Have bounty, will share

Tourism is the fastest-growing industry in the world, and the most important in most of the Caribbean, particularly now that the banana industry has gone into decline. Dominica, which has been pursuing ecotourism, is working to develop a health tourism project in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which has spearheaded a Tourism and Health Project in the Caribbean region.

Both health minister Herbert Sabaroche and tourism minister Charles Savarin of Dominica are optimistic about the success of such an approach. Says Sabaroche: "Health tourism is a challenge for the future. We see it as a unique opportunity to capitalize on our natural resources and to ensure that we retain and maintain those resources, the most important of which are our people and our unique way of life. We have no objections to sharing these with other people and to allowing those whose health can benefit from being here in Dominica to use the services and to contribute to their improvement."

Savarin has pointed out one practical difficulty that tourism faces in Dominica. "Many people mistake us for the Dominican Republic," he says. "This creates a marketing problem. I would like people to remember that Dominica is the world’s healthiest island and that we are well served with good connections by airlines….With PAHO’s help, and with our already established health care system, we are well placed to merge health and tourism for the benefit of our country and our visitors."