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The Natural Paradise of the Caribbean
It is not surprise that Dominica has earned the moniker “nature island of the Caribbean” given its two-thirds tropical rainforest cover, interesting geothermal activity, and some of the top diving spots in the world. In contrast to many other Caribbean islands, Dominica is sparsely inhabited with only 70,000 residents. Come explore the natural wonders of the Caribbean with an abundance of nature experiences to choose from.Its tourism industry was quieter than that of many of its neighbours until relatively recently, but more travellers are increasingly finding out about this gem of the eastern Caribbean.
Since entering into a contract with Green Globe, the environmental division of the World Travel and Tourism Council, in 1997 to develop the island as a “model eco-tourism destination,” the government has concentrated on luring eco-tourists. This is because they understand that intensive tourism would be incompatible with maintaining the island’s eco-system.
With 300 miles of trails winding through the lush jungle, which is home to an astounding 1,200 distinct plant species, Dominica is a hiker’s heaven. Being a volcanic island, it also has abundant geothermal activity, including the second-largest boiling lake in the world, which is located inside Morne Trois Pitons National Park, the first site in the eastern Caribbean to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The only Caribbean island where pre-Columbian Carib Natives still live is Dominica. The Carib Indians, who came from South America, started moving to Dominica about 3000 BC and gave the island the name “Wai’tukubuli.” On the island, more than 2,000 Caribs still live in a 3,700-acre region in the north-west.
The architecture of the island combines English, French, and Spanish influences to reflect its rich background. Visitors to the island must explore some of the ancient colonial structures and plantation plantations, as well as take a walking tour of Roseau, the capital city.
Dominica established a prosperous banana industry after gaining independence, but this industry experienced a rapid fall in the 1990s after the island lost privileged access to the UK market. Since then, the government has shifted its attention to establishing Dominica as a hub for ecotourism.
Dominica has not been a target for large-scale tourist development because of its rocky terrain, lack of white-sand beaches, and limited infrastructure, but the government is currently investing extensively on its eco-tourism offering, which consists primarily of hiking in the jungle.
With considerable investment in cruise ship infrastructure, including as the cruise ship jetty at Prince Rupert Bay, close to Portsmouth, more cruise ships are now visiting the island. Nowadays, Dominica is a port of call for P&O Cruises, Carnival Cruise, Princess Cruise Lines, and Royal Caribbean. Because of this, there are now well over 350,000 visitors per year, the most majority of them arrive by cruise ship (roughly 4/5).
