Dolphin Cove Limited is banking on a bustling winter tourist season to recover from one of its toughest period post-COVID-19. With cruise ship arrivals expected to soar and a new wave of family-centric vacationers heading to its marine parks, the company is poised to turn the tide on a 37 per cent drop in year-to-date net profit.

Chairman Stafford Burrowes is optimistic, calling the season a “solid opportunity” as major cruise lines and airlines boost their presence in Jamaica.

“The cruise shipping is going to be up,” Burrowes told the Jamaica Observer. “A lot of big ships are coming to Falmouth, and we do a lot of business there. Ocho Rios, as the desired destination for Falmouth passengers, benefits significantly because of attractions like Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain, and, of course, Dolphin Cove.”

The arrival of Disney cruise ships, known for their family focus, is particularly promising for Dolphin Cove. “The kids love Dolphin Cove, so we expect very solid support,” Burrowes added.

In addition to cruise arrivals, a newly opened hotel in Lucea, near Dolphin Cove’s Hanover park, is expected to draw more visitors. “From the point of view of people coming in, I think that’s good,” Burrowes said, noting the potential for an uptick in traffic to the attraction.

Dolphin Cove has been gearing up for the winter season by maintaining its facilities and enhancing its offerings. “We do a lot of maintenance constantly,” said Burrowes, emphasising the company’s readiness for the anticipated influx of visitors.

The company is also benefiting from an increase in domestic tourism, spurred by improved highway links that make it easier for Kingston residents to visit. “Kingston people have discovered that it’s an easy run — a one-day trip to the country. Saturdays and Sundays are very busy, and we’re snowed under on public holidays,” he explained.

“We’ve had a huge upturn in the local market in the last year, which has really helped us,” Burrowes told the Business Observer, highlighting the role of domestic tourism in cushioning the impact of external shocks.

Despite the positive outlook, challenges remain. A strike by hotel workers in Jamaica has raised concerns about the hospitality sector’s ability to manage the expected surge in tourist arrivals. However, Burrowes remains confident that the issue will be resolved swiftly. “I’m hoping that this disturbance with the staff at the hotels doesn’t cause a problem, but I’m sure in a couple of months we can get on top of it quickly,” he said.

Additionally, the company is still monitoring the US State Department’s recent Level 3 travel advisory for Jamaica, which could influence some travellers’ decisions. However, sustained demand from key markets, like the US, Canada, and the UK, has kept Dolphin Cove optimistic about visitor numbers.

The optimism comes after a challenging year, including weather disruptions from Hurricane Beryl, which forced park closures and caused visitor numbers to fall by 19 per cent in the third quarter. Despite these setbacks, the company has maintained tight expense controls and a low debt-to-equity ratio, allowing it to stay financially resilient.