Dominica ‘Back on Track’ One Year Post Hurricane Maria

Twelve months after Hurricane Maria brought 160-mile-per-hour winds to the tiny island of Dominica, damaging 90 percent of its buildings, ripping up trees, causing landslides, and more, things are back on track, according to the Dominica Director of Tourism Colin Piper.

“A growing share of affected residents can say their lives are back on track or almost back to normal after the hurricane,” he said. “The progress made this past year represents a milestone in the recovery process during which the people of Dominica — and the natural environment itself — have shown their resilience and indomitable spirits.”

According to an update provided by the country’s tourism department, Discover Dominica, both of the island’s airports — Douglas-Charles and Canefield — are back to full operations; as is the island’s ferry service, L’Express des Iles. Dominica also added a new ferry service, Vla Ferry, in August 2018 that runs between the country and Guadeloupe.

Most of the island’s hotel and resort properties are open and two more are scheduled to reopen soon: Secret Bay in November and Jungle Bay at the beginning of next month. Forty rooms are open at Fort Young Hotel, a property on the quayside of Roseau that is housed in a 1770s military fort overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Another 60 rooms will open at Fort Young next month.

Two more luxury hotels will open soon: Cabrits Resort Kempinski Dominica will open its doors next month; and Anichi Resort, which is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection, will open later next year.

Cruise lines — including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, and more — have all returned to Dominica since last year. The tourism department expects more than 300,000 people to come in through 181 cruise calls during the 2018-2019 season.