US$1 Million Expansion for Dolphin Cove Negril

US$1 Million Expansion for Dolphin Cove Negril
By Mark Cummings (The Jamaica Observer)

Stafford Burrowes, the managing director of Dolphin Cove Limited says the company plans to spend roughly US$1 million to complete phase two of its Dolphin Cove of Negril Marine attraction, which sits on 23 acres of land at Point, Hanover.

Phase one of the US$5 million, three-phase project, was completed last September and the company has promised that phase two will start “immediately” and be completed in time for the start of the 2011/2012 winter tourist season.

Speaking at the official opening of the first phase of the attraction last Thursday, Burrowes promised that the facility will become the largest marine park in the Western Hemisphere, employing more than 200 persons on completion.

“Dolphin Cove, although the number one attraction in Jamaica has never been satisfied with it offerings and so phase two will include an incredible and exciting mangrove safari adventure tour. It will feature river kayaking, challenge bridges, zip lines, camels, ostriches, crocodiles, sharks , sting rays and more,” Burrowes told a large audience.

Added Burrowes: “It will be one in a lifetime experience, a perfect place to spend the day. Visitors will be able to enjoy a beautiful white sand beach, water slides, a lazy river, and mangrove tours while camels and crocodiles will complete the picture of the tropical adventure park.”

In phase one of the project, Dolphin Cove Negril offered the ‘touch’, ‘encounter’ and ‘swim’ with the dolphins experience.

Dolphin Cove has become a leading brand in Jamaican and Caribbean tourism and has garnered several awards and nominations, including the 2010 Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) award for the best attraction in Jamaica.

It has also been nominated for a 2011 World Tourism Award under the category of Caribbean’s leading Adventure Excursion Operator.

Apart from Dolphin Cove Negril, the company has parks in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman and is listed on the Jamaica Junior Stock Exchange.

On Thursday Burrowes argued that the company’s listing on the stock exchange has positioned the company to be “financially able to take advantage of all opportunities presented and to share it with the Jamaican people at all levels”.

He noted that the planned expansion of the Fiesta Hotel in Hanover, as well as the construction of the multi-billion dollar cruise ship pier in Falmouth, will enable the Dolphin Cove attraction at Point to do more business.

Tourism minister Ed Bartlett who delivered the keynote address noted that the development of the Dolphin Cove Negril blends perfectly with the government’s plans for tourism in the Lucea area, citing the planned US$280 million expansion of the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa.

“The expansion of the Fiesta group will include the addition of 900 hotel suites complete with concierge service. One key element of this expansion is the creation of thousands of new jobs for the people of this area,” said Bartlett.

He also used the function to congratulate Burrowes and his wife Marilyn for establishing and expanding Dolphin Cove.

“I want to commend Marilyn and Stafford for their vision in investing in the supply side of Jamaica’s tourism. Dolphin Cove has been addressing the demand for leisure activities among visitors to the island, while ensuring that hundreds of Jamaicans gain direct and indirect employment,” Bartlett said.