Dominicans are being encouraged to take Staycations to support local tourism which has been negatively affected by the widespread economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tourism Minister Denise Charles, Director of Tourism Collin Piper and Executive Director of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association Kevin Francis, are all speaking with one voice on the matter.
Piper, who is also the CEO of the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), announced recently that eleven hotels and three tour operators have indicated an interest in offering deals for Staycation in Dominica.
“Staycation is going to be a very important stepping stone, going from pretty much, three months closed to opening up initially to residents and locals,” Piper said.
Dominica’s borders will not be reopened to non-nationals until August 7 and Tourism Minister Charles is encouraging the public to take full advantage of the deals that are being offered for Staycation 2020 themed: ‘Experience Dominica’.
“We will start our reopening with staycations. This will meet two objectives. First, it will provide Dominicans with opportunities to patronize our world-class resorts and hotels once again,” Charles said.
She said properties and other service providers of the industry will also have the opportunity to develop and implement their plans to ensure that protocols are being adhered to.
“We want to see as many people as possible patronize our local resorts and hotels,” Charles said.”So you can strongly recommend to your friends and families here and abroad….they will see many reasons to visit Dominica once we finally reopen to all visitors.”
Regarding accommodation, the minister said that specific protocols are being developed for management and supervision, general operations, guest arrival, front desk and lobby area, amenities such as pools, gyms and spas, conference spaces, food and beverage, room service, public areas, housekeeping and employee/staff areas.
She said the Environmental Health Department and the Quality Assurance Unit at the DDA are working with the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA) and other property owners, to develop the plans which will then be reviewed and approved.
“Once approved, the properties will be assessed and then certified,” she explained. “So you will only be able to open once you have been certified, after which, all Dominicans can enjoy staycations.”
Tourism Director Piper believes that once the Staycation programme rolls out, more people will begin to come on board. He said packages will include deals on hotel stays, food and beverage and tours.
“We really want to stress the importance of this Staycation period to provide a little ease up to the Dominicans who have been in lockdown and now have the opportunity to go out,” he stated pointing out that there are properties in Dominica that can offer great relaxation and tour operators who can offer great tours.
.”This is a wonderful opportunity for you to experience what Dominica has to offer,” Piper stated. “We will be coming out in a week or so once we have the hotels assessed and certified.”
Meanwhile, Executive Vice President of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA), Kevin Francis, in an interview with Dominica News Online (DNO) on Wednesday, touted Staycations as “a great thing” and encouraged residents to take advantage.
He said efforts by the Ministry of Tourism and the DDA and members of the DHTA to formulate attractive packages was “still a work in progress,” and the level of discounts will probably be “on a case-by-case basis.”
He explained that the hotels haven’t had any traffic for a few months and opening is a challenge with no additional source of income.
“Nobody coming in so the implementation stage is where we are right now,” the DHTA official noted.
Where we getting the money? already we have $32,000 a month to pay for all you PM to live in luxury while many others still dont even have a roof or their own home. Dominica crying brokes, people laid off businesses closed. But all you want us to act like we on vacation? Time to work fada and get producing. Nowhere people getting a raise nowhere people getting hired. I itred with that circus all you calling a country. Everything still looking like a mess, and we just want to deflect and make excuses and compare apples and oranges when criticized. I always say if someone knows better they will do better. And no we cannot afford your “staycation”. now not the time for that we brokes.
Here’s an idea that our hoteliers can try – pay what you can.
https://www.stripes.com/lifestyle/in-maine-businesses-offer-pay-what-you-can-promotions-to-locals-as-restrictions-keep-tourists-away-1.632470
I not even thinking of vacation. Where would I go anyway with Liat not flying and ferries not coming again even if I had the money, which is another thing. What make you think people have money for your idea Denise. Most of us brokes. Maybe this is just a way for those with ready money to wash it clean through hotels and so put so make it legitimate to put it clean into the bank.
I agree with other comments: at this point in time the vast majority have not a penny to spare on a vacation. However, there are some local free alternatives.
Like all other art venues in Dominica, I never charge residents for visiting my Studio and Art Gallery at Antrim. All I ask is a call beforehand so I know expect you. If you google Access 676 and search for Art Galleries you will find contact details together with information about my work in general.
First time visitors invariably exclaim, “Wow, I didn’t know anything like this existed in Dominica”!
BLA, BLA BLA. $32,000.00, over a thousand dollars a day.
The majority of people who own hotels in Dominica are rich Dominicans, rich foreigners, of rich people from heaven knows where under the CBI program – and Colin Piper wants ordinary Dominicans to help them out ? That man is a joke, and an insult to all that is decent.
It’s okay if you are on Colin Piper’s salary (and doing nothing for it), maybe you can afford a staycation, but this guy simply has no grasp of the real world, or even the immediate world around him in Dominica. He doesn’t know his country, he doesn’t hike, doesn’t explore, doesn’t dive, doesn’t go gout and meet ordinary people. He thinks ordinary people can afford to go on vacation when they can’t even afford to put food on the table? Has he not seen how much food costs in Dominica these days? Has he not seen the lines of people outside Western Union and Moneygram – people who have nothing without the generosity of overseas family and friends. This guy is out of touch and out of his depth. he should have been replaced a long, long time ago by someone who actually knows the country and the people who live in it.
Could not have said it better. Though my family and I, as well many families would like to unwind and relax in a new environment for a while, we just can’t afford it right now. And the rates ftom the hotels are still not reasonable I find. Trying staycation in the past, the price was not so much lower than the normal rates.💯
2 problems with this approach, huge problems. The first is that no one here has income for spending on Staycations. There are a few well paid Government officials who keep their full salary no matter what but that is enough business to justify hotels opening up. The second problem is that hotels cost money to keep open, it is cheaper to close rather than hope for a few highly discounted clients doing staycation. The costs of operations have also gone up due to all the protocols needed to meet certification for COVOID19.
if we had a huge resident population with discretionary income this might work but our costs are way too high and the revenue potential too low.
This is one of the most callous statements I have heard from government… In these desperate times they talk of staycations when most Dominicans are desperately trying to meet basic needs. We need to kick this government from office through people power because they are out to kill us.
And do what? Put Lennox Linton, in who ever you are your brains must have got lost in the toilet 😂😂😂
Does anyone knows when can the American citizens leave Dominica that’s stranded do we have to wait till august or we can leave in July just asking ??
Staycation is an activity on the annual tourism calendar. It’s not something new. Every summer, considered the low tourist season, tourism services providers; hotels and tour operators in particular, offer discount packages to locals to encourage them to take a local vacation instead of going overseas. This is a good idea as it helps keep some hotels and tour operators operational during the slow period usually from June to November.
The Covid 19 Pandemic dealt a serious blow to the 2019 – 2020 high tourist season which is usually from December to May. Most tourism businesses were forced to temporarily shut down operations from March to present due to the collapse of travel across the globe. Dominica, like many other countries, was hit hard with massive decline in tourist arrivals resulting in loss of jobs and foreign exchange earnings.
Therefore supporting the annual staycation is a good move to help local tourism businesses recover as the country starts reopening for…
no $<&+ Sherlock.
I am already paying rent. That’s my staycation right there.
The idea of a STAYCATION is a reasonable one but most likely to be unfruitful. Why this pessimistic prediction? Here is it.
These are very economically desperate times for most Dominicans. Many thousands are unemployed; money is a scarce commodity; the few citizens who still have a few dollars have to protect it because of the uncertainties that lie ahead.
Dominicans are preoccupied with how to survive this present stark period of living hell; where their next meal is coming from; how are they going to manage their utility bills, mortgages, school supplies for their children; if they will ever find employment again because of the depressing state of the economy.
Staycation is the last thing on their minds as there are so many difficult and pressing hurdles to clear.
You expressed it too well. I dont need add anymore.
Could not have said it better. Though my family and I, as well many families would like to unwind and relax in a new environment for a while, we just can’t afford it right now. And the rates ftom the hotels are still not reasonable I find. Trying staycation in the past, the price was not so much lower than the normal rates.
We are closed but open at the same time. Nice one
I am stunned by this lack of comprehension. Would you have a Minister of Health that wasn’t a doctor? Please Prime Minister, get rid of this waste of time and put in some
one that understands TOURISM.. The sector is too important for the country, is getting strangled, would benefit from less regulation, and needs serious leadership. Serious leadership that can both talk to the issues and develop a plan. This paid for puppet with no tourism experience is a disgrace. Pay a penny get a penny .. wait.. the penny is discontinued, not adding any value. makes sense in that example.. doesnt it?
Denise,it’s not all Dominicans that have passport money like you and your gang.
Stop trying to make yourself relevant.
Ninety percent of Dominicans can hardly buy a pound of sugar right now is ” spend cation” they can afford even if it’s at home.
Denise , your missing the point, it’s jobs that can afford you a vacation, not hand outs, and you all fail to create jobs. Get people working again and then they will afford, not just a Staycation,but a “Go cation”.
Not only passport money she have but also PetroCaribe money she have. The only reason she is a member of the cabal, she knows to much about the PetroCaribe affair. Remember how long she was working their in the inner circle assisting Reggie…!!
This is despicable, Nonsensical thoughts. In today’s Dominica over 20 years of our Independence this So called PM Skerrit has failed us and in addition he came into office with limited knowledge of Socio-economic development.
Skerrit has killed our Economy and our Nature Isle, and our people have been reduced to begging through the devious, corrupted Red Clinic. This is shameful, devious, and despicable. Skerrit and this failed corrupted Labour government has failed us.
We now have this Odd Minister clown in Office with a bunch if almost 20 wasteful ministers wasting our people states finance resources.
The best programmes Skerrit has invented was the: 1. Bin Bobol (ably investigated and exposed Skerrit); where our states finances were abused.
2. The Fertilizer Bobol 3. The Red Clinic abusive Clinic, where Skerrit failed miserably
So rather than creating jobs for our suffering people and families Skerry was buying the loyalty of our poor suffering unemployed families. Shame…
Dominica Facilitates Family Reunification With New Changes to Its Citizenship by Investment Programme
NEWS PROVIDED BY
The Government of Dominica
Jun 24, 2020, 10:32 ET
ROSEAU, Dominica, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — On June 24, the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica expanded the definition of ‘dependant’ under its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. The changes allow main applicants to add previously unqualifying adult children, parents, grandparents, and siblings. All dependants aged 16 or over must still pass due diligence checks to qualify.
A main applicant can now include a child aged 18 to 30 who does not need to be attending a higher learning institution or living with them.
Read This
This is despicable, Nonsensical thoughts. In today’s Dominica over 20 years of our Independence Skerrit has failed us and in addition he came into office empty with limited knowledge of Socia-economic development. Skerrit killed our Economy and Dominica. Now he…
Very good, keep the money in our country. I’m hearing the P.M. is taking an initiative in this programme with a brand new B&B at Morne Daniel. That is the spirit Roosevelt, Dominica first!
On what salary they doing that? 000 no raises VAT stifling. Where is the disposable income to do that. Look people so desperate they doing susu pyramid scheme make money. Are you guys for real?