The Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) and the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA) along with other stakeholders have planned a new musical event-Creole and All that Jazz – as a new edition to Tourism Awareness Month observed in May.
The Digicel-sponsored event is scheduled for May 23. Creole and All that Jazz will aim to promote a different genre of music alongside Creole culture, and to showcase the Cabrits National Park and Fort Shirley as a great venue for promoting the destination, according to DDA’s Chairman Colin Piper, while addressing the media launch for Tourism Awareness Month on Friday at the Fort Young Hotel.
Regional artistes, along with local artistes, are expected to perform at Creole and All that Jazz, he said.
Piper, who is also tourism director, said a litter and noise pollution campaign as part of Tourism Awareness Month’s activities is expected to inform and encourage citizens to keep the city clean and quiet.
“We will use Tourism Awareness Month to launch an awareness campaign on two critical areas impacting our tourism product, that are litter and noise. As such we will dedicate two weeks in May on a cleanup and quiet down campaign. They will include activities geared at informing and sensitizing the importance of keeping the city clean and quiet,” Piper explained.
He recognized that the campaign is not meant to solve litter and noise pollution, but rather serve as a wake up call about how excess litter and noise can impact the visitors’ experience and the health and productivity of the local population.
“So it’s an invitation to dialogue a possible solution,” he added.
All other tourism awareness activities this month are aimed at educating, informing and entertaining the public, according to Piper.
A number of educational activities targeting students have been planned as well.
“The Tourism Youth Congress, which is a debate fused among secondary schools and the Tourism Through My Eyes Program, which is a candid account of how primary school students see our tourism industry, will encourage and motivate students to carry out research on a variety of topics thus enhancing their knowledge, not only of Dominica’s tourism industry but also other countries in the region and further afield,” Piper stated.
Hike Fest took place over the weekend as part of activities to mark Tourism Awareness Month. The first was held on Saturday from Salybia to Pagua Bay. A Health and Wellness Symposium, DHTA Cocktail Party, Culture Night Spectacular are other events on the organizers’ agenda.
The theme for this year’s activities is “Tourism is everybody’s business, Lets play our part.”
– By DNO Correspondent
As much as I may agree with the idea of showcasing this sight. I must say the date could have been better thought out. We promote culture we promote heritage. As mentioned by one of the someone before we should work more on integrating what we have. This really shows how our tourism industry work. The lack of insight into our local affairs. Ecotourism and tourism in general is about working with the local stack holders at a destination.
How can one have such an even when we have something already carded for that date which has been set before the other. Who are we trying to attract? Locals or tourist or both. When one looks at it, in line with our current situation this is counterproductive.
One other thing to be mentioned is that Isidore is no longer on the Discover Dominica website. Not funny at all.
How do we want to integrate locals into Tourism when we work against local, cultural and heritage on different areas.
All well and good! A splendid way to profile/showcase D/ca. However, it’s a bit shortsighted hosting this event to coincide with other similar and well establish events in the region. Why not a more appropriate date/period on the calendar of event?
I think it’s a big mistake to host such an event in May. It’s going to be one hell of a hard sell to make it a success.
Patience is a vertue
Every little bit helps but at that level one MUST have the ability to think outside the box. You have something already in place, Isidore in Grandbay and Pettit Soufrier. These communities should be included in de grand scheme of Gov’t sponsored tourism promotion.
Rather than spread yourself thin with the limited resources, these communities are already established, you do not have to reinvent the wheel and spend when you get the the local promo for free. Promote Grandbay and Pettit Soufrier it’s free, it’s the Lime, promote local tourism there and the int’l will come – Show-me-the-money you say you doe have!.
JAZZ FESTIVAL IN ST. LUCIA AROUND THE SAME SEASON? WHAT HAPPEN TO ALL YOU PEOPLE NUH…
AND ISIDORE …AND PEOPLE JUST SPEND FOR MOTHERS DAY JUST BEFORE THAT????
UNLESS YOU NOT CATERING FOR THE POORER SET OF PEOPLE…AND THE GIRAUDEL FLOWER SHOW?
good job piper. more emphasis should b placed on mero. this lil village is becoming a city. on sundays in particular. tourism has proven it self in mero. big up to the village commity wo promotes tourism in this lil vilage.
gvot help those who r trying to help themselves
Good idea for Fort Shirley, Let’s hope it does not rain
You can go to Isidore in the morning at church (…it is a religious festival after all lest we forget!) and to the Cabrits in the afternoon for a bit of creole- and jazz music. We are an untidy and noisy people and mr. Piper’s initiative to improve in these areas are to be applauded! Litter is not only untidy but also an environmental health hazard as is noise, especially at decibel levels that leave one’s hearing impaired and chase away visitors, who come to Dominica to enjoy peace and tranquility in pristine, natural surroundings.
Mr Piper I commend your effort to promote Dominica with a different format. I hope the introduction of Jazz will help most of the Dominican musicians to understand truly what music is all about. I am soo disappointed in the popular music coming from Dominica. The Boyon is a deservice to the art of music. The singing is atrocious (the singers can’t hold a note)- Four guys upfront with microphones and no harmony. The instrumentation is lacking – one cannot pin point any talent in the musicians performing the boyon genre . Please note that my displeasure is not in the boyon but rather the contents or the lack of contents therein.
I am afraid that true musical talent will be dearth in the near future. I do hope that all the aspiring musicians go out and listen and learn from those Jazz musicians.
where mr.from nah
Great, and positive from the Director, While we want to enjoy the dual benefit of tourism it is also incumbent on the beneficaries on whom it is confered to do their part in making sure Roseau has a main attraction spot that relects Domiinca in it’st purest form . I mean a sort of replica to the rain forest, even a waterfall area in Roseau.
Hmmmmmm the same weekend as the isidore festivities in grandbay.What’s up with that?