Assessing Climate Resilience in Dominica’s Tourism Infrastructure:
Supporting the Vision of the World’s First Climate-Resilient Nation
Shania Scotland (MA candidate supervised by Michelle Rutty)
Dominica’s tourism infrastructure was severely impacted by Hurricane Maria in 2017, with damages estimated at over US $300 million. Eight years later, how much has really changed? Is tourism infrastructure more hurricane-resistant and flood proof? Despite national goals to become the world’s first climate-resilient country, no systematic assessment has been done to measure how tourism infrastructure has adapted since. By combining a Building Classification Model, satellite and field data, and interviews with hotel owners, port managers, and planners, we will map the resilience of tourism infrastructure across the island. The findings will reveal the gaps, the successes, and the actual readiness in one of Dominica’s most vital economic sectors.
