines face before obtaining an air operator permit to a destination.

Dominica is going to be a changing environment in terms of consumption, restaurants, entertainment, luxury transportation, and clothing that will attract a significant amount of visitors from Europe and Asia, said Missi P. Henderson, permanent secretary in the office of the prime minister.

With its new airport, Dominica is looking to attract tourists from the U.S., U.K, Asia and in particular France, all markets that are big to the country. Additionally, it’s looking to South America, Latin America, and other areas that love nature and nature lovers who love adventure, water sports, and swimming with whales, Charles said.

“Dominica is one of the top ten destinations for diving in the world and many people don’t know that,” said Charles.

Henderson said Dominica’s central location in the Caribbean makes it an ideal hub even for regional travel and they believe its airport will become the region’s new hub.

The airport will be built out in five phases, but because the request for bid proposals is currently ongoing the Prime Minister’s office declined to disclose how much the airport project is costing at this time.

However, in terms of financing for the projects, Henderson said the country considered several options for loans or grants. And to minimize debt for the country and its citizens, Dominica decided as a country to use its Citizen by Investment program (CBI) under the management of the Montreal Management Consultants Est., specializing in immigration and CBI for several countries, she said.

This has proven to be an innovative financing model which we’ve used for a number of our projects from Tropical Storm Erika in 2015, Hurricane Maria in 2017, and of course during this pandemic, Henderson said. And so “we’ve tested it in terms of our health centers, our housing, and the intention is at the end of the day when you have an airport, not to have any debt burden, and to have allocated revenues to run and operate the airport in a viable way,” she said.

The way Dominica’s CBI program works is very similar to the United States’ E-B5 Immigrant Investor Program fast-tracking citizenships for investors, where foreigners desiring to become citizens in Dominica through an approved foreign direct investment will then be given accelerated citizenship, said Johnson.

Vaccines and Working Remotely

As tourism slowly recovers, Dominica is taking advantage of the remote work revolution around the world right now, by offering a “Work in Nature” program allowing visitors to stay up to a maximum of 18 months on the island, with a selection of apartments of participating resorts to rent with reliable internet service, Charles said.

Dominica is currently in the midst of a massive vaccination drive with 40 percent of its target population inoculated.

Fully vaccinated tourists with proof of vaccinations are no longer required to quarantine if they arrive with a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours and take an antigen test at the Dominica airport on arrival which takes about an hour to process, she said.

Light clearing of land is beginning this week and new homes are being built for families who’ve been relocated to make room for the new international airport, said Charles.

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*Editor’s note, Dominica has received American Eagle flights before but this is the first known American Airlines Jet Flight.*

As part of the Ministry of Tourism, International Transport and Maritime Initiative’s ongoing efforts to improve air access, Dominica welcomed the first American Airlines Jet flight on Tuesday June 22, 2021. The flight performed a proving run to and from Douglas-Charles Airport. It landed at 4:15pm AST on runway 09 and departed at 5:46pm AST directly to Miami International Airport, where it landed approximately 3 hours later at 8:57PM AST.

A proving flight run is typically the last technical or operational hurdle in the process of an airline seeking to obtain an Air Operator Permit for destinations where it has an interest to service. This flight was not a revenue service operation, but done to ensure that an aircraft is able, in real time, to perform safe and compliant operations on this route. The feedback from the crew on land was all positive with no concerns raised.

The aircraft was an Embraer 175 (E175) with a capacity for seventy-six (76) passengers with twelve first class seats, and sixty-four premium seats with extra leg room and main cabin seats.

Hon. Denise Charles, the Minister of Tourism, International Transport and Maritime Initiatives indicated that, “this flight is very timely as it aligns with our goal to aggressively increase stay over visitor arrivals to 200K in 5 years. This increase in traffic needs to happen in parallel to our international airport development.”

Dominica is well positioned to take full advantage of the travel market as it emerges from the pandemic. The island’s low density, nature-immersed product aligns perfectly with what travellers are currently looking for. In February 2021, Dominica received the Safe Travels Stamp by the World Travel and Tourism Council which reassures that the destination’s health and safety protocols meet globally accepted protocols. And more recently, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has categorized Dominica as Level 1 for travel to the destination, indicating that Dominica is one of the destinations with the lowest risk for travellers.

Captain Robert Neider was in command of the aircraft and other members of the American Airlines delegation included other pilots, crew, maintenance technicians, airline personnel required to support the flight, and company officials including Mr. Robert Nault, Director – System Operations Control. The Dominican delegation comprised Ms. Lisa Valmond, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, International Transport and Maritime Initiatives; Mr. Benoit Bardouille, CEO of the Dominica Air and Seaports Authority; Mr. Colin Piper, CEO of Discover Dominica Authority; Mr. Hervé Nizard, member of the Air Access Technical Committee; and Mr. Samuel Johnson, CEO of the International Airport Development Company.

The success of this proving flight presents an excellent opportunity for Dominica to continue discussions with airlines for servicing Dominica on a direct flight from the US mainland utilizing Douglas Charles Airport. Direct access will provide travellers with even more options to visit Dominica. This will help to boost the tourism sector’s ability to contribute more to job creation directly in the industry as well towards agriculture and other support industries. The overall Dominican economy stands to benefit tremendously.

LONDON, Nov. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/– In a weekly government programme, the Commonwealth of Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit updated viewers on the anticipated international airport, funded by the popular Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. According to the PM, around 411 acres have been acquired to build the airport with compensation to landowners expected to be completed by the end of the month. Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2021. PM Skerrit also noted that once completed, the airport will have the capacity to accept long-haul flights and thus improve air access to the island.

Before the global lockdowns, Dominica was witnessing an emerging eco-tourism sector that received international acclaim. The island’s real estate options had garnered the attention of publications like Travel + Leisure, Caribbean Travel Awards and Conde Nast Traveller. Additionally, Dominica’s tourism sector has been bolstered in recent years, thanks to the island’s CBI Programme. The Programme has helped fund globally renowned brands like Hilton and Kempinski on its shores while also bolstering unique boutique resorts like Secret Bay.

During the television programme, PM Skerrit highlighted several sectors the airport will improve. “Our international airport will allow us to get our goods to market quicker, increase the scope of markets open to us, and promote the diversification of our economy,” he said.

Since 1993, Dominica’s CBI Programme has been supporting investors and their families in acquiring second citizenship once they make an economic contribution to the host nation. Under Dominica’s CBI, there are two channels of investment available to applicants: a one-time contribution to the government fund or buying into selected real estate options. After undergoing diligent vetting procedures, successful applicants gain access to increased travel freedom to approximately 140 countries and territories and the right to live and work in the country. Furthermore, investors can also pass down their citizenship for generations to come, establishing a legacy for you and your family.

For over two decades, Dominica’s CBI Programme has enjoyed success, particularly in the Middle East, providing solutions for high net-worth individuals who are seeking safety, security and stability. Dominica also enjoys a fruitful relationship with the United Arab Emirates and earlier this year established an embassy in Abu Dhabi to better service investors looking to emigrate to the Caribbean nation.

[email protected], www.csglobalpartners.com

SOURCE CS Global Partners

]]> http://iadc.natureislerealty.com/new-international-airport-will-boost-tourism-in-dominica-says-prime-minister-roosevelt-skerrit/feed/ 0 7395 http://iadc.natureislerealty.com/government-to-sign-final-agreement-for-international-airport-in-may-gis-dominica/ http://iadc.natureislerealty.com/government-to-sign-final-agreement-for-international-airport-in-may-gis-dominica/#respond Mon, 09 Aug 2021 15:26:40 +0000 http://iadc.natureislerealty.com/government-to-sign-final-agreement-for-international-airport-in-may-gis-dominica/

Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica: Prime Minister of Dominica on Sunday declared the appointment of Samuel Johnson as the CEO of International Airport Development Company.

PM Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit stated Mr. Johnson would lead the construction of the most anticipated project for the country.

During Anou Pale on Sunday, the Prime Minister stated Samuel Johnson has a background in marketing, and he is tasked with developing and implementing strategies to move the airport project forward.

“This is an important project that holds much promise for our country’s economic advancement,” stated PM Roosevelt Skerrit.

International Airport Development Company is crucial in assuring that all project phases are thoroughly managed to ensure timely completion within the specified quality.

The company is expected to have a board of directors, including a white-collar section of the Dominican society represented by 15-16 members.

Samuel Johnson has over 25-years of experience in senior management, and he has firmly held leadership roles in Dominica and several fortune 500 companies Globally.

He also holds a B.Sc (Hons) in Engineering from the University of the West Indies and an MBA from Michigan State University. Besides this, he has a dual focus on supply chain management and marketing and will commence his duties from March 1, 2021.

The International Airport project would open many opportunities for development in various sectors, including tourism, agriculture, and new employment opportunities for citizens.

Prime Minister Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit had earlier stated that the International Airport of Dominica would be capable of accepting long-haul flights, and there will be a separate section to accommodate private jets.

It is also the most significant project the country ever had, and it would cost around 800-900 million dollars.

The construction of the international airport will also generate enormous employment for locals, and people with heavy machinery like trucks, cranes can list out themselves to participate.

Prime Minister of Dominica Dr Roosvelt Skerrit stated that over the last 50 years, over 12 airport sites had been examined for the potential construction of Dominica’s international airport.

During the house of assembly address on Monday, PM Skerrit stated that the 12 sites included La Plaine, Douglas Bay, Cabrits, Pointe Round, Grand Savanne, Canefield, Warner, Melvin Hall, Crompton Point and Eden Estate. He stated various alignment aspects were also overseen in Wesley and other areas.

Prime Minister stated that the airport studies were initiated due to the desire of starting material growth in Dominica’s economy by enabling same-day connection to key global markets.

He made these remarks while replying to the question raised by the opposition regarding the need to construct an international airport.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister stated that the international airport would not only benefit the tourism sector but it would also shorten the transit time allowing the diaspora and residents to travel with ease. He stated this would also create a more business-friendly environment.

PM Skerrit stated that the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) have been sleeping in a time capsule and thinks that no work or studies have been done in the last 20 years regarding the international airport.

“As recent as 2017, the government commissioned a study conducted by an American firm Landrum & Browne, which advised that the Wesley site is the most suitable to construct an international airport,” stated PM Skerrit.

He stated that the opposition talks about the Halcrow Report, but it seems like they hardly read it carefully. Referring to the report’s clauses, the prime minister stated that the report had mentioned that several studies, including the 2000 World Bank review, raised severe concerns on the planning and standing works in 1998, including the technical feasibility of the earthworks and adequacy of cost estimates.

Quoting the Halcrow Report, Prime Minister stated, “We share these reservations and also conclude that the likely cost of the selected options would be way higher than what was quoted in the report.”

PM Skerrit stated that the DLP government went ahead with the suggestions of the Halcrow report, and the improvements were made to the Melvin Hall Airport, including facilities for night landing and extension of runaway.

“We have always maintained that the construction of an international airport for Dominica is ultimate for the long-run,” stated the Dominican PM.