ECCAA inspects Dominica Cable Car Project for helipad site

The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority’s Aerodrome Expert, Jaime Calderon, amongst others, visited and inspected the construction site for the Dominica Cable Car Project to assess the proposed site for a helipad.

Calderon has been involved in previous projects undertaken by Dominica as well, having been a part of the ECCAA Director-General Anthony Whittier’s team that visited the International Airport’s construction site back in April, 2022.

He was joined by the CEO of DASPA, Benoit Bardouille, who also heads the organisation’s management team. The group was given a tour of the construction site and was able to understand the intricacies of the project, which will enable them to chose and approve the perfect site for the construction of a helipad.

This particular part of the project is seen as an essential step as the ability to land helicopters safely will not only help the project during the construction phase, but will also become a part of the safety apparatus of the project once it is complete.

This would allow for the quick and convenient transportation of goods, material and individuals, thus bolstering the versatility of the services provided.

Inspection Team’s thoughts on the project

ECCAA Aerodrome Expert, Jaime Calderon, spent a significant amount of time assessing the project and its progress. He admitted to being very impressed with how far the project has come and how it continues to progress at a rapid pace.

Calderon stated the following regarding the project, “We’re really super excited about this project. I have had idea that progress of Cable Car Project is in full-swings. But after visiting the site for inspection, I’m sure that this project will be going to do wonders.”

He also highlighted the fact that the magnitude of the project was impressive, especially considering the fact that Dominica is a Small Island Nation. He added that, “It is also the first time a helicopter will be used in Dominica in this capacity which further adds to the intrigue.”

The Construction Manager of the Dominica Cable Car Project, Randy Gliege, accompanied the inspectors as they took stock of the construction site. He said the following, “The progress on site is rapidly progressing over the next few days in preparation for the helicopter’s arrival on the island.”

He ensured the inspectors that the project is being pursued by his team with exceptional zeal and commitment. Gliege was adamant that the project will continue to progress on schedule and that his team is prepared to push forward with the next few stages in a quick and concise manner.

The fact that the ECCAA and DASPA are active parts of the project’s progression is a great sign of how it has been developing in the recent past. By all accounts, the expectations are that the project will maintain this trajectory.

The Project’s impact on the region

The tourism industry in the Caribbean has recognized that the Dominica Cable Car Project is going to develop into one of the most popular attractions for tourists in the region.

The project is expected to triple the size of Dominica’s tourism industry, thus having a profound impact on the economic front, especially considering the fact that the nation looks to tourism as one of its primary sources of capital.

The project is also expected to produce an uptick in the disembarking rate of tourists from cruise ships that dock in Dominica. An issue recognized by tourism authorities in the nation is that tourists often prefer to remain onboard cruise ships, or visit sites that are in close proximity to the docks.

The Dominica Cable Car Project will give tourists easy access to the Boiling Lake, as well as the numerous natural features that can be viewed during the Cable Car’s ascent or descend. Most importantly, this will make the Boiling Lake one of the prime attractions in the Caribbean, which is down mostly to the fact that the lake has not been explored much and happens to be one of the most unique phenomena of its kind in the world.

Economic Growth and Job Market

The Dominica Cable Car Project has been recognized as an important source of jobs that will be created both directly and indirectly by it. As the construction phase continues, the project has become one of the most important sources of jobs for locals who reside in close proximity to the site.

Currently, the project employs hundreds of construction workers, including women and is responsible for their job security. As the Cale Car becomes functional and the top and bottom station become completely operational, it will provide jobs those in the hospitality sector, at the various restaurants, food courts and eateries that will be a part of the complex.

The project will also employ a significant number of people who will handle the operations and maintenance of the Cable Car and the associated structures.

Beyond that, guides will be in high demand, as many tourists will wish to explore the wilderness that surrounds the path of the Cable Car, or hike to the Boiling Lake itself.

A significant number to jobs will also be created in the transportation sector as taxis will be in high demand to ferry tourists to and from the site.

Impact on Cruise Industry

The Cruise industry in the Caribbean is expected to feel the trickle-down effect of an increased influx of tourists to Dominica, which will make the nation an even more favoured stop for cruise ships.

This cyclic effect will lead to more tourists coming to the nation and spending time exploring what Dominica has to offer, which will in turn, further expand the cruise industry with regards to Dominica.

Dominica’s future as a tourist attraction

The Cable Car Project, coupled with several other undertakings that the government has or is about to invest in, have the potential to make Dominica the crown jewel of the Caribbean in terms of tourism.

The nation’s push for conservation and sustainability has resulted in a reserve being set up for sperm whales, which prefer Dominica and spend extended periods of time in the nation’s waters.

The nation has set aside 788 square kilometers for the benefit of sperm whales and has become the first nation to take such a step in the world.

While the primary objective of the reserve is to give sperm whales a safe and secure home, it will allow tourist and research vessels to make use of the facility. This will help raise international awareness regarding the dangers being faced by the species, while also bolstering the tourism industry in a sustainable manner.

This coupled with multiple other projects, most significantly the Dominica Cable Car Project, is pushing Dominica along the path to sustainability, which is the nation’s primary objective.

It is also impressive to witness a Small Island Nation such as Dominica, approaching sustainability in a manner which also helps the nation progress economically in the near future and provide several other benefits to its citizens along the way. This is down to the fact that the government of Dominica has taken a very well thought out, holistic approach to where it wants to lead the nation and its people.