AGP Executive Report

Caribbean Air Connectivity: Caribbean Airlines says it will resume Trinidad–Caracas flights on Oct. 31 and launch a weekly Tobago–Toronto non-stop from Oct. 25, with seasonal charter service to Panama starting Dec. 1—moves aimed at boosting leisure, business travel, and regional links. Regional Justice Access: The Caribbean Court of Justice will hold itinerant sittings in St Lucia Oct. 7–8, the first time the island hosts the court since it began travelling proceedings, with a full bench hearing cases from across CARICOM. Dominica Tourism Recognition: Dominica earned 11 honours in the 2027 Scuba Diving Readers’ Choice Awards, spotlighting marine health, wall diving, value, underwater photography, and snorkeling. Dominica Travel Demand Shift: New travel data from Amadeus/CHTA shows Dominica had the biggest jump in arrivals (+22%), as more visitors look beyond classic resort stays. Wellness at Ti Vilaj Kwéyòl: Organisers announced a new dedicated wellness space for Ti Vilaj Kwéyòl 2026, featuring local practitioners and wellness products alongside the cultural programme. Tourism Jobs Focus: An ILO study flags informality and weak labour protections across Eastern Caribbean tourism, urging governments and businesses to improve working conditions while supporting small operators to formalize. Citizenship-by-Investment Pressure: The EU warns Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia to end citizenship-by-investment by 2028 or risk losing visa-free access.

Aviation & Connectivity: Caribbean Airlines says it will restart Trinidad–Caracas passenger service on Oct 31, and launch a weekly non-stop Tobago–Toronto route from Oct 25, aiming to boost business travel, tourism and regional links. Regional Justice: The Caribbean Court of Justice will hold its first itinerant sittings in St Lucia since accepting its appellate jurisdiction in 2023, with a seven-member bench hearing cases Oct 7–8. Tourism Growth & Jobs: A new ILO study flags that Eastern Caribbean tourism drives big GDP and employment, but informality and weak labour protections limit decent work—calling for productivity, better working conditions and smarter formalisation support. Dominica Tourism Spotlight: Dominica earned 11 recognitions in the 2027 Scuba Diving Readers’ Choice Awards, reinforcing its marine and dive appeal. Travel Experience Feature: Travel + Leisure highlights Dominica as an “explorer’s” island, spotlighting waterfalls, hot springs, red rocks and the Indian River. Health & Local Capacity: Dominica China Friendship Hospital reports four successful permanent pacemaker implantations, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad. EU Citizenship Pressure: The EU has set a 2028 deadline for Eastern Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programmes, warning of visa-free access consequences. Culture & Wellness: Ti Vilaj Kwéyòl adds a dedicated wellness space to showcase local practitioners and wellness products alongside the festival’s cultural offerings. Caribbean Court/Travel Note: (Also in the mix) CCJ itinerant travel is designed to cut costs for lawyers and litigants by bringing proceedings closer to communities.

Dominica Tourism Recognition: Dominica earned 11 recognitions in the 2027 Scuba Diving Readers’ Choice Awards, spotlighting everything from marine health and wall diving to snorkeling and underwater photography. Travel Trade Boost: Dominica launched a new destination-specific training course for travel advisors, aiming to help agents better sell the island’s experiences. Wellness at Ti Vilaj Kwéyòl: Organizers announced a dedicated wellness space for Ti Vilaj Kwéyòl 2026, with local practitioners and wellness products set to become a key part of the event. Air Connectivity (Region): Caribbean Airlines will resume Trinidad–Caracas flights from Oct 31 and start a weekly Tobago–Toronto non-stop service from Oct 25, plus seasonal Trinidad–Panama charters. Citizenship-by-Investment Pressure (Region): The EU told OECS states to phase out CBI programmes by 2028 or risk losing visa-free access; Dominica is named among affected countries. Work & Tourism Jobs: An ILO study warns that tourism’s big economic role in the Eastern Caribbean is held back by informality, weak labour protections, and limited support for small businesses. Dominica in Travel Media: Travel + Leisure highlighted Dominica’s nature, culture, and authentic Caribbean experience, reinforcing its appeal to explorers.

Air Connectivity: Caribbean Airlines will resume Trinidad–Caracas flights from Oct 31 and launch a weekly non-stop Tobago–Toronto service starting Oct 25, boosting regional and winter tourism links. EU Citizenship-by-Investment Pressure: The EU has told Antigua and Barbuda and four other Eastern Caribbean states (including Dominica) to phase out citizenship-by-investment by 2028 or risk losing visa-free access—putting many would-be investors and travellers in limbo. Dominica Tourism Recognition: Dominica earned 11 honours in the 2027 Scuba Diving Readers’ Choice Awards, underlining its marine and underwater tourism pull. Wellness Tourism Push: Ti Vilaj Kwéyòl adds a dedicated wellness space to spotlight local practitioners and products, positioning “wellness” as part of Dominica’s tourism brand. Travel Demand Insights: New Caribbean travel data shows Dominica had the biggest visitor jump (+22%), with travellers increasingly seeking beyond the classic beach-only trip. Local Skills & Jobs: An ILO study flags informality and weak labour protections in Eastern Caribbean tourism, calling for better working conditions and support for small businesses to formalize. Healthcare Milestone: Dominica China Friendship Hospital completed four permanent pacemaker implantations, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad. Trade Policy Training: OECS is rolling out EU-funded training to strengthen services-sector trade negotiating skills across member states, including Dominica.

Travel Inspiration: A new roundup of the “best islands in the Caribbean” spotlights different travel styles, from Anguilla’s couple-friendly “quiet luxury” to Grenada for solo explorers and Barbados for families. Immigration & Sports: Golden Jaguars forward Neron Barrow is expected to pursue legal action after being refused entry into Puerto Rico while on national duty, with his lawyer questioning the checks made before travel. EU Citizenship Pressure: The EU has told Eastern Caribbean governments to end golden passport sales by 2028 or risk losing visa-free access, with Dominica named among affected countries. Dominica Diving Buzz: Dominica earned 11 recognitions in the 2027 Scuba Diving Readers’ Choice Awards, reinforcing its underwater and marine tourism appeal. Tourism Jobs Focus: An ILO study says Eastern Caribbean tourism is big for GDP and jobs, but informality and weak labour protections are holding back sustainable growth—an issue that includes Dominica. Healthcare Tourism Tie-In: Dominica reports four successful permanent pacemaker implantations at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad. Advisor Push: Dominica is launching a new training course for travel advisors to help them better sell the island’s experiences.

EU Citizenship-by-Investment Pressure: Eastern Caribbean governments selling “golden passports” say EU officials won’t budge after UNGA talks, giving them until 2028 to phase out CIPs or risk losing visa-free access for their citizens. Dominica Tourism Momentum: Dominica’s scuba and marine product scored 11 recognitions in the 2027 Scuba Diving Readers’ Choice Awards, boosting the island’s dive-and-snorkel profile. Travel Demand by Group Type: New Caribbean travel data shows Dominica leading the region with a 22% jump in arrivals, with more visitors seeking beyond the classic resort stay. World Creole Music Festival Boost: LIAT is offering a 10% discount on eligible flights to Dominica for the World Creole Music Festival (Oct 23–25), with travel deals running Oct 19–26. Work & Jobs in Tourism: An ILO study flags informality and weak labour protections across Eastern Caribbean tourism, calling for better working conditions and support for small businesses to move into the formal economy. Healthcare Milestone: Dominica recorded four successful permanent pacemaker implantations at DCFH, reducing the need for patients to travel overseas. Trade Services Training: OECS is rolling out EU-funded training to strengthen trade-in-services skills across Dominica and other member states. Travel Feature: Travel + Leisure spotlights Dominica’s nature, culture, and “authentic Caribbean” experiences for explorers.

Workation in the forest: Kerala has launched a “workation” plan in Gavi and Suryanelli, pairing high-speed Wi‑Fi with three-day packages that include accommodation, food and trekking—an idea that will resonate with Dominica’s nature-and-adventure appeal. Dominica diving buzz: Dominica earned 11 recognitions in the 2027 Scuba Diving Readers’ Choice Awards, spanning marine health, wall diving, value, underwater photography and snorkeling. Travel inspiration spotlight: Travel + Leisure highlighted Dominica’s nature and culture through an explorer-focused trip featuring Trafalgar Falls, Ti Kwen Glo hot springs, Calibishie Red Rocks and the Indian River. Tourism jobs and formalization: A new ILO study flags informality and weak labour protections across Eastern Caribbean tourism, urging better working conditions and support for small businesses in Dominica. Healthcare milestone: Dominica China Friendship Hospital completed four permanent pacemaker implantations—bringing more advanced heart care to patients at home. Trade and services training: OECS launched EU-funded specialised training for services trade stakeholders across member states, including Dominica. Festival travel deal: LIAT is offering a 10% discount on eligible flights to Dominica for World Creole Music Festival 2026 (Oct 19–26), using promo code “DISCOVER.”

Scuba Spotlight: Dominica just earned 11 recognitions across 2027 Scuba Diving Readers’ Choice Awards categories, boosting its reputation for marine health, wall diving, snorkeling and underwater photography. Travel Trade Push: Dominica is rolling out a new destination training course for travel advisors, aiming to help UK agents better sell Nature Island experiences. Tourism Jobs & Skills: An ILO study flags informality and weak labour protections across Eastern Caribbean tourism, urging better working conditions and support for small businesses in Dominica. Healthcare Milestone: Dominica China Friendship Hospital completed four permanent pacemaker implantations—bringing a major procedure in-country instead of overseas travel. UNGA Climate Call: President Sylvanie Burton used UNGA to urge global financing for climate resilience before disasters strike, citing Dominica’s Hurricane Maria lessons and renewable energy progress. World Creole Music Festival Travel: LIAT Air announced a 10% discount on eligible flights to Dominica (Oct 19–26, 2026) ahead of WCMF 2026. Regional Context: Travel data from Amadeus/CHTA shows Dominica had the biggest visitor increase in the Caribbean (+22%), as smaller islands gain momentum.

Dominica in the spotlight: Travel + Leisure profiles Dominica as a true “Nature Island” for explorers, highlighting Trafalgar Falls, Ti Kwen Glo hot springs, Calibishie Red Rocks, the Indian River, and the island’s people—plus a stay at Fort Young Hotel in Roseau. Adventure-first all-inclusive: Another travel feature spotlights Fort Young’s “All-Inclusive, Island-Included” concept, where meals and drinks come with rainforest hikes, waterfall swims, snorkeling and hot springs beyond the resort. Tourism jobs & formalization: A new ILO study says Eastern Caribbean tourism (including Dominica) drives big GDP and employment shares, but informality and weak labour protections limit decent work—calling for better productivity, social protection and support for small operators. Training for travel sellers: Discover Dominica Authority launches a self-paced Online Travel Training course for UK travel advisers, covering Dominica’s adventure, wellness, romance, aqua, culture/events, agro and Kalinago experiences. Cruise connectivity: Ambassador Cruise Line adds more Caribbean Fly-Cruise sailings for winter 2027-28 and 2028-29, with calls including Dominica. Health milestone: Dominica records four permanent pacemaker implantations at DCFH, reducing the need for patients to travel overseas. Festival travel boost: LIAT offers a 10% discount on eligible flights to Dominica (Oct 19–26, 2026) ahead of World Creole Music Festival. Climate resilience pitch: President Sylvanie Burton urges global partners to fund resilience before disasters, proposing Dominica as a “living laboratory” for climate-smart development.

Fort Young Hotel’s Adventure All-Inclusive: Fort Young in Roseau is marketing a new “All-Inclusive, Island-Included” concept that swaps resort-only stays for rainforest hikes, waterfall swims, snorkeling and hot springs. Tourism Jobs Push: A new ILO study on Eastern Caribbean tourism says informality and weak labour protections are holding back decent work and small businesses, urging productivity and formalisation support to move together. Dominica Training for Travel Advisors: Discover Dominica Authority has launched a free, self-paced Online Travel Training course for UK and US advisers, covering Dominica’s seven tourism pillars and key experiences. WCMF VIP/VVIP Upgrade: The teams behind Rize & Whine and Tipsy Music Festival will run premium hospitality for World Creole Music Festival 2026, adding live chef stations, spa services and enhanced viewing and bars. Health Milestone: Dominica China Friendship Hospital completed four permanent pacemaker implantations, ending the need for some patients to travel overseas. Local Safety Update: Police are investigating a Pointe Michel shooting that left a 37-year-old St Lucian man with multiple gunshot wounds. UN Climate Call: President Sylvanie Burton urged global partners to fund resilience before disasters, pitching Dominica as a “living laboratory” for climate-smart development.

Tourism Jobs & Formalization: A new ILO study says Eastern Caribbean tourism—worth about 39% of GDP and 11% of jobs—still struggles with informality, weak labour protections, skills gaps, limited financing, and climate shocks, urging countries to improve working conditions while supporting small businesses to move into the formal economy. Travel Trade Boost: Discover Dominica Authority has launched a new self-paced Online Travel Training course for UK and US travel advisors, covering Dominica’s seven tourism pillars (adventure, wellness, romance, aqua, culture/events, agro, Kalinago) with a certificate on completion. Healthcare Milestone: Dominica recorded four successful permanent pacemaker implantations at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital, meaning patients no longer need to travel overseas for permanent procedures. WCMF Hospitality: The teams behind Rize & Whine and Tipsy Music Festival will run VIP and VVIP hospitality for World Creole Music Festival 2026 in Roseau, with premium viewing, bars, chef stations, and added wellness and grooming services. Regional Air Access: Contour Airlines plans twice-weekly nonstop flights between Trinidad (Piarco) and Dominica (Douglas-Charles) starting Oct. 5, with onward connections to San Juan and St. Thomas. Climate Resilience Call: President Sylvanie Burton urged UNGA partners to fund resilience before disasters, pitching Dominica as a “living laboratory” for resilient housing, water management, renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and nature-based adaptation.

Tourism Jobs & Formalization: A new ILO study says Eastern Caribbean tourism—averaging about 39% of GDP and 11% of jobs—can’t deliver decent work while informality, weak labour protections, skills gaps, and limited access to finance persist, with climate shocks also making it harder for small operators to go formal. Teachers Week 2026: The Dominica Association of Teachers kicks off a full programme under “Teachers: The Foundation of National Development – Value Us,” including community outreach, a wellness day with health screenings, and Teachers’ Appreciation Day. Healthcare Milestone: Dominica China Friendship Hospital carried out four permanent pacemaker implantations, meaning patients no longer need to travel overseas for permanent procedures. Travel Trade Push: Discover Dominica Authority launched a new self-paced Online Travel Training course for UK and US travel advisers, covering Dominica’s seven tourism pillars and key experiences. WCMF VIP Upgrade: Rize & Whine and Tipsy Music Festival teams will run VIP/VVIP hospitality for World Creole Music Festival (Oct 23–25), with live chef stations, premium bars, spa services, and enhanced viewing and amenities. Air Access Boost: Contour Airlines plans twice-weekly nonstop flights between Trinidad (Piarco) and Dominica (Douglas-Charles) starting Oct 5.

Travel Trade Push: Discover Dominica Authority has launched a new self-paced Online Travel Training (OTT) course for UK and US travel advisers, covering Dominica’s seven tourism pillars (Adventure, Health & Wellness, Romance, Aqua, Culture/Events & Entertainment, Agro, Kalinago) and key experiences like rainforests, rivers and waterfalls, diving, wellness and community tourism, with a Certificate of Completion for finishers. Festival & Visitor Deals: LIAT Air is offering a 10% discount on eligible flights to Dominica from Oct 19–26, 2026, using promo code “DISCOVER,” ahead of World Creole Music Festival (Oct 23–25). Creole Season Calendar: Dominica’s 2026 Creole season runs Oct 3–Nov 4, with events leading into WCMF at Windsor Park, plus major dates like Ti-Vilaj Kweyol (Oct 19–22) and Bwè Dominik Fest (Oct 26–30). Road & Event Traffic: AuDelices Road has reopened after a landslide cleanup, while police announced temporary traffic changes for the Independence Walk Through Parade on Sept 26 (Botanic Gardens, 4–8 PM). Regional Sports: Guyana kicked off the CONCACAF Nations League in Roseau with a 1-0 win over Puerto Rico, with Osaze DeRosario scoring a late penalty. Regional Policy Watch: OECS leaders say an EU technical team will meet next month on Citizenship by Investment programmes, with Dominica among the countries facing a potential phase-out by June 1, 2028 tied to visa-free access.

Travel Trade Training: Discover Dominica Authority has launched a new self-paced Online Travel Training (OTT) course for UK (and US) travel advisers, covering Dominica’s seven tourism pillars—Adventure, Health & Wellness, Romance, Aqua, Culture/Events & Entertainment, Agro and Kalinago—plus key experiences like rainforests, rivers and waterfalls, diving and wellness; completion earns a Certificate of Completion. Citizenship by Investment Watch: PM Gaston Browne says an OECS technical team will meet the EU in Europe next month to clarify the bloc’s stance on Citizenship by Investment programmes, after the EU asked affected countries (including Dominica) to phase them out by June 1, 2028 or risk visa-free Schengen access. Festival Travel Boost: LIAT Air is offering a 10% discount on eligible flights to Dominica for World Creole Music Festival travel dates Oct 19–26, using promo code “DISCOVER.” Climate & Tourism Positioning: President Sylvanie Burton urged global partners to fund climate resilience before disasters strike, proposing Dominica become a “living laboratory” for resilient infrastructure, renewable energy, water systems and nature-based adaptation. Cruise Interest: Princess Cruises announced Caribbean holiday sailings from Fort Lauderdale, including an Eastern Caribbean option with a stop at Celebration Key in The Bahamas. Road Access Update: AuDelices Road has reopened after crews cleared landslide debris, with officials still working toward a lasting solution.

Visa Rules for Travelers: New guides highlight that “visa-free” can mean different setups (true visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or online authorisation), and list 2026 options for Indian and Bangladeshi passport holders—Dominica appears among Caribbean visa-free destinations, but readers are urged to confirm conditions before booking. UK Family Visa English Exemptions: The UK published lists of countries whose nationals are exempt from the English language test for family visas and also for the Health & Care Worker visa—Dominica is on both exemption lists. Dominica Tourism Boost: Discover Dominica Authority launched a new Online Travel Training (OTT) destination course for UK and US travel advisers, covering Dominica’s seven tourism pillars. World Creole Music Festival Prep: LIAT Air announced a 10% discount on eligible flights to Dominica for WCMF 2026 (Oct 23–25), with promo code “DISCOVER,” while Rize & Whine and Tipsy Music Festival teams will run VIP/VVIP hospitality. Local Updates: Police issued temporary traffic and parking changes for the Independence Walk Through Parade (Sept 26). Climate & Resilience: President Sylvanie Burton urged global partners at UNGA to fund resilience ahead of disasters, calling for Dominica to be a “living laboratory” for climate resilience. Road Access: AuDelices Road reopened after a landslide cleared debris, with officials promising longer-term solutions.

World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) Build-Up: Rize & Whine and Tipsy Music Festival producers have been tapped to run the VIP and VVIP hospitality for WCMF 2026 (Oct 23–25) at Windsor Park, with dedicated entrances, premium bars, live chef stations, spa/grooming services, and a rum-herb “shot station.” Travel Trade Boost: Discover Dominica Authority launched a new Online Travel Training (OTT) destination course for UK and US travel advisers, covering Dominica’s seven tourism pillars and key experiences, with a Certificate of Completion for finishers. Air Access for Festival Week: LIAT is offering 10% off eligible flights to Dominica for World Creole Music Festival travel (Oct 19–26), using promo code “DISCOVER.” Road & Parade Logistics: Police announced temporary traffic changes for the Independence Walk Through Parade on Sept 26 (4pm–8pm) around Valley Road and the Botanic Gardens, including no-parking zones and detours. Climate Spotlight: President Sylvanie Burton urged UNGA action to fund climate resilience before disasters strike, highlighting Dominica’s renewable energy progress. Sports (Roseau Hosting): Guyana opened its CONCACAF Nations League B campaign in Roseau with a 1-0 win over Puerto Rico, with the match played at Windsor Park.