Dominican Republic unveils pavilion at Expo Dubai

Dubai.- Dominican Republic opened the Dominican pavilion at the most important multisectoral event in the world, Expo Dubai, which began Friday, where the country will strategically promote the exportable offer of national products, as well as the investment climate, tourist and cultural attractions, as well as the hospitality and talent that distinguishes Dominicans.

Biviana Riveiro, executive director of Pro Dominicana, represented the country during the opening event of the Expo and highlighted the importance of the participation of the Dominican Republic in this space, since it is estimated that more than 25 million people will attend the event, from all latitudes of the world, which represents a great opportunity for new businesses.

After the announcement of President Luis Abinader, last July, on the country’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, the inter-institutional coordination committee, composed of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Pro Dominicana and the logistics solutions company DP World, designed a work plan that seeks to take advantage of this important international platform to promote the new Country Brand and its five pillars: tourism, investment, export, culture and citizenship.

Riveiro said that thanks to the public-private partnership that was established between the Dominican Government and the company DP World, official sponsor of the participation of the Dominican Republic in the Expo, the country will be able toshow its potential before 190 countries that meet at this important fair, which seeks to stimulate the economic, cultural and scientific growth of the participating nations by building new paradigms for sustainability and technological transformation.

The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United Arab Emirates (USA), Julio Castaños Zouain, congratulated the leaders of that nation, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the USA and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Moktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United States and Ruler of Dubai, for achieving a reality an event that opens the doors to all nations, with a view to transforming the future and that will become a historical legacy for his country and the entire Arab world

The Dominican pavilion is designed and set to make visitors live a unique experience of the culture and attractions of the country, in order to attract tourists, investors and other potential business partners during the six months of the Expo.

The inter-institutional coordination committee is working on a wide agenda of activities that will be developed in the Dominican pavilion during the Expo, and seek to integrate the business sector into this great effort that has as its main objective the economic recovery of the country, open us to new markets and consolidate it as a reference in the region at the level of logistics, business and new employment opportunities, as well as showing our gastronomic and cultural offer.

Macao beach to get US$1.2M access upgrade

Punta Cana.- Tourism Minister, David Collado, yesterday broke ground for the construction of the access road and parking in Macao beach, at a cost of more than RD$53 million (US$1.2 million).

The work, which is part of the comprehensive reorganization project of Playa Macao (Dominican East), will feature 104 car-park as well as an area for motorcycles and buses.

The activity was attended by the main provincial autUS#1horities and representatives of the sector, headed by Rafael Blanco and Paola Rainieri, president and former president of the National Association of Hotels and Tourism (Asonahores).

Baltimore Orioles start baseball academy

Santo Domingo.- The Baltimore Orioles have finished last in the AL East in four of the last five seasons.

But the team wants to start changing its fortunes from the international market and for that broke ground Wednesday for a new academy in the Guerra community to house its international prospects.

“We have made great strides in recent years in establishing our international presence and revamping our baseball operations infrastructure, and this project may be the most momentous step yet,” said Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias.

Dominican Gov. to get US$73.7M for 5G lease

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican State will receive US$73.7 million for awarding Claro and Altice the deployment of 5G.

The regulator Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) will award the Dominican Telecommunications Company (Claro) and Altice Dominicana the licenses for the implementation of the fifth generation of mobile networks (5G) in the country.

In a statement, Indotel explained that the Claro company presented the highest economic offer per unit of Megahertz (MHz) per year, for US$37.9 million. and, in accordance with the bidding documents, it obtained the right to first select the band segment in which it wishes to operate.

Ambitious hotel project breaks ground in Santiago

Santiago.- Vice President Raquel Peña headed groundbreaking for the construction of Santiago Center, an initiative that will operate on the concept of mixed urban use made up of the Hotel Santiago, an events and convention center, and a retail and entertainment area.

The Hotel Santiago, Curio Collection by Hilton, will be located in Santiago Center and arises with the vocation of being a first level option for the corporate or business tourist, national or international, in an environment that reflects the essence of the city of Santiago.

The Hotel Santiago will be managed by Highgate Hotels, one of the leading hotel operators in the region with more than 65,000 rooms under contract, according to a press release.

Santiago Center will be located at the intersection of Estrella Sadhalá avenues with Juan Pablo Duarte, about 20 minutes from Cibao International Airport.

IMF: Dominican Republic economy will grow 9.5% in 2021

Santo Domingo.- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that the Dominican economy will grow 9.5% in 2021, a percentage slightly higher than the 9.1% recently estimated by the World Bank.

The positive projection is contrary to the drop of -6.7% registered by the local economy in 2020, as a result of the economic closures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With percentages higher than the Dominican Republic, the IMF only places Guyana (20.4%), Aruba (12.8%), Panama (12%), Chile (11%) and Peru (10%) in the region.

The figures are compiled in the report World Economic Outlook, released yesterday.

September is the new December; tourists flock to Dominican beaches again

The world is a different one and people are getting back to traveling. As a result, new records in air arrivals are being set even in September, usually a slow month for Dominican tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism reports that September 2021 was the best September for tourism in the entire history of the Dominican Republic, with tourist arrivals higher than in the pre-pandemic years of 2018, 2019 and in 2020. Travel is up 5% compared to September 2018.

In September, 365,544 non-residents arrived. There are expectations by year’s end the number of air arrivals will reach 4.8 million.

In a presentation of the data, Tourism Minister David Collado explained that the breakdown of non-resident air arrivals in 2021 has been 79% foreigners and the remaining 21% of Dominican origin.

87% of hotel rooms are back in operation with weekday occupancies averaging 54% and 61% on weekends.

Tourism Minister David Collado said the numbers are impressive considering the restrictions in travel still in place for those coming from France, Canada and the United Kingdom, leading source countries. Collado said that the relaxation of travel restrictions abroad has allowed the recovery of historical issuing countries for the Dominican Republic. He mentioned how Russia is now the second source of tourists, behind the United States. Spain and Colombia follow.

Punta Cana International Airport leads in the number of arrivals, followed by Las Americas (Santo Domingo) and Cibao (Santiago).

According to estimates, during September the Dominican Republic received 3,694 commercial flights with an occupancy rate of 71%. There were flights by 87 airlines from 90 different airports and 43 countries.

The Ministry of Tourism says that bookings augur a significant rebound for the end of the year, confirming the travel recovery trend that the country is undergoing.

The Ministry estimates that tourist arrivals in October 2021 will be more than those in pre-pandemic October 2019. And, by the end of 2021, estimates are that non-resident arrivals to the country could reach 4.8 million visitors.

Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Tourism

Dominican Republic unveils pavilion at Expo Dubai

Dubai.- Dominican Republic opened the Dominican pavilion at the most important multisectoral event in the world, Expo Dubai, which began Friday, where the country will strategically promote the exportable offer of national products, as well as the investment climate, tourist and cultural attractions, as well as the hospitality and talent that distinguishes Dominicans.

Biviana Riveiro, executive director of Pro Dominicana, represented the country during the opening event of the Expo and highlighted the importance of the participation of the Dominican Republic in this space, since it is estimated that more than 25 million people will attend the event, from all latitudes of the world, which represents a great opportunity for new businesses.

After the announcement of President Luis Abinader, last July, on the country’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, the inter-institutional coordination committee, composed of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Pro Dominicana and the logistics solutions company DP World, designed a work plan that seeks to take advantage of this important international platform to promote the new Country Brand and its five pillars: tourism, investment, export, culture and citizenship.

Riveiro said that thanks to the public-private partnership that was established between the Dominican Government and the company DP World, official sponsor of the participation of the Dominican Republic in the Expo, the country will be able toshow its potential before 190 countries that meet at this important fair, which seeks to stimulate the economic, cultural and scientific growth of the participating nations by building new paradigms for sustainability and technological transformation.

The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United Arab Emirates (USA), Julio Castaños Zouain, congratulated the leaders of that nation, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the USA and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Moktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United States and Ruler of Dubai, for achieving a reality an event that opens the doors to all nations, with a view to transforming the future and that will become a historical legacy for his country and the entire Arab world

The Dominican pavilion is designed and set to make visitors live a unique experience of the culture and attractions of the country, in order to attract tourists, investors and other potential business partners during the six months of the Expo.

The inter-institutional coordination committee is working on a wide agenda of activities that will be developed in the Dominican pavilion during the Expo, and seek to integrate the business sector into this great effort that has as its main objective the economic recovery of the country, open us to new markets and consolidate it as a reference in the region at the level of logistics, business and new employment opportunities, as well as showing our gastronomic and cultural offer.

Senator to reopen its hotel complex in Puerto Plata on November 1

WILL APPLY THE PROTOCOLS APPROVED BY THE DOMINICAN AUTHORITIES

The Spanish chain Senator Hotels & Resorts announced that it would reopen its Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resorts hotel complex on November 1.

Senator will apply the protocols approved by the Dominican authorities and will take into account the exhaustive methods of cleaning, hygiene, and disinfection, which are already in force in its hotels in other destinations, which already operate with the “Global Safe Site” certification, granted by the PREVERISK entity.

This certification validates the different safety plans, the review of its operational standards, the organizational level and the adequacy of its facilities, the novelty of the reopening of the Senator Hotels & Resorts hotels in the food area will be the buffet-circuits, self-service modality that includes pre-established routes to avoid crossings, in addition to establishing capacity limitations for diners.

“On November 1, we will reopen our doors,” said the hotel chain via its social networks.

Venezuelan airline Turpial will operate a flight between Maracaibo and Santo Domingo

STARTING NOVEMBER 2

Turpial Airlines announced November 2nd as the start of its operations between Maracaibo (MAR) and Santo Domingo (SDQ), with two weekly flights.

The Valencia-based airline will have regular international flights from La Chinita Airport. Previously, the company carried out some charter services to the Dominican Republic.

Flight itinerary

• Maracaibo (MAR) 14:00 – Santo Domingo (SDQ) 15:30, two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays operated by Boeing 737-400 Classic with 144 seats.

• Santo Domingo (SDQ) 17:30 – Maracaibo (MAR) 19:00, two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays operated by Boeing 737-400 Classic with 144 seats.

Currently, Maracaibo has several international services to Panama and the Dominican Republic (Countries allowed by the Venezuelan authorities). Both destinations allow travelers to make subsequent connections to the United States, Mexico, and Europe.

Among the companies that operate at La Chinita Airport are the following:

• Conviasa, destination: Panama – Tocumen (PTY) 2 weekly flights operated by Embraer ERJ-190, 416 seats per week.

• Copa Airlines, destination: Panama – Tocumen (PTY) 4 weekly flights operated by Boeing 737-800 Next Generation, 1,280 seats per week.

• Sky High / Sky Cana via Fly The World, destination: Santo Domingo (SDQ) 2 weekly flights operated by Airbus A321ceo, 880 seats per week.

• Venezuelan / Ravsa, destination: Santo Domingo (SDQ) 2 weekly flights operated by McDonnell Douglas MD-83, 536 seats per week.

US$1.3B for paving and sidewalks

Santo Domingo.- Public Works Minister, Deligne Ascención, announced a program of reconstruction, paving and patching of streets, construction of sidewalks and gutters in all of Dominican Republic’s provinces, at a cost of RD$72 billion (US$1.3 billion).

Ascención spoke in a mass in the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, San Carlos sector, whose structures were renovated by Public Works.

“We are going to start in the next few days, a broad reconstruction, paving, patching and construction of sidewalks and containers in all neighborhoods and urbanizations of the 31 provinces of the country and the National District, with an investment of approximately 72 billion of pesos.”

The ‘best September’ for Dominican tourism

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Tourism reported yesterday that the recent September was “the best September” in all of history, with an arrival of tourists higher than in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

David Collado, Minister of Tourism, said that month registered the entry of 365,544 non-residents, which represents a recovery of 14% of the influx received before the pandemic, specifically in September 2019 and, in turn, 25% compared to the September 2020 figures, which represented the generation of about US$412 million to the country.

“This is an achievement that reaffirms that the recovery of the tourism sector is a fact and with it the rehabilitation of the jobs of our people.”

Caribbean tourism outperforms the rest of the world

Press Release

Bridgetown, Barbados (11 Oct, 2021) – As Caribbean tourism destinations continue their journey towards some semblance of normality, preliminary data from member countries of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) reveal that the region outperformed the rest of the world in the first half of 2021.

During this period, international tourist arrivals to the Caribbean reached 6.6 million, representing a 12.0 per cent decline when compared to the same period last year. By the end of May arrivals were at 5.2 million, down 30.8 per cent for the corresponding period in 2020, considerably better than the global average of a 65.1 per cent decline. Of the main regions analysed, The Americas, which included the Caribbean, registered a 46.9 per cent drop, otherwise, no other region performed better than a 63 per cent fall in arrivals.

While the tourist arrivals continued to lag pre-pandemic numbers, the first half year performance was boosted by a second quarter spurt when overnight tourist visits to the Caribbean jumped between ten and 37 times greater than those in the corresponding months in 2020. In absolute terms, there was a steady improvement, as arrival numbers increased from one million in April to 1.2 million in May to 1.5 million in June, according to data compiled by the CTO’s research department.

Among the reasons for the strong second quarter was a rise in outbound travel from the region’s primary market, the United States, from which tourist visits reached 4.3 million in the first half of the year, a 21.7 per cent increase. Other contributing factors included the easing of some travel restrictions and an increase in airlift.

“These are encouraging signs that the hard work our member countries have put into adapting to the changing environment of the pandemic is beginning to pay dividends,” said Neil Walters, the CTO’s acting secretary general. “Even as we embrace a recovery mindset and the opportunities the pandemic has given us, we must continue to be mindful of the challenges we currently face and the potential challenges a dynamic situation like the pandemic can present. The Caribbean tourism sector is known to be one of the most resilient in the world.”

Coral reefs generate US$1.1B in Dominican East

Santo Domingo.- The recreational use of the beach, recreational diving, fishing and research related to coral reefs in tourist spots in the country generate more than one billion dollars a year for the Dominican economy.

In 11.2 kilometers of the coast of Punta Cana, these activities generate US$514.4 million per year; while in 34.7 kilometers of coastline in Bayahibe the economic benefit is US$575.5 million.

Moreover, in 17 kilometers of coastline in Samaná, the contribution per year is US$52.4 million, according to an economic valuation study of ecosystem services.

The total economic contribution collected by the study carried out as a pilot in the indicated spaces total US$1.1 billion annually.

These figures were presented by the Ministries of Environment and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, together with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) within the “Triangular Project Development of an Innovative Financial Mechanism for the Conservation of Coral Reefs in the Dominican Republic.”

One million have already received the third dose of Covid-19

Santo Domingo, DR

One million people in the country have received the third or booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. In comparison, 4.9 million people have the complete two-dose schedule, equivalent to a little less than 60% of the total of 7.5 million over 18 years of age proposed for coverage.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 figures continue to increase in recent weeks in the country, with two new deaths and 517 new positive cases reported yesterday, bringing the number of active cases to 7,453 at present.

To date, the country has registered that a little more than six million people have received the first dose and 4,956,157 the second dose, thus completing the scheme, in which the country registers a more significant delay on the part of the population. Finally, in the third dose, 1,000,259 doses have been administered.

The VacunateRD portal records that 12,072,407 million doses have been administered since February of this year.

Two deaths and 517 cases
The country had two deaths yesterday and 517 new positive cases reported in the last 24 hours, placing the daily positivity at 14.39%; out of every 100 samples processed yesterday, more than 14 were positive for the virus.

The 568th report issued yesterday by the Ministry of Public Health reports processing 6,472 laboratory samples in the last 24 hours, detecting 517 new positive cases, which brings the accumulated number of detected cases to 364,252. With the two recent deaths, the number of deaths from Covid-19 rises to 4,065 patients, for a lethality rate of 1.12 percent, and the mortality per million inhabitants is 389.05.

DR looks for business at France’s top tourism fair

Paris.- The executive director of the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (ProDominicana), Biviana Riveiro, highlighted the opportunities offered by the Top Resa fair in Paris for the Dominican tourism sector.

Riveiro, along with a delegation from ProDominicana, was present at the inauguration of the Dominican Republic pavilion at the Top Resa Fair, the largest tourism fair in France.

The event brings together more than 3,400 professionals from the tourism sector who come together to assess trends, identify investment niches and establish contacts.

Canadian airline WestJet resumes flights between Toronto and Puerto Plata

OPERATION IS CARRIED OUT IN A BOEING 737-800 AIRCRAFT WITH A CAPACITY OF 174 PASSENGERS

Canadian airline WestJet resumed its services from the Gregorio Luperón International Airport in Puerto Plata to the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), marking the restart of tourist flights between Canada and the North Coast of the Dominican Republic.

Airports Dominicanos Siglo XXI ( Aerodom ) reported that the new WestJet operation would arrive every Tuesday from Toronto at 1:25 in the afternoon and leaves for the same city from Puerto Plata at 2:15 in the afternoon.

“With this flight, the operations of one of the main tourist source markets for the North coast of the country are resumed. Likewise, the possibilities for Dominican passengers to visit multiple destinations in North America are expanding,” added the airport company.

The new WestJet operation is carried out on a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 174 passengers, 12 seats in the premium cabin, and 162 in economy class.

The weekly flight that has been inaugurated will have an additional frequency in November, offering direct flights to Toronto on Tuesdays and Saturdays, since as of December 16, WestJet will have a daily flight to/from Toronto airport.

Carlos Rodolí, an Aerodom representative in Puerto Plata, expressed his satisfaction at seeing the recovery in routes and the number of passengers that the Gregorio Luperón airport maintains.

“We are excited to welcome Canadian tourists again, so important to our area. We continually seek to offer more options to all those interested in flying through our airports. We hope that the commercial and tourist exchanges generated by this new route will contribute to the economic growth of our province,” he added.

Increased flight capacity to Dominican Republic

The Civil Aviation Board (JAC) authorized the airline’s Air Century, Dominicana Airways, the Canadian Sunwings, and the Russian Azur Air to expand their air operations to and from different destinations abroad.

The president of the agency, Dr. Jose Marte Piantini, explained that the Civil Aviation Board allowed Air Century to cover routes to and from Kinston, Jamaica, Medellin, Cartagena, and Barranquilla, Colombia, as well as Trinidad and Tobago.

Air Century will operate these routes from La Isabela International Airport with CRJ200 aircraft, with a capacity of 50 passengers, according to the report given by Marte Piantini to the journalists covering the source of the Las Americas International Airport (AILA).

JAC grants permission to RED Air to provide air transport services

The Board also authorized the airline Republic Airways to operate flights to the Dominican Republic from the Catey airport, Samaná, with Embraer 175 type airplanes, which have seating capacity for 76 passengers.

Likewise, the Canadian airline Sunwing Airlines will cover, in addition to Canada, other routes such as Antigua Island, Rio Hato, and Cancun, Mexico, arriving and departing from Punta Cana airport. The Civil Aviation Board report indicates that the airline could operate some 287 flights to the country.

The Plenary of the Board also granted special permission to the Russian airline Azur Air to operate flights from the international airport of La Romana, with modern aircraft types B767-300 and B777-300, respectively, according to the details.

José Marte Piantini expressed that the expansion of air operations by the four airlines is a demonstration of the confidence that the country generates in passenger air transportation.

“But this confidence also covers the tourism sector, where at this moment there are large investments and other sectors that generate hundreds of thousands of jobs,” said the official.

He said that the Dominican Republic continues to be a leader in Latin America and the Caribbean, both in passenger air transport and tourism and a reference in terms of modern airport structures.

Tourism leader among the top 10 most powerful Dominicans

FRANK RAINIERI IS ON THE LIST OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL IN LATIN AMERICA

 Bloomberg Line included characters from 18 countries in the region.

Frank Rainieri, a pioneer in Punta Cana, is the only tourism leader in the Dominican Republic on the list of “The 500 most influential people in Latin America,” ​​made especially by Bloomberg.

“Grupo Puntacana has taken advantage of the avalanche of Americans already vaccinated to attract them to this destination in the Dominican Republic, thus reactivating the main economic activity in the country. That has been the main challenge for Frank Rainieri, creator of the Dominican tourist group, even now that he has passed the baton to his son, Frank Elías Rainieri. Recently, Punta Cana received certificates of compliance with the protocols against Covid-19 granted by the government. With this, the destination is preparing to attract more travelers from North America in the next winter season,” the publication indicates.

Also on the list are: Carlos José Martí, Casa Brugal, Banco Popular, Felipe Vincini, Félix Gárcia Castellanos, Héctor Rizek Llabaly, Grupo Corripio, Grupo Estrella, Miguel Barletta, among others.

The editorial team of Bloomberg Línea included among the 500 in Latin America people from 18 countries in the region, highlighting, due to their population and economy, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, athletes, and officials from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia.

Among the criteria used by Bloomberg Line reporters and editors to create the list are concepts such as job creation, activities to face the pandemic, innovative projects successfully detonated, and the influence to support philanthropic initiatives and promote public policies in favor of recovery.

The list will be a live entity, which will be modified depending on the characters’ actions and the arrival or incursion of new players to the great arena that is Latin America.

Dominican Republic to grow 9.1%, but watch deficit

Santo Domingo.- After 2020 in which the local economy fell -6.7%, the World Bank projects that the Dominican Republic will grow 9.1% this year.

However, its chief economist for Latin America and the Caribbean, William Maloney, warns that the government of Luis Abinader has to pay attention to the deficit and the total debt of the country that the pandemic has caused.

He told Diario Libre during the virtual presentation yesterday of a recent regional report of the agency, that the Dominican Republic is an example of good investment in the purchase of anticovid vaccines, despite its weight in the budget.

“Obviously it cost a lot (the country) to buy vaccines, the deficit has increased because of that. However, the returns on this investment are very profitable. Obviously, at this point we have to watch what is happening with the deficits and with the total debt, but this was clearly a good investment “