Roseau, Dominica (August 21, 2007 at 10:00 AM EDT) - The Dominica Tourist Board is pleased to announce that the island has escaped Hurricane Dean with only minimal impact to its tourism infrastructure. This statement follows a thorough assessment of the island's hotels, tour operators and major tourist attractions that was conducted over the weekend and earlier today. Overall, Dominica's hotels have suffered minimal to no damage, are operational and are ready to welcome guests. Infrastructure at all hotels remains fully intact with only a handful of properties reporting minor damage and the need for clean-up from instances of fallen trees, downed fences, shingles blown away, water damage or broken windows or light bulbs. Electricity and running water have been restored to most hotels with service to the rest to be restored shortly. No tourist evacuations were necessary. Major tourist attractions also fared well against Hurricane Dean. While most are closed so that fallen trees can be removed, debris can be cleaned from trails and other clean-up efforts can be undertaken, Kalinago Barana Aute, Cabrits, Fort Shirley and Emerald Pool are already cleared and open to receive visitors. Soufriere Sulfur Springs is the only site to suffer infrastructural damage due to flooding and the pools will remain closed until further notice. The majority of the island's tour and dive operators are open for business with only some reporting any cancellation of tours.

Hurricane Dean brushed the island this past Friday August 17, 2007, passing in between the islands of Martinique and St. Lucia. The island's two airports, Melville Hall and Cane Field, are both open and fully operational. All airlines have resumed their normal schedules. Known as "The Nature Island" and located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean, the independent nation of Dominica (pronounced "Dom-in-eek-a") is the largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands, encompassing an area of nearly 290 square miles. Of volcanic origins with mountains reaching heights of nearly 5,000 feet, rainforests that are considered among the last true oceanic rainforests in the world, more than 365 rivers, waterfalls, boiling lakes and pristine coral reefs, Dominica's natural diversity is truly unique. Dominica is also home to the last remaining settlement of the Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean - The Carib Indians. A place where man and nature live in harmony, adventurers and nature lovers alike will revel in the Island's eco-tourism options which include scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking/trekking, whale, dolphin and bird watching, sailing and fishing.

For more information on Dominica, contact the Dominica Tourist Office at (767) 448-2045. Or, visit Dominica's official website: www.discoverdominica.com.