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Get those coins clinking

DUBAI - If you’re planning to head to the theatres to watch Baz Luhrmann’s epic Australia, break open your piggy bank and use all your loose change, and by doing so you may be playing your part to help the national economy.

Movie theatres like the Grand Cinema are trying to stimulate consumer spending by enticing people to bring coins back into circulation.

“Bring your coins in and we will take them. You can pay for your ticket with 30 one-dirham coins and keep notes of Dh100, and Dh500 at home,” said Yasser Al Safady, Manager of Grand Cinemas, Buhairah branch, Sharjah.

“People generally shy away from bringing coins to the theatres or, for that matter, anywhere they go. Besides that coins and change of smaller denominations is not commonly available in the market.

“So all the branches of Grand Cinema’s have placed a notice at the box office encouraging people to get loose coins and notes of smaller denominations to pay for their tickets,” added Yasser.The initiative began two months ago and theatre officials are hoping for it to gain popularity in all the chains of Grand Cinema in the next few months.

Theatre goers have a mixed opinion on the initiative. Anjali N, a resident of Sharjah, said: “I don’t think it’s going to make too much of a difference. It might help to circulate more coins, but it’s not easy to carry so many coins in your pocket.” Jamie Robinson, a resident of Dubai said: “I think it is a pretty good idea, because I generally keep all the coins I get at home and rarely spend it. But it’s a little difficult to carry coins around as compared to carrying notes.”

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE