DR cities receive revamp
The Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia has affirmed that the government will continue its strong investment in the DR’s tourism infrastructure, including building the Atlantic Boulevard in Puerto Plata, the revitalisation and development of major highways and roads and an “even deeper commitment to ensuring that the natural beauty of the DR is sustained for generations to come”. Speaking at the recent Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange, Garcia announced the DR’s long-term commitment to developing beautiful, well-lit urban spaces where tourists can walk among shops and restaurants while experiencing the friendly culture and easy-going lifestyle of Dominicans. These urban space developments are scheduled for the likes of Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo, and Samana.  The minister also highlighted the road revitalisation project, which includes building highways from Santo Domingo to Samana and to Punta Cana, thus shortening drive time from 5.5 to 2 hours from 3.5 to 2 hours respectively. Garcia also noted the growth in cruise tourism and said a study to develop the port in Puerto Plata was underway. This is in addition to the newly opened Sans Souci terminal in the port of Santo Domingo. There are also plans to develop sustainable tourism in the DR’s southwest region, with more than US$900 million being earmarked for investment in this area.

A capital start for Montserrat
Montserrat’s development of a new capital town at Little Bay is a key part of the rebuilding of the island, following the eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano in 1997.

The disaster destroyed the capital Plymouth and led to an evacuation of the southern part of the island.

It is hoped that by 2020 the new town in Little Bay will, according to the Montserrat Development Corporation, “have achieved its identity as a spectacular new visitor destination in the region’s competitive tourism market, and that economic benefits flowing from this sector will underpin a solid sustainable economy”.

The Little Bay Development Project Master Plan includes a waterfront development with yacht marina, Potato Hill hotel and condos, a boulevard with mixed-use area, a Government of Montserrat area, and heritage and cultural clusters. The cost of the project is estimated at EC$300 million (approx. US$112.4m). The MDC added: “The scheme presents the opportunity to realise not only a magnificent new capital town, but also the creation of a new tourism and trade destination gateway to Montserrat.”

High praise for Jade Mountain
St. Lucia’s spectacular Jade Mountain has been collecting quite a few accolades recently. The Travel Channel’s 21 series voted the resort as their number one ‘Hottest Caribbean Escape’, while Luxury Travel Magazine placed Jade Mountain in its ‘Top 10 List of Luxury Hotels Worldwide’, and website men.style.com recognised the property for ‘Most Stylish Hotel Design’.

Hang with the Amerindians
Surama Eco-Lodge in Guyana has been winning international recognition for its commitment to promoting community-based eco-tourism. Home to about 300 Makushi Amerindians, Surama is a serene village set among five square miles of the Rupununi Savanna which is surrounded by the jungle-covered Pakaraima Mountains.

This idyllic setting, complete with the meandering Burro Burro River and a dense collection of flora and fauna, has proved an ideal location for community-based eco-tourism in Guyana. In fact, Surama has done so well in developing village tours, birdwatching, mountain treks, jungle walks and dugout canoe trips that the village is now a role model for community tourism in the South American country. The lodge and all the tours are managed and operated solely by the local villagers, and over half of the community’s income is now sustained through tourism-related activities. 

Angling for success
Internationally-travelled sports fishermen mark their calendars each year for the three days before the August full moon and one day after – 3-7 August 2009 – when the “Super Bowl of Sports Fishing Tournaments”, namely the USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament  takes place in waters around the Virgin Islands.

Started by the late avid Virgin Islands’ angler Chuck Senf back in 1972 – and nicknamed The Boy Scout Tournament since a portion of the proceeds have always benefited the VI Council of the Boy Scouts of America, one of Senf’s favourite charities – the USVI Open /ABMT has evolved into one of the most competitive saltwater sports fishing events in the world.

In an added twist, anglers earn points for releasing a fish, and it is the number of fish released and who releases that number first that wins the tournament.

“We attribute this ‘release success’ to the trust established in our observer programme and the desire of the anglers to let the fish go,” says tournament director Jimmy Loveland.

After the daily fishing is over, a myriad of festivities takes place, including nightly parties at the docks in St Thomas, which are lined with million-dollar sports fishing boats.

Moves to promote the Caribbean in the UK
Carol Hay has been appointed as the new marketing Director Europe for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation. She was previously Director of Tourism UK & Europe for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourist Office. Hay told ZiNG that she aims to highlight “the diversity of the Caribbean in our languages, glorious cuisines and the varying sounds from each island in terms of our music such as reggae, soca, calypso and steel pans to name just a few”.
• Peter Hilary Modeste, who most recently worked as Director of Marketing Worldwide for the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa in Antigua will replace Hay as Director of Tourism for Antigua and Barbuda (UK).

Twitter with Dominica
Dominica can now be found on Twitter, the latest social networking tool. Found under the username “Nature_Island”, the Discover Dominica Authority’s Twitter account provides media, travel agents, tour operators and potential travellers with regularly updated news, information and images about Dominica. Anyone can sign up to “follow” Dominica and can reply directly to posts, “re-tweet” posts, tag posts as “favourites” and reference the news and information provided.
• Visit www.twitter.com and sign up to follow Dominica at www.twitter.com/Nature_Island