WCMF generates strong economic activity says Tourism Minister

Tonge spoke at the media launch of WCMF 2017 on Thursday

Tourism Minister, Robert Tonge, has stated that the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF), is an event that stimulates the Dominican economy through the number of visitors coming to the country for the event.

He was speaking at the launch of the 20th annual festival on Thursday, July 13th at the Fort Young Hotel.

“The World Creole Music Festival creates strong economic activity in Dominica for all. In 2016, over 6,000 came to our shores in the one week preceding the World Creole Music Festival. In previous years, statistics indicated that 3,000 to 5,000 individuals have made visits to Dominica spending millions of dollars in our economy,” Tonge said.

He added that the focus remains on making Dominica a “center for events and festival tourism in the region,” as events such as the WCMF, Dive Fest and others become more and more popular.

Not only does the festival generate income and stimulate Dominica’s economy and has a multiplier of seven to nine times more than what the government spends, Tonge added that it plays a major role in the social aspect of life where people meet and the beauty of Dominica is appreciated by many visitors.

“The World Creole Music Festival is a place where people meet, allows us to meet to discover the wonderful sites, the wonderful sounds and the wonderful people of the nature isle of Dominica. The festival is an opportunity for us to gain valuable insight into what makes us creole and to discover an abundance of natural beauty in our land, and a chance to meet the people that we haven’t met in many year,” he stated.

Tonge also said that he take pride in the Ministry and other partners’ collective efforts in promoting the event has reaped many benefits and will continue to do so.

“I am extremely proud that our World Creole Music Festival has been featured in billboards, several Caribbean music festivals have it right. So obviously, we see that we are doing something right, and the intention is to continue working on these,” Tonge said.

According to him, the strategic planning and effective management of the festival is what leads to it being executed at international standards.

“Ours is about ensuring that the event lives up to its reputation as most indigenous music festivals in the Caribbean, reflecting our Creole heritage and incorporating various elements of our music culture that represents our common humanity,” he remarked.

 

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18 Comments

  1. Anthony P. Ismael: Free Pampers Minister
    July 17, 2017

    Anyway Robbie, I hope you guys put your best foot forward and cover up some of those dirty drains in Roseau. It doesn’t take years Robbie to fix a drain. Since I know myself little boy, those drains stinking in the middle of Roseau. That should be priority number one this year Robbie. My granny always say: “When strangers come and visit your home, you serve them on the best china in the cabinet.”

  2. Anthony P. Ismael: Free Pampers Minister
    July 17, 2017

    Robbie, boy you always talking some foolishness. Skerrit have you confused. The Creole Music Festival leads to some 5,000 people visiting Dominica each year and your partner Bad Wheel from DASPA still talking about using those little “Two by Four-Airplane,” to transport passengers to Dominica. When will you guys find the vision and courage to build that airport? So long Skerrit said that there’s a team on the island surveying the proposed site, up till now no report yet. I suspect they’re in the “Bush” hiding. That’s why no one has seen them. :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P

  3. BLA BLA BLA
    July 14, 2017

    WHEN IS TRUMP COMING?

    American billionaire, Donald Trump, are among persons Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit had discussions with in New York last week to seek ways of investing in Dominica.

    PM Skerrit told a radio programme the keen interest expressed by foreign investors comes as a result of government’s management of the country.

    He says government has set the environment for doing business in Dominica.

    “I came from New York this week and I had discussions with several persons, Donald Trump and other developers, seeking to engage them and encourage them to come into Dominica to see what kind of investments they can make in the country,” he said. WHEN IS TRUMP COMING?

  4. July 14, 2017

    Disapeared. No ####we love D.N.O.

  5. Just some thoughts
    July 14, 2017

    Duhhhhh the WCMF creates strong economic activity, if it wasn’t then the government would have to justify all the funds they keep spending on the event. The bigger question I have to the Minister is that if the WCMF stimulates the economy 7-9 times what the government spends, shouldn’t they be investing more to have better artists. Having the same artists on rotation and performing every few years is not the answer. My other big question is that if the WCMF is so successful why wouldn’t the government try to emulate similar success with carnival. Couldn’t the country do with more money? While we are on the topic of carnival, has anyone in the Government thought of changing the date of carnival? We are competing with the biggest carnival in the Caribbean (Trinidad) every year. Most other islands have gotten smart and now have their carnivals in the summer months, when there is not competition and when people in foreign countries are most likely to take vacations.

    • Anthony Ismael
      July 17, 2017

      Pragmatic thinking my friend. Moving it to summer would definitely be a coup.

  6. July 14, 2017

    UWP’s initiative :-D :-D :-D

  7. bby
    July 14, 2017

    hmmmmmmmmmmm, no comments

  8. July 14, 2017

    my opinion, if we are serious, about our launch, of our W.C, M.F.and over the years, according o certain persons, it is in fact doing well to the Econmic engine and continues to do well. My simple Question is do not only tell us, but show us, open the books, and give us a complete transparent Details of how well we are doing, and what needs to be done to do better, as a result it will place more trust and desire, for those of us who visit Home year after year, spend lots of money, with the hope that it will help spur our economy, and every one of our stake holders will have a piece of the wealth. But when we have a lunch of the like of what happened last evening, it leaves some with no choice but to say enough is enough, we are being kept in the Dark, as to the profitibility, or none profitability of our W. C. M.F. is that asking for too much? after all is our money, our country, open the books. A.S. A. P. only in Dominica!

  9. hashtag
    July 14, 2017

    Very unprofessional presentation. It was too obvious that Mr. tonge did not write his speech.

    The launch itself was low class. All you can do better wi in 2017!!

  10. Dominican
    July 14, 2017

    If it is so good for the economy why does the government have to subsidize it? Has it ever made a profit? I don’t understand this kind of logic.

    • jaded
      July 14, 2017

      There is no profit to be made. You can’t compare a government agency or initiative to a corporation. The multiplier effect mentioned in the article (“seven to nine times”) is what is key. You have to look at the big picture. I think the WCMF is fantastic.

      • Me
        July 17, 2017

        Yes, but foes it make money and for whom?

    • Titiwi
      July 15, 2017

      Let those businesses that profit from it finance it also. Why should taxpayers help them to boost their profits? Privatize the WCMF and cut out all these free VIP tickets. DAIC can organize this.
      Ggovernment should not be involved at all.

  11. July 14, 2017

    I hope this year government don’t have to pump any monies into
    This years creole festival this activity should be able to sustain it
    Own self instead I suggest that government pumps that kind of
    Money into the Pentecostal youth festival which will be held in
    Dominica ??

  12. AA
    July 14, 2017

    I thought WCMF was a bastardization of our culture. Amazing how time changes with these no foresight leaders we have

  13. Hugh .G. Recshun
    July 14, 2017

    So can Carnival but you all do nothing to promote our culture to the fullest. The week before Creole fest has Creole in the Park. Why cant similar activities be held the week before Carnival to allow visitors and diaspora to enjoy the carnival culture apart from queen show and calypso show. Allow vendors and service providers to showcase and offer their products and services to the public in order to spur more economic activity. the authorities (DDA, Festivals, coorporate citizens etc) dont want to do it so i propose that a community pr communities do it. Week long Carnival events and celebrations during the day taking place the week before carnival jump up. I am not a calypso show or tent goer. and i feel completely left out until jouvert morning. This is an opportunity the respective communities or the government is missing out on. people come here and just wonder the streets of roseau looking for something to do somewhere to go to during the day apart from beach and river or hiking

    • Anthony Ismael
      July 17, 2017

      Why not organize some events in the North, in particular the Portsmouth area and spread the wealth. It’s been “Donkey Years,” since Ian promised the people of Portsmouth a “Board Walk” along the beach, now that the old ships have been removed. Just like the 50 room guest house that cannot finish, we know what happened to that plan. It died, before it started.

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