More than 9,000 visitors travelled to the island ahead of Mas Domnik 2026, with officials crediting marketing efforts, improved air access and the growing popul
Dominica: The Government of Dominica has reported a 13 per cent increase in this year’s Carnival visitor arrivals, a success attributed to the strategic investments made to promote and support Mas Domnik 2026.
On Saturday, February 21, 2026, the Government of Dominica announced that more than 9,000 visitors arrived in Dominica during the two weeks leading up to the country’s biggest national festival, Mas Domnik 2026. This reflected an overall 13 per cent increase in arrivals seen during the same time in 2025’s Carnival.
The statistics were reported by Denise Charles-Pemberton, Dominica’s Minister of Tourism, who credited the increase in visitor arrivals to strategic marketing efforts, improved social media usage, and the Government’s commitment and investments in improving access to the destination.
She further added that the arrivals were also a result of the increasing global popularity of bouyon music, which was seen as the dominating sound in this year’s Carnival.
In her address, the Minister of Tourism reported, “In the two weeks leading up to Carnival 2026, Dominica recorded 9,308 visitors, a 13 per cent increase over the same period in 2025. Air arrivals increased by 14 per cent, while sea arrivals grew by 11 per cent, reflecting continued improvements in access to the destination.”
According to the Minister, the upgrades made to Douglas-Charles Airport, along with the expanded flight capacity from 5,379 seats to over 8,000 seats, have both helped support Dominica’s growing number of visitors, making it possible for the country to welcome more people to major festivals such as Mas Domnik 2026.
Minister Denise Pemberton further announced that visitor arrivals rose by 38 per cent this year during Carnival Friday, which she shared demonstrated the Carnival’s influence both regionally and internationally.
“We also saw a 38 per cent increase in arrivals on the Friday before Carnival, indicating that more visitors are choosing to travel to Dominica specifically for our Carnival experience,” added Minister Denise Pemberton.
During this time, there was also a notable economic surge in the tourism industry as businesses across the country, both micro, small and large, in accommodation, transportation, food services, retail and entertainment were seen benefiting from the growth.
Denise Charles Pemberton acknowledged the Dominica Festivals Committee, Discover Dominica Authority, the National Bank of Dominica, sponsors, the Dominica Police Force, NEP workers, event organisers, volunteers, carnival groups, costume bands and carnival patrons at home and abroad for the role they played in making Mas Domnik a success.