Dominica to Be Focus of Panel Discussions on Sustainable Tourism at ITB Berlin

Due to the Dominica´s commitment to developing its tourism product around its natural heritage, unspoiled scenic beauty, people and culture, the Caribbean island has been handpicked as the focus of a panel discussion on Sustainable Ecotourism Development at ITB (International Tourism Exchange) in Berlin on Friday, March 10.

Entitled, “Sustainable Ecotourism Development – Lessons from Dominica,” the panel will feature top tourism officials from Dominica including Dominica´s Minister of Tourism Yvor Nassief, Chief Technical Officer from the Ministry of Tourism Mrs. Esther Thomas, who handles the day-to-day operation of the ecotourism program, and Dominica hotelier Mr. Sam Raphael, who is leading the island´s newest ecological development.

Joining them on the panel is Community Tourism Development Specialist for TII (Tourism Intelligence International) Mr. Sobers Esprit, who will share the Dominica Ecotourism Experience from a community perspective.

“We´re very honored to be selected as the focus of this panel,” said Yvor Nassief. “It gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our outstanding ecotourism product to a prestigious international audience of travel industry professionals. We look forward to helping other nations develop their own ecotourism programs by sharing the knowledge and insights we gained through our experiences.”

The panel session will consist of a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. It will be moderated by Dr. Auliana Poon, Managing Director of TII. Also in attendance will also be Gernot Ott, TII´s German Program Manager based in Dominica and Judith Pestaina, President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association.

Located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean, the independent nation of Dominica is the largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands, encompassing an area of nearly 290 square miles.