Dominica’s 2026-2027 cruise season opens October 8 with 267 calls and 475,521 expected passengers, nearly 50,000 more than last season.
Dominica: The 2026-2027 cruise season officially opens today, October 8, with 475,521 passengers across 267 cruise calls are expected during the season.
With a 50,000 remarkable increase in number of passengers compared to previous years, this cruise season is expected to bring increased visitor volume along with increase in local employment for the republic.
“Cruise Tourism remains an important part of our tourism industry, supporting livelihoods, driving economic activity, and creating opportunities for businesses and communities across Dominica,” said Minister of Tourism - Denise Charles Pemberton. Viewing this opportunity as a direct source of earning foreign exchange earnings for the country, she further added, that every new passenger creates a demand for taxi and tour operators, restaurants, tour guides, craft vendors, retailers , attractions and other service providers giving a boost to the Dominican economy.
“To ensure an amazing experience for the travellers, the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment undertook works to prepare key cruise sites, speedy service deliveries.” quoted Pemberton. This move is expected to be a quite profitable move by the government not only benefiting the economy but promising a multi - faceted growth across multiple sectors and areas of the country.
Increased Visitor Volume is not only expected to bring financial inflows but also contributing towards the country’s GDP growth by 3.1% securing over 3000 jobs for the republic, thereby leading to micro-economic distribution along with major infrastructure development with the launch of the island's flagship Cable Car Project, the Bayfront Pier Expansion, and the development of the Roseau Cruise Village.
With healthy and bright looking business opportunities, the government targets to attract 1 million cruise passengers annually by the year 2030, hoping to attract the desired position and a share in the global tourism market for the country to increase the growth rate of the GDP giving the economy a much - needed boost.