As countries have unemployment and wish to stimulate the economy social holidays are increasing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/fast_track/9644082.stm

In countries of Europe the subsidies on holidays can reduce unemployment benefits.

Dividends are paid for the wider economy.

People spend money in local economies - not on imported cars etc.

If the DR subsidized off peak holidays revenues from taxes, alcohol duties, decreased number of people on social benefits solidarity payments, subsidized electricity, increased income tax revenue etc. may make the scheme worthwhile.
If DR middle class take advantage imports of luxury goods could reduce and precious foreign exchange could be saved.

IF the DR were to offer a subsidy of 100 dollars a week to visitors and the visitors spend 400$ dollars a week in the local economy there could be a net benefit.

Overall there can be a net benefit to the economy.

It can also open up new markets....

S.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/fast_track/9644082.stm

At a time when European leaders are facing up to a massive debt crisis, 1.5 million euros of taxpayers' money is being spent on sending EU citizens on free holidays.

Sheer lunacy you might think, but is there method behind what might sound like madness? Fiona Foster reports.



"IF the DR were to offer a subsidy of 100 dollars a week to visitors and the visitors spend 400$ dollars a week in the local economy there could be a net benefit." -ABC

Why should the DR government subsidize this venture ABC when the Spanish interest that control a lot of Tourism in DR CAN JUST ADD the Dominican Republic to their area of coverage I mean, this is to promote and help Spanish business interest after all

It is also to promote DR interests. DR has massive unemployment, much seasonal. I do not know how much the welfare bill is but it includes subsidized electricity, solidarity payments etc. etc. Also farmers who cannot sell their produce pick up some funds.
Yams are on sale locally retail at 10 pesos a lb - the wholesale price must be much lower. Pigmeat producers are in difficulty also.

If the DR government could get together with tourism interests to target specific groups who would normally not come to the DR and extend the tourist season there might well be no net cost to the DR government even though the DR government would contribute some funds.

In supermarkets I have worked in there is such a thing as ,loss leader, something sold at below cost
to entice custom. The profits on the rest of products etc. more than make up for the loss.

Hotel owners would fill empty rooms, people would be employed, tax revenue from managers, alcohol etc. would increase.

If rooms were offered in off season to US pensioners for one month - two month - three month vacations with mild subsidy everyone I think would benefit.

Please continue to discuss.

S.

Lazy Euro-Trash

No wonder their Broke.

USA is twice as broke?
Only 5 European countries exceed US debt of 99% of GDP.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/how-does-us-debt-problem-compare-europe

Social holiday programs can help many countries reduced debt.

S.

French scheme:


Low-cost holidays for over-60s
Connexion edition: May 2010
PEOPLE aged 60 or over can take state-subsidised holidays at dozens of destinations around France – and new this year is the option of taking grandchildren with you.

The Agence Nationale pour les Chèques-Vacances (ANCV) organises holidays under the Seniors en Vacances scheme, which aims to is help people who may not normally take holidays due to low incomes.

The holidays include food, accommodation and entertainment (but not transport) and are eight days and seven nights or five days and four nights. The longer ones cost €360 but can be reduced to €180 for people who are below the income tax threshold. The shorter holidays cost €300 or €150 for those who pay no income tax.

Carers of any disabled person can also take part at the reduced rate.

You are eligible if you are:
Resident in France
Aged 60 or more (or 55 for disabled people)
Retired and/or not working

Spouses and civil partners can also take part.
Under the scheme, hotels or holiday villages propose holidays to the ANCV at set periods outside the peak summer season (July and August).
The scheme has existed for several years but until last year was only for set groups organised by associations or mairies. Individuals and couples can now book directly.

Also this year many holidays aimed at grandparents and grandchildren under 18 are on offer in holiday villages – the children can stay at the same price as main participants who pay no income tax. If desired it will be possible for grandparents to take part in excursions while the children are looked after at the holiday village. In some cases children’s activity clubs are laid on. From the site Séniors en Vacances see particulier on the right for more details or click on Choisissez votre destination for a map of resorts – holidays suitable for taking with grandchildren are marked in green, or green and blue.

An ANCV spokeswoman said: “The holidays take place at specific dates and you will be part of a group when you arrive - you will be what we called ‘grouped individuals’ (individus regroupés).
“Activities and entertainment will be laid on for the group. You are free to take part or not, but we don’t want people to find themselves isolated in a half-empty hotel.”

Accommodation is in two or three-star hotels, in holiday flats or in holiday villages.

Activities might include concerts, slideshows, dance evenings, walks, pétanque or badminton. Excursions to markets, chateaux, museums or nature reserves or tourist train or boat trips will also be on offer.

Before booking a holiday it is necessary to register with ANCV by sending an application form which can be printed from the site, with copies of your identity card (or passport for non-French nationals) and the last avis d'imposition (income tax statement).

If you are registered disabled or you receive the allocation personnalisée d'autonomie (for dependent elderly people) you also should include proof of this.

Within a month you will get an identifiant number you can use to book with your chosen destination.

On the site, click on the map to see destinations on offer. Click on place names for more information including phone numbers of the holiday destinations. Holidays particularly suitable to disabled people are labelled Tourisme et Handicap and are coloured differently on the maps.

Further information is available on on tel: 32 40 (then you have to say “séniors en vacances” [pronounced “say-ni-or on vac-onss]) at local call rate.


http://www.connexionfrance.com/over-60s-cheap-low-cost-holidays-ANCV-seniors-10741-news-article.html

Here's another idea. Have the Eurpean governments pay for 100% of the holidays of the lazy Euros in the DR. While lazy Euros are away, there is no social welfare costs nor benefits back at home. It is obvious that this would be a net saving for the Euro countries and a net benefit to the DR.

US could save on food stamps and welfare benefits if it rented empty hotel rooms in the DR off season at say 2$ a night.
Patrons could queue up each day to get chicken, beans, rice cooked in vast solar ovens and spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach or watching TV.
With unemployment at 9% in the US and welfare/unemployment benefits rising this must be an economy.
Non-violent prisoners could be offered a break also.
For a family of 4 it would cost 14$ for the room a week, $38 dollars or so for food, an airfare at the end of the 4 month period.
For school age children Voice of America could broadcast via satellite good educational programs to make the pupils keep up on school.
About 50% drop out of school in many cities anyhow.
Salaries of teachers could be saved in the US and I am sure the brighter pupils would pick up Spanish and nature studies.
With significant drops in welfare and education costs by say 5 million people at any one time vacationing in developing countries and not consuming energy significant tax reductions could take place and the US economy would boom.
I am sure DR could take 200,000 , Mexico half a million......

S.