news on tourism in dominican republic (Oct/Sept)

> Ramon Alfredo Bordas Announces Top Priorities To Promote Tourism To The
> Dominican Republic In 2001
>
> SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Minister of
> Tourism, Ramon Alfredo Bordas, and his team have determined the top four
> priorities to promote tourism in the Dominican Republic during 2001.
>
> "As the new Ministry of Tourism, my team and I have identified projects to
> support tourism in the Dominican Republic," Bordas said. "These priorities
> will reflect our country's beauty and culture in the eyes of our visitors."
>
> The first on his list of goals is to maintain cleanliness, safety and order
> in all tourist areas within the country. "By emphasizing increased highway
> administration, additional signposting and enforcement of local ordinances,
> we plan to improve general order throughout the country," Bordas said.
>
> Second, Bordas hopes to develop the Dominican Republic's cruise business. "As
> a Caribbean nation, the Dominican Republic will take further advantage of the
> popularity of the cruise industry," Bordas said. "Through development of the
> industry, we will significantly impact the country's annual revenue."
>
> Statistics show that every cruise passenger who arrives at a Caribbean port
> spends $110 per day. Therefore, Bordas believes that by attracting more than
> 2000 cruise passengers per day, the Dominican Republic will boost the economy
> to $158 million annually.
>
> "In an effort to grow the cruise industry within the Dominican Republic, we
> are in continuing conversations with Carnival Corporation," Bordas said.
> Carnival Corporation, which owns Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruise Line,
> Holland America Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises and AirTours, controls 48
> percent of cruise passengers worldwide and hosts approximately 11 million
> passengers each year. The Dominican Republic has been in discussions with
> these cruise lines, providing them with information on the development of the
> country's major ports, including Arroyo Barril, Puerto Plata, La Romana and
> Santo Domingo.
>
> Third on his agenda, the new minister of tourism hopes to attract more
> commercial airlines to the Dominican Republic. "By attracting more scheduled
> U.S. and European flights, we will increase flight capacity and welcome
> larger groups, conventions and high-quality tourism," Bordas said.
>
> Not only does Bordas plan to increase the number of arrivals, he also hopes
> to split arrivals between two international airports to add more options for
> travelers. Bordas and his team have already been in conversations with some
> of the world's leading airlines.
>
> Finally, Bordas will work on an aggressive marketing plan for 2001 to grow
> the U.S. market and reach out to new markets. To accomplish this goal, the
> Ministry of Tourism will work with the European and U.S. tourism offices in
> Chicago, Miami, New York and Puerto Rico to expand marketing capabilities.
> New tourism offices will be established in Scandinavia and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
> Bordas has developed a strategy for destination promotions in order to move
> beyond the principal areas of Juan Dolio and the north coast. "We will
> develop tourism in three targeted areas where travel will be successful,"
> Bordas said. "They key regions are the South, Northeast and Samana."
> President Mejia, who advocates the drive toward amplified tourism within the
> country, has approved all of these priorities.
>
> The second-largest country in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic attracts
> visitors from all over the world with its excellent cuisine, active
> nightlife, casinos, historic locales, hundreds of miles of beautiful beaches
> and soaring mountains.
>
> For more information about planning a Dominican Republic vacation, call (800)
> 723-6138 for a "Dominican Republic Vacation Planner" or visit
> www.domrep-hotels.com.co to see an on-line Dominican Republic press kit.
> General information questions can be answered at 1-888-374-6361.

> DR1 Daily News -- Wednesday, 18 October 2000
> 7. 300,000 Canadian visitors this winter season
> Ambassador of Canada Bruno Picard predicts that 275,000-300,000
> Canadian tourists will visit this year. This would be up from the
> average 200,000 that have been visiting for the past five years.
> He told Hoy newspaper that some 72 charter flights are already
> programmed for the 2000-2001 winter season with a total capacity for
> 350,000 passengers. Some 29 flights will fly into Puerto Plata (North
> Coast), another 20 to Punta Cana (East Coast), five are booked for La
> Romana (Southeast), and another eight for Santo Domingo (South Coast).
>
> He attributed the increase to the consolidation of the perception of
> the Dominican vacation as a quality product. He said that Canadians
> know what to expect here, and appreciate the hospitable and friendly
> Dominican people and the great climate.
>

 DR1 Daily News -- Friday, 20 October 2000
> ********************************************************************
>
> 4. Police arrests Italian for child sexual abuse
> The Police announced the arrest and arraignment of 32-year old
> Italian, Luciano Tola accused of seducing and sexually abusing four
> minors. The minors (ages 5, 14, 15, and 16) had been reported missing
> by their parents. Nelson Rosario, spokesman for the Police, said Tola
> bribed the minors with new clothing and cash payments to have
> homosexual relations. Tola was arrested on 13 October in Boca Chica by
> the department of criminal investigations of the Police for sexual
> pervasion. Tola had arrived as a waiter on a Princess Cruises ship on
> 8 October. An evaluation carried out by physicians of the Program for
> Support to the Investigation and Verification of Sexual Abuses to
> Minors determined that the boys had genital lesions and the five year
> old had caught a venereal disease.
>
>
> 8. Frenchman identifies two of his victimizers
> Colonel Nelson Rosario, spokesman for the Police, said that advances
> have been made on the case of Frenchman Thierry Deve, owner of a
> restaurant in Juan Dolio who recently denounced being raped at a
> Police precinct in San Pedro de Macorís. Rosario said that Deve
> identified agent Hilton Paredes Rodríguez as whom put a gun to his
> neck so that another policemen could sodomize him in a bathroom of a
> San Pedro de Macorís precinct. Deve accuses the agent of being a
> friend of the owner of the Auto Central car rental, owner of the car
> in which the businessman crashed and went to the Police.
> Rosario said that Paredes was expelled from the institution and will
> face trial.
> It is expected that Paredes' arrest will lead to the finding of the
> rapist. Deve also identified Hector Pidre, the traffic head of the
> Regional Command of the East, as the officer who extorted him to make
> an advance payment of RD$5,000 on RD$15,000 he would have to pay to be
> released from the station after being involved in a car accident on
> Saturday, 7 October.
> Colonel Rosario said that investigations would continue.
> Lawyers of the Embassy of France are preparing the case against
> Paredes, according to a report in El Siglo.
> For more information see http://www.dr1.com/daily/news101800.shtml
>
>
> 11. Marapicá is now an ARA Hotel
> ARA Hotels took over the operation of the 134-room Hotel Marapica in
> Puerto Plata. Tony Alvarez, president of the corporation, made the
> announcement. ARA Hotels also operates the following hotels in the DR:
>
> Sosua: Tropicana, Costa Tropical, Casa Linda, Villa Chessa, Villas
> Casa Linda
> Cabarete: Bahia Linda, Las Orquideas, Terraza las Palmas
> Rio San Juan: La Palmeral
> Las Terrenas: Punta Bonita
> Juan Dolio: Tropicana Beach
>

> [Fwd: DR1 Daily News -- Thursday, 19 October 2000]
> 2. Vendor hassling to be eliminated, says Minister of Tourism
> Minister of Tourism Ramón Alfredo Bordas said that he has given
> instructions to prohibit handicraft, excursion and time-share vendors
> from peddling their services and products to tourists taking the sun
> on beaches. He made the announcement at the American Chamber of
> Commerce Puerto Plata chapter luncheon held at the Hotel Playa Naco in
> Puerto Plata, as reported by El Siglo newspaper. He was the keynote
> speaker at the luncheon.
> He explained that surveys show the tourists are very critical about
> being bothered on the beach by the vendors. He said his department has
> put together a project to organize and control the vendors. "We have
> started with the eastern beaches, where the presence of vendors is now
> banned as a first step to putting a stop to this problem," said
> Bordas.
> He said the Ministry has plans to build several arts and craft centers
> in tourism destinations, such as those that exist in other areas where
> the tourists go to the centers that are located off the beaches to
> purchase crafts.
> He also announced that hotels that sell time-share type vacations will
> have to create special areas where their vendors will be located so
> that these do not pester the tourists while they are resting or
> bathing in the beaches.
> "With these measures we want to avoid that the tourists feel
> overwhelmed and harassed by the vendors. Once the vendors are
> relocated to the arts and crafts centers and other goods and products
> services centers, vendors will be restricted to only offering their
> services there, he said.
> Bordas also announced that President Mejía has authorized increasing
> the number of Tourist Police (Politur) from 170 at present to 500.
> Tourist police need to have at least a high school educational level.
>

> DR1 Daily News -- Monday, 16 October 2000
> 1. Hope for Sans Souci tourism project
> President Hipólito Mejía said that his government favors the
> developing of the Sans Souci area on the east bank of Ozama River into
> a major tourism and shopping area. The news was released by the Listin
> Diario. Santo Domingo Mayor Johnny Ventura is also backing private
> developer interest in the area. For the area to be developed, the
> naval base would have to be relocated. The plans include the fitting
> of Sans Souci Beach (a breakwater would have to be built), and
> establishments from Sans Souci all the way to the Los Tres Ojos
> subterranean water park. In the area, the National Aquarium and the
> Columbus Lighthouse already attract thousands of visitors every year.
>
> 7. Minister of Tourism wants to develop more tourism areas
> Minister of Tourism Ramon Alfredo Bordas is lobbying so that the
> Senate pass the bill "Fomento al Desarrollo de los Principales Polos
> de Interés" which would provide incentives for the construction of
> hotel rooms in new areas. The bill was passed by the Chamber of
> Deputies on 20 June. It would boost development of tourism in Monte
> Cristi (Northwest), Barahona and Independencia (Southwest), Miches
> (East), and other areas that have tourism potential but have not been
> developed. He also urged Congress to pass a larger budget for his
> department.
>

 DR1 Daily News -- Friday, 13 October 2000
> 4. Barceló head forecasts 6 million will visit DR by 2004
> Felix Felipe, who oversees the Barceló group operation in the DR,
> forecast in an interview in "En Sociedad" magazine in Hoy newspaper
> that by year 2004, the DR will be receiving six million visitors per
> year. He estimates that in 20 years, some 50 million tourists per year
> should be booking Dominican holidays. Today there are an estimated
> 50,000 hotel rooms in the DR and the country will receive near three
> million tourists this year. Barceló, a Spanish hotel chain, was the
> first Spanish group to invest in Bávaro along the East Coast starting
> in 1983. The area has boomed to become the fastest growing and largest
> destination within the DR, with about 17,000 hotel rooms in around 10
> years.
> "People can't imagine what this country is going to be in seven or
> eight years," says Felipe, speaking from the experience of a hotelier
> who saw Canary Islands grow in Spain. "Dominican tourism is a baby
> yet," he explains. "The party has just started."
> Barceló operates 14 hotels in the DR. While most of its hotels are
> concentrated in the Punta Cana-Bavaro area, it also owns or operates
> properties in Juan Dolio, Santo Domingo, La Romana, Barahona and
> Puerto Plata.
> Under his direction, the hotel chain is now expanding into
> theme-oriented hotels. He says they are promoting golf, gambling and
> soon spa-type vacations.
> He also said that the Convention Palace the company is building in
> Bavaro will be the largest in the Caribbean. It will have capacity for
> 2,400 people in its main hall, and two additional halls with capacity
> for 900 and 600 persons. It will also offer 40 small halls. The 3,500
> square meter construction is scheduled to open in early 2001.
>

> DR1 Daily News -- Tuesday, 10 October 2000
> 6. Changes coming for Boca Chica?
> El Caribe newspaper points out that the writing is on the wall for
> Boca Chica, Santo Domingo's closest better beach.
> >From a sleepy beach resort in the 80s, Boca Chica is today a bustling
> beach area with about 2,000 hotel rooms in a handful of big hotels and
> dozens of small hotels.
> In January of this year, the president of the US Olympic Committee
> Bill Hybl visited and praised the natural conditions of the area that
> is programmed to be the site for the Santo Domingo 2003 Pan Am Games'
> sailing, beach volleyball and waterskiing events. See
> http://www.dr1.com/daily/news013100.shtml
> But changes have been gradually occurring that may mean this area will
> have a different destiny than that of a leisurely tourist destination.
> The 2,000 hotel rooms in the area may be upgraded to city hotel rooms,
> as a major industrial and free zone movement makes it way to take
> advantage of the natural conditions for a deep water port and the
> proximity to the Las Americas International Airport of Boca Chica.
> Boca Chica is also less than half an hour from Santo Domingo. And the
> improvement of city bound highways, is shortening this driving time.
> The changes started to become apparent when the Victoria I, power
> barge was allowed to dock in Boca Chica. The hotel community gave in
> to government pressures, accepting a "temporary" parking of the barge.
> Temporary now seems to be turning into permanent. The promoters of the
> barge say it brings no contamination to the area. See
> http://www.dr1.com/daily/news042800.shtml
> On 26 September, AES Corporation announced the construction of a
> 300-megawatt power plant in Andrés, Boca Chica. Initially to operate
> with fuel oil, the power plant will eventually use liquid gas. See
> http://www. dr1.com/daily/news082600.shtml
> While attending the start of construction of that plant, President
> Mejía gave his go-ahead to the construction of a major trans-shipment
> port in Punta Caucedo nearby. This construction is said to possibly
> affect the Boca Chica natural lagoon. The port and industrial complex
> would be operational in 2002. See http://
> www.dr1.com/daily/news082600.shtml
> President Mejía also has given his open support to the continuing of
> the Santo Domingo Cyberpark, a major effort at giving the DR a push in
> the direction of high technology park business. See http://
> www.dr1.com/daily/news100600.shtml
> Already operating in the area is the Zona Franca Las Americas, that
> has been successful in attracting electronics business. Just recently
> Power One, a leading US telecom electronics company announced a US$30
> million expansion of its Las Americas park facilities. See http://
> www.dr1.com/daily/news100600.shtml
> Can the intensification of industrial facilities in the area reconcile
> with the tourism industry? Henry Pimentel, former Deputy Minister of
> Tourism for the National District (Santo Domingo and Boca Chica) and
> today executive director of the Association Pro-Development of Boca
> Chica fears that the trans-shipment port will mean the destruction of
> several tourism attractions in the area, such as Matica and Los Pinos
> islets, and could affect the lagoon.
> Development studies for Boca Chica from years back show the
> construction of port, industrial and tourism projects side by side,
> complementing each other. Will the new dimensions needed for today's
> projects change the vision of the planners for this area?
> More questions are being posed than answers, as investors push to get
> their projects underway. On the optimistic side, what may result is
> that Boca Chica hoteliers change their model of selling all-inclusive
> US$25 per night/per person rooms to selling US$100 per night
> accommodations, with no food or beverages included. The days when Boca
> Chica attracts more business travelers than beach-seeking tourists may
> soon be here.
>

> ********************************************************************
> DR1 Daily News -- Monday, 9 October 2000
> ********************************************************************
>
> 2. Hospital to serve tourists in Punta Cana area
> President Hipólito Mejía traveled to the East over the weekend to be
> present at the inaugural of the first Hospiten clinic for travelers in
> the Punta Cana-Bávaro area. The Spanish hospital chain opened a 64-bed
> hospital to serve tourists visiting the area. The Bavaro-Punta Cana
> area has more than 17,000 hotel rooms, and an estimated 20,000
> tourists can be in the area at any given time. The hospital is a
> RD$300 million investment, in part financed by the International
> Finance Corporation of the World Bank. It offers sophisticated
> emergency room services. In the past, those seriously ill were
> transported to Santo Domingo, the capital city. Most cases will now be
> able to be handled on site.
> The new hospital was built 500 meters from the Cruce de Verón, and is
> a five-minute drive from the Punta Cana International Airport.
> The Spanish chain operates five similar hospitals in the Canary
> Islands in Spain.
> Hospital administrator Jose Manuel Felipe said that 95% of the staff
> is Dominican.
> He announced the hospital will soon start a nursing school, working
> with the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo and the Universidad
> Central del Este.
>

> DR1 Daily News -- Thursday, 21 September 2000
> ********************************************************************
>
>
> 7. Fuel spillage affects Laguna de Bávaro
> The Listín Diario highlights damages caused by a diesel fuel spillage
> on 5 September affecting the Laguna de Bavaro in the Cabeza de
> Toro-Punta Cana area. Reportedly, a 200 square meter area was affected
> by the spillage that was caused by a leak in a pipe that serves fuel
> to the Allegro Resort power plant in the area. The Laguna is a
> scientific reserve that has been affected by hotel operations in the
> area. The Ministry of Environment sent a commission to evaluate the
> damages. The Allegro Resort workers were using special sponges to pick
> up the fuel.
>
> 11. American Eagle announces Santo Domingo-St.Maarten service
> American Eagle, the American Airlines leading island commuter, is
> announcing new inter-island service between Santo Domingo and St.
> Maarten starting 1 November. This nonstop flight will be offered on a
> 46-seat ATR 42 turboprop aircraft. Jacques Vachon, president of
> American Eagle in the Caribbean, explains that the flight is motivated
> by a growing base of customers that connect on American Eagle via San
> Juan for travel between Santo Domingo and that island.
> The airline has also announced new inter-island service between St.
> Maarten and Tortola, Anguilla and St. Thomas, St. Kitts and St.
> Maarten, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, and Santo Domingo and Mayaguez. It
> also announced new St. Thomas-St. Kitts service beginning Nov. 2.
> The schedule for the Santo Domingo-St. Maarten service beginning 1
> November is as follows:
> Santo Domingo to St. Maarten:
> Flight 5465 Departs 8:05 am/Arrives 9:55 am
> This flight will not operate on Mondays
> The return flight will be as follows:
> St. Maarten to Santo Domingo
> Flight 5464 Departs 8:35 am/Arrives 10:48 pm
> This flight will not operate on Sundays
>

> ********************************************************************
> DR1 Daily News -- Wednesday, 6 September 2000
> ********************************************************************
> 1. Excess supply of rooms affects hotel profitability
>
> 1. Excess supply of rooms affects hotel profitability
> Minister of Tourism Ramon Alfredo Bordas said that this year has been
> one of the worst for Dominican hotels occupancy-wise. He attributed
> the problems to the opening of new hotels, with almost 6,000 new rooms
> entering the market. All destinations have suffered. East Coast
> destination hotel occupancy has been selling for US$35, down from
> US$65 in better years. And as a result, tour operators flew their
> tourists to Punta Cana to take advantage of the low rates, further
> affecting occupancy in Playa Dorada and other North Coast
> destinations.
> The practice of travelers waiting to take advantage of "last minute
> sales" has also affected Dominican destinations.
> The decline of the value of the Euro before the US dollar has also
> affected hotel room sales. Dominican hotel prices are pegged to the
> US$.
> Minister of Tourism Bordas is optimistic that the demand will start to
> climb again with the entry of new US airlines, bringing US travelers.
> He mentioned the start of Usair, and advanced negotiations with United
> and Delta for these to start flights from US cities that do not have
> direct connections to the DR.
> Bordas spoke at a luncheon organized in Puerto Plata by the Puerto
> Plata Chamber of Commerce. Minister Bordas alerts, "What is important
> is not only to fill rooms, but to sell at higher rates so that the
> flow of visitors can generate more foreign exchange for the country."
> Meanwhile, Arturo Villanueva, vice president of the National Hotel &
> Restaurant Association urged the government to continue concentrating
> on improving the surroundings of hotel enclaves, improving
> infrastructure, and lighting of major roads and highways, in addition
> to increasing funds available of advertising campaigns abroad.

 DR1 Daily News -- Wednesday, 30 August 2000
> ********************************************************************
>
> 8. Beaches are for all
> According to a report in El Siglo newspaper, Argentina León de Brugal,
> the new regional director of tourism for the North Coast warns hotel
> managers to not restrict the access of Dominicans to beaches on the
> North Coast. She says that Dominicans have free access to the beaches
> using public accesses. She was referring to their access to Playa
> Dorada beach.
>
> 9. Renovations at Hotel Don Juan in Boca Chica
> The Hotel Don Juan in Boca Chica announces that several improvements
> are being made on the property and will be in use by the next winter
> season. These include the installation of electronic card locks in all
> rooms, new imported equipment in buffet lines at the hotel
> restaurants, remodeled pool bar and new restrooms. The hotel will have
> a section of superior accommodations, as the building No. 3 of the
> complex now will feature only "village superior" rooms. Likewise, the
> hotel has prepared two rooms in building No. 2 fitting these with new
> walls, doors and accessories for handicapped people, complying with
> all international standards. Most important of all, probably is the
> installation of a new business center with secretarial services,
> Internet-connected computers and special long distance rates. For more
> information, contact Luis José Cabral at the hotel at
> h.donjuan@codetel.net.do
>
>
> DR1 Daily News -- Tuesday, 29 August 2000
> ********************************************************************
>
> 5. Priorities of the new Ministry of Tourism
> Minister of Tourism Ramon Alfredo Bordas said that the priorities of
> his administration will be to clean up and organize the areas
> surrounding resorts and hotels in the DR. He said other priorities are
> to attract more cruise ships and international airlines offering
> regular service to the DR. He also said the new authorities will
> follow through with promotion and advertising programs initiated
> during the past administration. He said that his office has initiated
> talks with Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Holland America,
> Cunard, Windstar Cruises, among other lines.
>
Received on Fri Oct 20 19:31:19 2000