Dominican economic recovery ‘a success story’

Santo Domingo.- The economic recovery achieved by the Dominican Republic in the face of the health crisis generated by the coronavirus has been labeled a success story by the international community, highlighting the opinions of the most prestigious risk rating agencies, the most prestigious institutions representatives of international banking and various multilateral organizations.

According to a press release by the Central Bank, in general terms, all these entities have favorably weighed the implementation of macroeconomic policies consistent with the objectives of achieving the recovery of productive activities, of recovering jobs and of protect the most vulnerable segments of the population.

The Central Bank highlights that during the year just ended it launched an expansive monetary policy that included the reduction of the reference interest rate from 4.5% to 3.0% and the implementation of various liquidity mechanisms, aimed at creating the conditions so that financial institutions could place and / or refinance low-cost loans to Dominican businesses and households.

“At the same time, the government designed social programs to protect the most defenseless groups of the population and made the tax burden of companies more flexible, particularly those sectors most affected by the pandemic, preserving jobs and protecting people’s income.”

President Abinader: We will prepare for a year with many opportunities

Santo Domingo.– President Luis Abinder announced that his government is preparing for a year with “many opportunities,” for which he urged the Dominican people to gather on December 31, taking into account all protocols of care and safety.

In a short message he shared via Twitter, he recommended enjoying the holidays wisely in the company of the family and loved ones.

“Enjoy the holidays with your families and loved ones, but wisely. Get together, taking good care and know that we will prepare for a year with many opportunities”, wrote the head of State.

Joel Santos: «Arrival of tourists in 2021 exceeds expectations»

 Qualifies as excellent work from the public-private sectors

 Understand that 2022 will run its course of being a prosperous year

 

Joel Santos, tourism advisor to the Executive Branch, with roots in the hotel and business sector, explained to arecoa.com that the year ending 2021 was surprising for the Dominican Republic from the tourism point of view because of the recovery in tourist arrivals exceeded the expectations of the entire sector.

“We must recognize the excellent work that was done in coordination between the public and private sectors to achieve the objectives. I believe that there has been a combination of work and optimism that has been reflected in the results reflected by the sector,” he added.

Santos indicated that the aforementioned strong union has managed to keep the sector consolidated and continue working, not only in its conjunctural problems but also that critical efforts are being made to make real the projects proposed in the medium term that are necessary to strengthen the sector at a General level.

“It must be said that the confidence of the private sector in the development of the industry has never ceased, and we have seen it in the number of projects that have been inaugurated in different parts of the country,” he added.

He said that President Luis Abinader and the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, have given to the sector through the Tourism Cabinet has been of great importance.

“Not only with the measures adopted to preserve the health of visitors, but also, through showing real and face-to-face support in the inaugurations of projects, sanitation of tourist poles to project the country in a healthy way to the visitor,” he emphasized.

Santos said that as for the following 2022, he believes that despite the situation caused by the Omicron spill, he remains positive because he understands that tourism is perceived in order. After all, the protocols in place will help maintain the confidence of the tourist.

“The fact that Omicron is presenting actions that are denoted as a setback in the sector, due to the decrease in the flow of flights, it is estimated that everything will pass quickly and that when the normal flow of air transport is resumed, it can supply the demand for the number of tourists who will be arriving in the DR,” he said.

The former president of Asonahores stressed that he understands that 2022 will continue to be a successful year.

It is recalled that the sector registered the arrival of 4,263,259 non-resident visitors in the last eleven months of this year and a historical 519,349 in November alone.

November 2021 registered an improvement of 197% over the same period of 2020, 12% higher than November 2019 and even 7% above November 2018.

In addition, it was highlighted that 73% of the non-residents received from January to November 2019 had been recovered.

JetBlue strengthens its dominance in flights between US and Dominican Republic

Carrier has managed to transport more than 2.6 million passengers as of November

 American Airlines is the second-largest in air traffic in the DR

 Punta Cana resumes its rhythm as the main terminal in the country

 

JetBlue airline remains the undisputed leader in the flow of passengers transported between the United States and the Dominican Republic, with 2,672,570 passengers served between both countries during the period January-November 2021.

It is followed in the top 10 of the country’s leading airlines: American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Copa Airlines, Air Europa, Frontier Airlines, Condor Flugdienst Gmbh, and Iberia.

American Airlines managed to transport 1,401,773 passengers, Delta Airlines, 952,709, United Airlines 920,623, Spirit Airlines, 426,701, Copa Airlines 414,470, Air Europa 191,832, Frontier Airlines 190,932, Condor Flugdienst Gmbh 157,271, while Iberia moved 138,816.

When analyzing passenger traffic up through November, the Civil Aviation Board ( JAC ) indicates that the three main airports in the country: Punta Cana, Las Américas ( AILA ), and the Cibao International Airport, together mobilized 980,045 passengers in November 2021, equivalent to 89% of the total.

The Punta Cana International Airport was the busiest with 3,597,045 passengers, followed by AILA with 3,443,001. The two airports represent 75% of the total passenger traffic to/from the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic will close December with “extraordinary” figures in tourist arrivals

 Reveals hotel industry has suffered few cancellations by variant Ómicron

 Sector advances with solid prospects for recovery

 

The president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic(Asonahores), Rafael Blanco Tejera, indicated that despite the progress that the variant of Covid-19, Ómicron, has, Dominican hotels have registered few cancellations of reservations at the last minute.

He said that the cancellations have not been significant, so the arrival of tourists in December of this year “will close with extraordinary figures.”

He said that despite the global situation, the prospects for recovery are solid, and the hotel sector is confident that there will be no adverse effect by 2022.

Blanco Tejera said that there is still no specific figure because there are “few cancellations and last-minute changes,” according to Listín Diario.

For the head of Asonahores, “arrivals continue to mark well (…) For the month of December, there have been no significant cancellations.”

Escarrer: «I see a great tourism advance in the Dominican Republic for 2022»

 “Minister Collado has demonstrated an exemplary management,” he said.

 The Spanish chain reaffirms its commitment to tourism in the DR.

 

Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Meliá Hotels Internacional, explained to arecoa.com  that by 2022 the recovery of tourism in the Dominican Republic would become more established because he considers that the Ministry of Tourism ( Mitur ) the Cabinet have focused their work on strategic points to lift the sector.

“I believe that the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, has made a model management during the pandemic and has taken the fundamentals, and the bases regarding the operation of the sector, so they have focused on making a sustainable recovery that month after month the results are being seen,» he added.

He stated that “there is no doubt that I see a tourist development in the country for 2022, which is great because of its commitment to quality, segmentation and for putting in value what is sustainability, culture, heritage, hospitality and the leisure offer that the country has and that it is going to increase in a unique way after the development of the project that we are carrying out ».

In this sense, Escarrer reaffirmed that the investment commitment of the Spanish hotel chain is firm in the Dominican Republic, after recalling the most recent projects carried out in the country: renovation of two of the Paradisus hotels, including the total reconstruction of the first of its brand resorts in the Punta Cana area, the Paradisus Punta Cana, and a major overhaul of the  Paradisus Palma Real, and the state-of-the-art theme park,  Katmandu Park.

«Without a doubt we reaffirm our unconditional commitment to the DR, either because of the love we have for the country, which is infinite, or because of the 35 years of a success story that has been repeated year after year, and because of the great support that we always receive from the Government,” he emphasized.

One of the largest cruise ships in the world “Odyssey of the Seas” arrives in Puerto Plata

The Taino Bay Tourist Port located in Puerto Plata received today, December 30, the “Odyssey of the Seas,” considered one of the largest cruise ships in the world belonging to the Royal Caribbean company from Fort Lauderdale.

Jean Luis Rodríguez, executive director of the Port Authority, highlighted the importance and significance of the arrival of these vessels to the port of Taino Bay.

“For us as the Port Authority, it is a source of great pride and satisfaction to know that in just 15 days we have received more than ten cruise ships and thousands of visitors who come to boost the economy of our northern region. It is an example of the joint work and how the strategic alliances between the public and private sectors immediately bear fruit,” he said.

The vessel, built in 2020 and launched in March 2021, is the newest and most modern ship of the Royal Caribbean International cruise company and will dock with 2,647 passengers and 1,514 crew members.

The recently inaugurated multipurpose terminal has received 11 vessels with the “Odyssey of the Seas,” and it is expected that this Friday, December 31, vessel No. 12 will arrive.

Meet the vessel
The Odyssey of the Seas has a capacity for 4,805 passengers accommodated in 2,137 cabins and a crew of 1,551 people; the vessel is 348 meters long by 41 meters wide and has 16 decks.

The Taino Bay Tourist Port is a multipurpose project, managed by ITM GROUP and supervised by the Port Authority, which will allow the docking of cruise ships, container ships, and product cargo ships and will create more than 1,500 direct jobs and more than 3,000 indirect jobs for the entire northern area of the Caribbean country.

Dominican Republic, pioneer in the Caribbean in producing Carnival cruise technology

Santo Domingo will host the first Medallion wearable device manufacturing plant outside Asia.

This initiative will add support for production capacity for cruises in the Caribbean on Carnival Cruise and foster economic development and tourism in the Dominican Republic to approve more than 600 jobs at Jabil facilities in the country.

“The proximity of Jabil’s state-of-the-art facilities and factory automation, coupled with its exceptional track record in manufacturing consumer, military, and medical devices, provides us with a great opportunity to support the growing demand for our wearable and consumer devices [Internet of Things] experience and we also support high-paying jobs in the DR in the highly desirable travel and tourism industry,” said John Padgett, Carnival Cruise Director of Experience and Innovation President of Princess Cruises.

It is recalled that OceanMedallion launching in 2017, contains a proprietary combination of communication technologies, which allows an interactive platform for the guest experience with a personalized level of service.

The MedallionClass cruise is currently available on the Princess Cruises fleet. The cruise technology enables contactless embarkation and disembarkation, frictionless trading and stateroom keyless entry, as well as dynamic onboard pathfinding, a family and friends locator, on-the-go premiere movies, an interactive event planner, as well as interactive games and activities.

“Tourism will not suffer a significant slowdown due to omicron”

The president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores), Rafael Blanco Tejera, assured that despite the recent outbreaks of the omicron variant at the international level that have caused cancellations, both of reservations and flights, the country would not suffer a significant slowdown.

“This can be explained by the low level of positivity in tourist areas and by the fact that we continue to operate under strict security protocols, both in hotels and in the tourism value chain, which has generated confidence in the issuing markets that we are a country that is managing the pandemic correctly,” he said.

He added that the tourism authorities are satisfied with the process of tourism recovery during 2021, apart from the fact that in recent months the levels of arrivals before the pandemic have been surpassed, which is an indication for them of the “good public-private work.”

Blanco Tejera predicted that 2022 would be the year of the consolidation of the recovery of tourism, according to Listin Diario.

In November 2021, 519,349 tourists arrived in the country, 197% more than in the same month of 2020.

According to the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), between January and November 2021, 4,263,259 visitors arrived, a recovery of 73% of the tourists received from January to November 2019.

Hotels in Dominican Republic and Costa Rica recognized as the best in the world

Forbes Central America

Two hotels in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic were recognized as the best in the world in their category. As every year, the winners of the World Travel Awards were announced, which rewarded the best of the tourism industry at a global level.

Hotels, airlines, airports, destinations, and different service providers are part of the integrated categories of these prestigious awards, where an expert jury recognizes the best in the sector.

This is where Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic managed to locate one of their properties. With this, they demonstrated that the hotel industry in the region had formed a very exclusive lodging proposal.

Best Ecological Hotel

In the ‘World’s Leading Green Hotel 2021’ category,   Gaia Hotel & Reserves in Costa Rica managed to keep this recognition; nominated in the final shortlist with other properties from Kenya, Canada, Singapore, Chile, Tanzania, and Peru.

This exclusive hotel in Puntarenas province has achieved the same recognition for two years.

The luxurious boutique complex is surrounded by the magnificent coastal forests of Manuel Antonio, where a remarkable diversity of wildlife proliferates. Its beautiful pristine landscapes can be appreciated from the suites and villas with terraces that characterize this tourist development in Costa Rica.

It also has a variety of high-quality services, such as its gastronomic proposal and spa treatments.

Best Hotel for Luxury Sports

For its part, the Dominican Republic also managed to position  Casa de Campo Resort & Villas with the  ‘World’s Leading Luxury Sports & Villa Resort 2021’ award, where it was competing with hotels in Italy, Jamaica, and Spain.

The luxurious property – which hosts many international celebrities in the Caribbean country – has won this award consecutively since 2014.

Located in La Romana,  Casa de Campo was the first resort founded in the Dominican Republic more than 50 years ago. It currently has three golf courses designed by Pete Dye, classified as the best in the Caribbean. It also has an equestrian center, three private beaches, and luxurious villas to host its select guests.

These two hotels are proof that the tourism of Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic has the best accommodations in the world.

Puerto Plata landmark: receives 10,000 cruise passengers in a single day

 The new port Taino Bay streamlines operations.

 Virgin Group of Richard Branson joins shipping company.

 

The arrival of the Carnival Mardi Gras and Carnival Liberty ships probably makes Puerto Plata the first tourist center to receive more than 10,000 cruise passengers in one day in Dominican history.

This was indicated by the regional director of tourism in Puerto Plata, Stephani Kfouri, through a message on her Twitter account.

“Today (Tuesday) we are visited by the Carnival Mardi Gras with 5,316 passengers, 1,741 crew members and the Carnival Liberty with 1,468 passengers, 1,179 crew members. They will be around 6,784 just tourists from the port Amber Cove , if we add cruise passengers aboard the Scarlet Lady of Virgin Group, owned by Richard Branson through the port of Taino Bay for the first time we will have around 10 thousand tourists cruising in one day in our town,” she posted.

Kfouri also indicated that “Let’s Puertoplateños all unite to welcome visitors with affection in our little silver cup!”

It is recalled that the cruise industry in the Dominican Republic had its beginnings in 1993, with the arrival of only about 60 ships in the developing national port system. Then, the ports used were Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, La Romana, and a few arrivals to Samaná.

Passengers are affected after flight cancellation

Las Americas airport

An average of 1,600 passengers were affected last Saturday with the cancellations of some 20 commercial flights to and from the country to and from different destinations due to the lack of crew personnel from international airlines, affected by the new omicron variant of the coronavirus, which has wreaked havoc on commercial aviation inside and outside the United States.

This Sunday, however, flight operations to and from the United States and other destinations were normalized by the Las Américas International Airport, José Francisco Peña Gómez. After the airlines looking for new alternatives to continue with their operations.

A manager of one of the airlines, who preferred that his name be kept anonymous, explained that an estimated 1,500 to 1,600 passengers were affected by the cancellations of flights last Saturday at the Las Américas terminal, José Francisco Peña Gómez.

In the same order, he pointed out that last Saturday, the airlines covered the costs of transportation and lodging in hotels near the airport for travelers who could not travel so that they could be placed on waiting lists and left on the first flights from this Sunday to your destination.

He added that airlines have had to turn to their reservation employees to replace those at home infected with the new omicron variant.

In addition, he explained that according to experts’ opinions on the matter, it is believed that airline crew employees would have been infected with the virus while working inside the aircraft.

The Ministry of Public Health also announced that the new variant of Covid-19, omicron, is already circulating in the Dominican Republic.

While the flow of absent Dominican passengers living in the cities of the United States continues to flow to the country to enjoy the New Year holidays with their families.

This Sunday, the planes from New York, New Jersey, Boston, Miami, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, arrived packed with passengers, primarily Dominicans living in the United States.

It is recalled that for the week that just ended, the airport authorities had announced the arrival on the occasion of Christmas of more than 1000 commercial flights through the terminals of Las Américas and Punta Cana to the country.

The cancellations of some twenty round-trip operations last Saturday caused dozens of Dominican and foreign travelers stranded at the airport despite having their reservations previously made in the airline’s computerized systems.

AERODOM

For his part, the Director of Communications of Airports Dominicanos XXI (Aerodom), Luis López, clarified that the flights were normalized this Sunday. In addition, there had been no cancellation on the airlines even though they work with limited personnel.

López said that although there has been no cancellation of operations, there have been delays in the departure and arrival of some flights from the United States and other destinations.

The Aerodom executive stressed that the concession company is offering all possible facilities to the airlines in the face of the situation due to the omicron crisis.

According to the details, the service personnel on board some airlines have been more impacted by the new variant of the coronavirus attacks than other air transport companies in the United States.

North American capital airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Delta, Spirit, and United Airlines, carry out regular flight operations from and to the Dominican Republic.

In addition, the lack of airline crew personnel also created last Saturday delays in the departure and arrival of at least four operations of flights scheduled by JetBlue airlines to New York, Spirit Airlines to Orlando, Florida, Air France to Paris, France and JetBlue to New York in operation from AILA.

SPECIAL FLIGHTS

Meanwhile, the special flights contracted by the government to facilitate the transfer of absent Dominicans to the country during Christmas continue to be carried out without setbacks.

The airline Air Century is making several daily flights from the John F. Kennedy airport, in New York City, to the international airports of Las Américas, Santo Domingo, and Cibao, in Santiago de los Caballeros, bringing hundreds of nationals to the country.

The president of the Air Century airline, Omar Chahin, explained that the special flights contracted by the government had not suffered any cancellation or significant delays due to the situation of the Covid-19 omicron variant.

Air Century operates the flights with negotiation agreements with Sky Cana, which owns the aircraft. It does not have the operating permits to fly to the United States.

On the other hand, Air Century does have the authorization to operate them. Luis Abinader’s government hired two airlines to make 22 flights at the cost of $ 500 with taxes included so that the absent Dominicans could travel to the country this Christmas to visit their relatives.

High quality tourism in the Dominican Republic increases demand from the Russian market

The list of countries available to Russian tourists has become extremely limited during the pandemic, so new products. Its offers from reliable tour operators are excellent news for travel agents.

Panteon Company’s assortment of tour operators has been supplemented with a new popular direction.

“Our team has been strengthened by experts with extensive experience in the Caribbean and Central America, so now we can offer agencies a competitive and high-quality tourism product: tours to the Dominican Republic, will be carried out on scheduled flights, our own aviation department works 24/7,” Anatoly Garkushin, general director of the tour operator, stated upon entering the DR.

He reported that the tours run on scheduled Aeroflot flights, the actual price of which is available in the tour operator’s online booking system, in the same real-time access to all offers, according to a statement.

“The database of recommended hotels (Riu, Bahia, Iberostar, Barcelo) will help you quickly and conveniently choose a suitable tour for any category of tourist. During its work in the market since 1992, the tour operator has gathered a group of reliable partners that provide competitive conditions for hiring,” he added.

He explained that the tour operator’s lineup includes many relevant offers for different clients, from the spacious Bahia Principe Fantasia Punta Cana family hotel with a water park and a wide selection of themed programs for children of all ages to more democratic options.

Guzmancito II Wind Farm to be built in Maimon PP

The Dominican State, represented by the National Energy Commission (CNE), and the Poseidón Energía Renovable company signed a contract to construct the Los Guzmancito II Wind Farm, located in the Municipal District of Maimón, in the province of Puerto Plata.

The Executive Director of the CNE, Edward Veras, said that the Los Guzmancito II Wind Farm would have a generation capacity of 50 megawatts and produce dozens of jobs in the area.

Veras indicated that the definitive concession contract for the installation and operation of the wind farm was authorized by President Luis Abinader through Special Power of Attorney number 86-21, dated December 17, 2021.

Veras signed the contract together with Ernesto Elías Armenteros Calac, for the Poseidón Energía Renovable company.

He recalled that on December 22, 2020, through resolution CNE-CP-0022-2020, the CNE granted a provisional concession in favor of the company Poseidón Energía Renovable, SA, to carry out studies related to the construction, installation, and commissioning service of the generation work from primary sources of renewable origin of wind energy.

It added that on March 3, 2021, the petitioning company filed with the CNE a request for a standard concession for the construction and operation of an electrical work called “Los Guzmancitos II Wind Farm,” with an installed capacity of up to 50 MW.
In a press release, it indicated that on the 7th of this month, through Resolution CNE-CD-0011-2021, the entity proposed and recommended favorably to the Executive Power to grant the enabling title and the signing of a definitive concession contract with the Poseidón Energía Renovable company, for the construction, installation, operation, and start-up of the project called “Los Guzmancito II Wind Farm.” Furthermore, he specified that the contract with the company to produce wind energy, to be located in Maimón, Puerto Plata province, has 25 years, counted from the date of signing the final concession agreement.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2021/22

From all of us at Luperon Ocean Estates, we wish all of our lot owners and followers a very happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year in 2022.

We have all been challenged in many ways in the last year, we appreciate everyones support, guidance and help.

We look forward

to seeing each and every one of you at the beach in the coming year.


Be safe and enjoy your family and friends this holiday season.


All the best LOE group LLC.

The largest water park in the Caribbean is being built in Cap Cana

 They project the opening of the macro project for the year 2023

 It will be a strong complement to the tourist offer of the East

 

In a ceremony held with the presence of the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, and the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, the construction of the El Dorado Park water park was formally started, which will be developed in Cap Cana with foreign investment from the businessman. Carlos Cobiella and GAM Capital, the leading investment fund manager in company development funds.

El Dorado Park will be the largest and most advanced water theme park in the entire Caribbean.

Designed by the architect Andrés Piñeiro, the park will create more than 350 direct jobs and a total of more than 700 including indirect ones. The conceptualization team includes world leaders in the entertainment and leisure industry who have worked on projects such as Disney and Universal.

The complete project will have three phases to be developed in an area of ​​115,000 square meters and its opening will be for the year 2023. The first phase will consist of the aquatic amusement park with a capacity for 3,000 people that will be called “The Water Temple,” an amphitheater “El Dorado Arena”, with a capacity for 4,000 people, and the restaurants, bars, and shops that accompany them.

President Abinader said that travelers seek new experiences and are more demanding with their travels, so investments like this, with vision, strengthen the country’s offers and place it as a leader in the region.

“Our tourism model is a world reference and it will continue to be for investment offers and bets like this one. It is the way to distinguish yourself, to stand out and lead the market; employment, investment, leadership and innovation,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Cobiella thanked Cap Cana for trusting and opening the doors “to this wonderful idea, presented to his shareholders’ council by him and Andrés Piñeiro, in the best space within the best destination to become an exclusive attraction that complements the offer of tourism within the Destination City and throughout the country, in addition to contributing to greater consolidation of the tourism sector and its development.

He stressed that the country has first-rate offerings for tourists and that projects like this will allow it to continue being the Pearl of the Caribbean for many years.

On his side, Fernando Hazoury, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cap Cana, thanked the efforts of hundreds of people who have supported the destination city in its almost 20 years of foundation.

These efforts have today allowed Cap Cana to be a mature and consolidated destination in all its aspects, and also as a country brand with its infrastructures, amenities, and first-world services, already executed from a technical point of view and guaranteeing a sustainable development master plan that respects the ecology in each new stage of growth and operation.

He stressed that it is time to invest in the country, and said that Cap Cana is open to supporting and accompanying developments such as El Dorado Park since it is a complimentary offer that, together with real estate tourism, is possibly the largest generator of wealth at present together to hotel tourism, they offer second and third coastline attractions, such as what is being seen today in areas where hotel development has already matured.

“Examples of these offers are theme and amusement parks, ecological hotels, real estate developments for retirees, developments for health tourism and gastronomic tourism, among others,” he added.

On his side, Collado, on behalf of the tourism cabinet, indicated that they believe in the diversification of the eastern area and congratulated Cap Cana for starting this project and investors for believing in the Dominican Republic to take this step during a pandemic process.

He stressed that people have regained confidence in the country, and proof of this is this opening of El Dorado in Cap Cana today, as well as others that have already been held in the same destination city since he took office as minister.

El Dorado Park will be a theme park of water attractions designed with the concept of the myth of the famous city of solid gold, lost in the tropical jungles of America, and that for centuries has been the objective of all treasure seekers.

The park carries a story that is the common thread for visitors to discover their world, revealing in each attraction a clue to the next, maintaining the curiosity and intrigue of the client during the adventure until they reach the great Chamber of Treasure.

One thousand flights scheduled this week

AILA, Santo Domingo, DR.

At least a thousand flights have been scheduled for this week before the celebration of Christmas Eve. In addition, thousands of absent Dominicans and tourists will travel to the country through Punta Cana and Las Américas. José Francisco Peña Gómez.

The executive director of the Airport Department assured that, due to the considerable volume of travelers, for this week alone, about a thousand flights have been scheduled, through the airports of Las Américas and Punta Cana, respectively.

Víctor Pichardo made the revelation after leading this Monday at the Las Américas terminal, the reception ceremony for Dominicans living abroad. They come to spend Christmas with their family and friends.

Pichardo announced that, for this month, despite the coronavirus pandemic that the world is experiencing, it is expected that some 400,000 Creoles living in the United States, European countries, and from other destinations will come to the country to spend Christmas Eve and New Year.

The official praised the facilities that the government of President Luis Abinader has granted this year through the Customs Directorate, to increase from US $ 3,000 to US $ 4,000, to bring merchandise and gifts without paying the corresponding taxes.

“Never ever like now, no government had taken more into account like the one presided over by Luis Abinader, those brothers who make extraordinary efforts to come to the country in December to be with their family and friends,” said Víctor Pichardo.

Scheduled
The director of the Airport Department said that some 597 flights had been scheduled by the Punta Cana Airport and another 390 by Las Américas to make seats available due to the considerable displacement of absent Dominicans.

About the health protocols established by the Public Health authorities at the Airports, Pichardo assured that the body he directs acts as a regulatory body for compliance with health measures against the new variant of Covid-19, known as omicron.

“I want to signify that we as a country have been recognized and are a benchmark nation with regard to the health controls that we have established in all the country’s airports,” said the airport official.

The official offered this information at the head of the reception ceremony for the Dominican living abroad on his day every December 20, amidst great uproar from travelers, who enjoyed the music of a typical ensemble.

Also present at this event were the general director of Dominican Airports Siglo 2l (Aerodom), Monika Infante de Henríquez, the Director of Migration, Enrique García and Major General Carlos Febrillet Rodríguez, head of CESAC, among other officials.

Due to availability,
Five hundred ninety-seven flights have been scheduled by the Punta Cana Airport and another 390 by Las Américas.

Measures
Pichardo assured that the body he directs acts as a regulatory body for compliance with health measures against the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, the omicron.

Diaspora
The arrival of some 400 thousand Creoles living abroad is expected.

There is an increase in the arrival of tourists

Santo Domingo, DR

The arrival of non-resident foreigners to the Dominican Republic reached 349,379 tourists at the end of October 2021, representing an increase of 25.9% compared to the previous month and 18.7% compared to October 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.

The data, contained in the Sectorial Panorama report of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development corresponding to October 2021, reveal that the number of tourist cards sold experienced a monthly increase of 5.8% and 15.9% compared to 2019, in line with the increase in passenger arrivals.

Regarding the nationality of the tourists, 28.9% were Americans, with 6,000 more visitors from this origin compared to September, and the arrival of Russian visitors (26.40%), Canadians (9, 10%), French (8.35%), and Germans (3.59%).

According to the Tourist Intelligence System (Situr), the open hotel occupancy rate increased 3.9 points compared to last month, being Sosúa – Cabarete (north), with 5.8 points, Bávaro-Punta Cana (east), with 5, 1 and La Romana – Bayahíbe (east) with 4.7 points, which show the highest employment growth.

The text, which covers economic activity in the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors, also highlights the evolution of employment in the country.

Dominican Republic exceeds by 18.7% pre-pandemic figures in arrival of tourists

Santo Domingo, DR

The arrival of non-resident foreigners in the Dominican Republic reached 349,379 tourists at the close of October 2021, an increase of 25.9% over the previous month and 18.7% compared to October 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.

The data, contained in the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development’s Sectoral Panorama report for October 2021, reveal that the number of tourist cards sold experienced a monthly increase of 5.8 % and 15.9 % compared to 2019, in line with the increase in passenger arrivals.

As for the nationality of tourists, 28.9 % were Americans, with 6,000 more visitors from this source concerning September, and the arrival of Russian (26.40 %), Canadian (9.10 %), French (8.35 %), and German (3.59 %) visitors also increased.

According to the Tourism Intelligence System (Situr), the open hotel occupancy rate increased 3.9 points concerning last month, being Sosúa – Cabarete (north), with 5.8 points, Bávaro-Punta Cana (east), with 5.1 and La Romana – Bayahíbe (east) with 4.7 points, the ones which presented the highest growth in occupancy.

The text, which covers economic activity in the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors, also highlights the evolution of employment in the country, having registered a total of 2,124,733 active workers in the Dominican Social Security System in October 2021.

This translates into more than 236,000 formally employed persons in the last 12 months and of 25,727 formal workers concerning September, figures representing the total recovery of the persons who were left out of the system in April and May 2020 due to the pandemic.

The report states that, so far this year, the number of formal workers registered a variation of 10.7 % (204,000 additional employed persons), dynamics explained by the activity of hotels, bars and restaurants, commerce, and other services.

According to the report, Trade also recorded an increase, which puts the total deflated sales at 16 billion pesos (about 281.74 million dollars), which represents a rise of 12.4 % compared to October 2020 and of 5.8 % concerning October 2019, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

In the agro-livestock sector, the production volume of agricultural goods decreased by 23.1 %. However, exports corresponding to this segment grew by 4.5 % compared to October 2020, with a nominal value of $55.2 million.

Also, there was a monthly decrease of 8.3 points and 10.1 % year-on-year in industrial manufacturing. However, exports of this item amounted to 122.5 million dollars, with a year-on-year increase of 21.3 %, the document states.

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