The president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, Richard Doumeng, on Wednesday described the condition of the local tourism industry this way: "I think it is safe to say that the year 2000 has gotten off to a disappointing, mixed results at best, tourism season."
The association is part of a private-sector initiative to do what the government is less able to do these days: spend money on tourism advertising and promotion.
Doumeng said several interests have joined in an effort to make the most out of what remains of this year's season.
This situation, he said, is not all gloom and doom. "Much is happening that is favorable to the local tourism industry," despite the absence of what he considers adequate investment, Doumeng told Rotarians at the organization's weekly luncheon meeting.
As a hotelier, Doumeng represents a segment of the tourism industry that depends exclusively on overnight stays. He is, therefore, critical of the current Virgin Islands image as primarily a cruise-destination, being promoted in the latest national advertising campaign.
"The ad which appeared last weekend has one picture of each island but the picture of St. Thomas is one of three cruise ships at the dock," he said.
Doumeng said he does not believe the choice was the greatest to display the beauty of St. Thomas. "Of all the pictures they could have chosen, I don't think it was wise to show cruise ships at the port."
Doumeng said the ad agency could have displayed the natural beauty of Charlotte Amalie or even a picture of the harbor. The suggestion that this is simply a cruise-ship port with mass congestion of visitors does not cut it, he added. Doumeng said he does not know who produced the ad, but he does not believe it will do much to fill hotel rooms in the district.
The ad, according to Doumeng, is slated to appear in 20 publications, including the New York Times, starting Feb. 20.
Doumeng suggested that the lack of a coordinated approach to tourism promotion can be traced to the absence of a Tourism commissioner, whom the governor has yet to appoint.
Doumeng's appearance before Rotary came a day after his father, Dick Doumeng, was warmly endorsed by both district hotel and tourism associations to serve as the next Tourism commissioner.
Government House has remained silent on the Doumeng endorsement or on suggestions that St. Croix Assistant Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards has the edge in a field of four candidates. Other names that have surfaced in recent weeks include: businessman Kent Bernier, retired tourism executive Rafael Jackson and AT&T spokesman Winthrop Maduro.
