Dominica (CMC):

Two private sector groups say they support a move by the Roosevelt Skerrit government to use funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Chinese government to construct a hotel on the island.

The Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC) said it was backing the move because the tourism sector is in need of the investment.

"The hotel infrastructure, as I understand it, is not the best when one considers the number of export-ready rooms we have. Export-ready rooms are a plus and any investment in that regard is welcome as far as I am concerned," said DAIC president Francis Emmanuel.

Airport facilities

Emmanuel said that as the island moves to upgrade the airport facilities, the availability of new rooms must become a priority for the government.

He said the government would be approached to consider a partnership with the private sector to make the hotel investment project more beneficial.

"There could be a mixture," Emmanuel said, noting that many governments have built hotels and have brought in other stakeholders to manage them.

"Investments take different instruments. We need to increase the number of rooms we have that are up to a particular standard," he added.

President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA) Jonathan Vidal has also welcomed the government's initiative.

"I think it's a good idea because with that will bring additional hotel space on the island and people will be trained to work in the hotel. The hotel would need to be marketed and we too will benefit," he added.

But former DHTA president Judith Pestaina said that the funds should be given to the private sector to make the necessary investments.