The Dominica government has embarked on a program designed to improve the competitiveness of the tourism sector, which contributed over EC$160 million ($60.8 million) to the economy last year and created more than 2,500 direct jobs.

The efforts are being undertaken under the Tourism Sector Development Program (TSDP), a two-year program which is being financed under the European Union’s Special Framework of Assistance to the tune of 2.7 million Euros ($3.87 million).

“The overall objective of the program is to improve the competitiveness of the tourism sector through the development of rural tourism and linkages with agriculture; increased destination marketing; and building the capacity of major tourism institutions like the Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica Authority,” the EU said in a statement.

In the first year of the program, through the Rural Tourism Development component, emphasis will be placed on the construction of tourism centers. A number of groups in rural communities will also be assisted with training in the areas of business development and e-marketing.

For the second year of the program, beginning next July, consideration is being given to refinancing or rehabilitating existing hotel properties; establishing a Hospitality Institute at the Dominica State College; and promoting a Champion of the Tourism Master Plan among other things.

The Tourism Sector Development Program is intended to build on the results achieved in the Eco-Tourism Development Program (ETDP) which ended in June last year.