By the Caribbean Journal staff
The Caribbean’s Nature Island has made a strong recovery from Hurricane Maria, as one of the region’s most gorgeous destinations looks to bring back travelers in 2018.
Dominica has long been a haven for travelers in search of unmatched natural beauty and authentic, eco-friendly getaways — and that’s still very much the case.
The island has restored full flight connectivity, with regular flights offered by Caribbean regional carriers including LIAT, Seaborne, WINAIR, Air Sunshine, Coastal Express, while InterCaribbean Airways will be launching new service to Dominica on March 22.
The French Caribbean’s L’Express des Iles fast ferry is also operational, offering access to Dominica from both Guadeloupe and Martinique.
As for the island’s hotel situation, Dominica currently has 393 hotel and guest-house rooms available, or about 41 percent of its pre-Maria inventory.
That was boosted by last month’s reopening of Roseau’s Fort Young hotel; several other properties, including the ultra-luxe Secret Bay, the eco-friendly Calibishie Cove and the Citrus Creek Plantation are planning to reopen in the last quarter of this year.
The sky pool at the Fort Young in Dominica.
Two more properties, the reimagined Jungle Bay and the Kempinski Cabrits Resort, are planing to debut in the first half of 2019.
“Nothing is better for our recovery from Hurricane Maria than visitors to our island,” says Colin Piper, CEO of the Discover Dominica Authority. “We have made significant progress in getting the island ready for guests. Whether it’s for a relaxing getaway, special event or meaningful travel, visitors will see the same vibrant spirit of our people and beautiful scenery and features that make Dominica the Nature Island of the Caribbean.”
Lush Dominica is one of the most naturally beautiful places in the Caribbean.
Of course, in Dominica, it’s all about getting out and exploring the island, and the destination is reporting that 19 of Dominica’s 23 attractions are open again, including signature sites like Trafalgar Falls, the Emerald Pool, the Fresh Water Lake and the Indian River, among others.
Diving tours are also available, with six dive operators offering dive tours at sites on the north, south and west coasts of the island.
And while visiting the island remains a great way to help, there are ways to go even further.
Several packages are on offer giving guests the chance to help with cleanup of sites like the island’s Waitukubuli National Trail, with options from hotels including the Tamarind Tree, Fort Young, Secret Bay.
“The people of Dominica continue to show their resilience and steadfastness in building a better Dominica,” tourism officials said in a statement.
And now you can help, too — by coming back or visiting for the very first time.