A number of local businesses will this weekend participate in the first ever “Shop Dominica” initiative.
Participating stores, hotels and other business concerns will use the weekend of August 24-26 to give discounts, offer promotions and put together special packages which will entice shoppers to get out of their homes and take advantage of these attractive offers.
The activity is being spearheaded by the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC), the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA) and the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA).
President of the DAIC, Lilian Piper says the activity is being organized as a means of stimulating spending during this time of year.
“We thought it through and we decided that as the private sector we really needed an initiative to get us excited to stimulate the economy, to get folks out and about. We know its back to school time, we want the Dominicans to take that dollar and have it go as far as it can possibly go.”
Over one hundred business entities confirmed participation in the weekend activity. Piper is encouraged by the overwhelming support coming from the private sector towards this initiative.
“A lot of our private sector participants are very excited and have come together and have put their money where their mouth is. They have put discounts on products and have given all sorts of incentives to get people excited about this.”
The weekend activity has been marketed to Dominicans in Guadeloupe and Martinique as well as French citizens of those territories with a view to bring in overnight guests to the island to spend in all sectors.
Daphne Vidal of the Discover Dominica Authority is encouraged by the number of French nationals who will be on island this weekend for the activity.
“L’express Des Isles has already indicated that there have been increases in the number of bookings of French nationals coming to Dominica this weekend. We are happy about that and we know that they will benefit from and participate in “Shop Dominica.”
The DAIC’s President says “Shop Dominica” will be an annual event and she is optimistic that this initiative could evolve into a major event in future years.
“This is the first of many annual events. We would like to get to the point where somebody can expect that hours are open let’s say 6:00 a.m. You know how in the other countries you get up early and you get to the store by 4:00 a.m so that you can get those specials and so….we really see this growing and continuing into something really big.”
In addition to the day time shopping activities, night time activities will be organized in partnership with the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association for the enjoyment of visitors to the island this weekend.