Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica

Government Information Service

Discover Dominica Authority continues to promote Dominica as an ideal tourist destination

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

There has been a heightened level of online marketing of Dominica as an ideal travel destination. These efforts are being spearheaded by the Discover Dominica Authority. Head of that entity Colin Piper has disclosed that several contests were initiated within online magazines all geared at promoting the island.

“We singled out five (5) magazines that we have done online contest with. They are ‘Matador’, ‘Good’, ‘Yoga’, ‘Went’ and ‘Backpacker’. We have concluded that about four (4) of those with the exception of Backpacker is ongoing. “

Head of Discover Dominica
Authority, Colin Piper

Mr. Piper went on to describe the result of one of those competitions.

“A young gentleman, just recently graduated from design school, saw an online competition on ‘Good’ magazine where Dominica offered the winner a trip. They were asked to do a design of an “ugly space” in their city and show how, through design, they would be able to make it better and his use of landscaping and green spaces eventually was deemed to be the winner. The contest winner won a prize to come down to Dominica. We had quite a few people who viewed the website and viewed the submissions. We were happy to welcome Natale Cozzonlongo and his guest. They spent two (2) days at Calibishie Lodges, two (2) days Shangri-La and one (1) day at Fort Young Hotel and did a number of top site activities.”

Earlier this month the winner of the online contest in the “good” magazine, Natale Cozzonlongo from the United States, visited the nature island. He explained to GIS news how he found out about the online competition.

“The contest was held by a magazine/blog that I look at frequently called ‘Good’. I recently graduated from architectural school and was trying to expand my portfolio and to continue doing that kind of work while working fulltime. I had an ear out for competitions and that sort of thing. It so happen that I found this one that seemed like it was a good fit as far as time commitment goes and the kind of topic that it focused around. It also had a really, or seemed like a really great price associated with it which I was very happy about.”

Winner of the online contest in the 'Good'
magazine, Natale Cozzonlongo

Mr. Cozzonlongo spoke of his delight when he learnt that he had won the competition.

“I was very, very happy. I mean, part of my happiness stemmed from the fact that the work that I did was well regarded so I had some happiness for that. There is a lot of satisfaction doing something that other people like and respect and then obviously, I felt pretty excited about going to a Caribbean Island and that frankly I had not know of before this competition. To be completely candid, I will confess that I did not know about the island before.”

Mr. Cozzonlongo went on to describe part of his adventure here on the island of Dominica, a trip to the Emerald Pool.

Clips of Natale's interview

“When we first got there, there was no one there. We walked down the path, a very scenic path, obviously and go to the pool. There was this stunning waterfall going into a deep pond and we were all alone and it was great. I went around the corner, put my body underneath the waterfall and jumped in the pool. It was great and I think it was cruise ship day. Not too long after, maybe five or ten minutes later, the people from the cruise ship came in and within fifteen minutes later, there were hundreds of people online and I was so happy I got the first couple of minutes in there. I wish it would have been longer, but you know, can’t be a perfect world.”