Leader of the United Workers Party (UWP), Lennox Linton, has promised to lower VAT on all tourism operations on the island.
The party is promising 7.5 percent decrease in VAT across the board.
Presently tourism operations pay 10 and 15 percent VAT.
Linton outlined a plan to properly market Dominica and reduce the cost of tourism services in Dominica.
He said the VAT reduction will cut the cost of tourism services in Dominica, making the island a more attractive destination to visitors.
The UWP Leader noted that the benefits derived would be far reaching and benefit all categories of service providers in the sector.
He added that the UWP recognizes that the marketing budget is much too low. As such, marketing strategies undertaken by the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) Government have not been effective and have failed to attract sufficient visitors to Dominica.
Linton promised that the budget will be doubled under the UWP.
He said the DLP Government never understood what drives tourism and how Dominica can grow under this sector.
I was asked once.”A wealthy person visiting Dominica, would like to blow some money, How does he spend it?” Frankly I was left searching. Can anyone assist?
The Manifestoes!!!!
DLP: Manifesto describing numerous “infrastructure projects” relying mainly on Foreign Aid!
UWP: Manifesto giving step by step details on GROWING DOMINICA’S ECONOMY!!!
Vast difference!!!!
reduction of V A T as team Dominican is planning when they come to office is really a compassionate move.
“He added that the UWP recognizes that the marketing budget is much too low. As such, marketing strategies undertaken by the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) Government have not been effective and have failed to attract sufficient visitors to Dominica.”(Roosevelt Skerrit).
I wonder if the Prime Minister ever thinks prior to speaking. If I’m to comment on what he quoted, regarding the government not been effective, and has failed to attract visitors visitors to the country, I wonder who’s fault is that; commonsense should tell Skerrit that he and Ian Douglas should share that responsibility.
There are lots of reasons for the lack of more visitors, and the number one reason, is the lack of an International Airport, and what should go along with that are modern hotels, and I am not talking anything such as Fort Young, and any other unfinished fifty room guess house.
We do not have a single tourist resort on the island; something which may resemble, Sandals, that could attract an entire family to visit Dominica for an extended vacation of about ten days which are just the amount of time most people accumulate on their jobs within one year. Secondly, Dominica is not a house hold name neither in Europe, nor North America.
So, how do we sell Dominica as a tourist destination?
Simply: by advertising the country abroad, in Europe, and through out the continental United States, and Canada. Once per year we here the hoopla about tourism week in Dominica, people getting on Radio, and Television, talking crap which can only be heard in Dominica, and some islands in the Caribbean. To be successful in an industry such as that, one have to maintain plenty of advertising. Fortunately, Sam Raphael of the Jungle Bay, hotel is the only Dominican I know who sincerely made an effort to advertise Dominica on Nation wide Television in the United States, and some people may have seen it on the Canadian side, specifically those in Canada, who views American Television stations originating in Buffalo New York.
When I am in Toronto, I usually watch ” The Price Is Right” on ABC Television, That is the station Sam paid the couple of times he advertised, one time someone, won a trip to Dominica at his expense, last month he advertised, however, no one won the trip this time.
That’s how we will manage to introduce Dominica to the world, not by talking crap in Dominica where only the tourist from the villages who to Roseau will here the message.
The first time I went to town, I was a tourist dressed in full khaki, stained with fig stain, and black tennis shoe on foot looking smart, I was a little boy then who without my parent knowledge I went to town oui!
Hashanah!
What a messy place!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
this is welcome news to the tourism sector. if we want to be on par with our more develop sister carribean islands we must remove this obstacle called the labor party, a party whose only skill is to find crafty ways to siphon the money of the state in to subterrean tunnels
lame//
Mr Linton is certainly correct when he said “the DLP Government never understood what drives tourism and how Dominica can grow under this sector”. It’s true, they really have no clue as to why anyone even wants to come to Dominica. That’s why they push for large 5 star hotel projects in the vain hope that such hotels will attract tourists. Of course, anyone who knows anything about Dominica’s appeal knows that large concrete hotels are exactly the opposite of what visitors to Dominica want and such ill-conceived ventures will only act as a repellent.
The common mark in the manifesto of the UWP is Tax reduction at almost every level. According to the manifesto, Tax rates will be reduced and there will be an immediate removal on all taxes and duties on construction materials. The million $ question is where is the revenue coming from to finance the projects in this manifesto. How are we going to finance the constriction of SIX, SIX HUNDRED ROOM NURSING HOMES, conservative estimates could put each of these construction at over $50M. How are we going to finance a $100M REFORESTATION FUND. According to the Manifesto Geothermal is dead and the emphasis will be placed on Hydro, Wind and Solar……”Develop the right mix of the production of sustainable energy using hydro, wind and solar to optimize energy output”…. so the millions of $$$ spent by the government on geothermal will just go to waste. The promise of the construction of a jet airport is confusing as the manifesto tells us what the previous UWP administration did towards financing this project, a plan that help plunge Dominica into financial chaos. What the UWP does not state is how they are going to finance this huge project this time around, a project that could cost TAX PAYERS OVER $1BILLION. Time for us to get real.
What needs to happen is the churches need to pay their fair share of taxes since they are a business…I want some feed back on that.
I keep this one .
In case the UWp is elected .
We’ll see if this happens .
Omg Mr Linton I will vote for you. I love the manifesto ! Just take care bro, I am coming home to vote!
– Reduce VAT
– Give duty free concessions on building materials
– Raise salaries
Sounds good, right?
One year in politics and all of a sudden he has all the answers to the worlds economic issues? Give me a break!! No foreign policy experience. Enjoy the last few days my boy Lennox, because soon you will have you old job back on Q95.
How much foreign policy experience did the current Prime Minister have before running for office? If I recall, when he first ran for office is was a lecturer at the college and not a politician. Sometimes experience is not all…sometimes being novice is a good thing…you could possibly find that the man would be willing to listen to knew idea and knew methods…seek the help of his technical officers when making decisions as he is not an expert. I’m not saying that the current PM is not doing that presently, however if you are going to give on the man then be fair.