Tourism maintains the commitment to invest RD$460 million in the Colonial City

The Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) reaffirmed the investment of 460 million pesos to bury electrical wiring, pave streets, condition curbs and renovate museums in the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. The amount is added to the 90 million dollar loan that the government took from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to carry out the tourism development program in that town. The information was confirmed by the minister, David Collado, after receiving recognition from the Santo Domingo Hotel Association (AHSD) and the Santo Domingo Tourism Cluster (CTSD), for his contributions and work at the head of the Tourism Cabinet.

Collado assured that the works to be carried out with the 460 million pesos were not included in the program financed with IDB funds and the resources will be included to complement the beautification part, according to Diario Libre. He cited that visits to the capital city have increased. “More than a million tourists visited the Colonial City last year.”

He explained that, as part of the Integral Program for Tourism and Urban Development of the Colonial City, the issue of beautifying the spaces is a priority, so the museums and historical areas will be renovated, which “for more than 40 years have not been intervened, like the Door of Mercy”.

Spaces to renovate with new investment:

The Gate of Mercy

Alcazar de Colon

The Pantheon of the Homeland

The official said that some adaptation works have already begun and, in the case of the Alcázar de Colón, the tender is already in the final phase.

Abinader will submit the Water Law to Congress on February 27

The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, announced on Thursday that he will present the Water Bill to the National Congress on February 27. He explained that with this project, he hopes to end the sector’s institutional fragmentation and prioritize environmental stewardship as a management priority. “Since my government started, I began to invest, at least five times, what had been done before in the drinking water and sanitation sector,” he said during the closing of the workshop on hydrographic basins.

At this event, he also announced the relaunch of the Plan for the Comprehensive Management of Priority Hydrographic Basins, which will address the critical needs of people and natural resources in the Nizao, Yaque del Norte, Yaque del Sur, Yuna, and Ozama basins.

The Ministry of the Environment will be in charge of the project, which will be supported by the Sur Futuro Foundation, in order to recover forested areas in key areas for water production while also counteracting their progressive degradation, primarily due to deforestation and soil erosion.

Government delivers 50 buses to university student associations

President Luis Abinader led the delivery of 50 buses to 50 university student associations across the country on Wednesday, with the goal of continuing to contribute to the academic training of young Dominicans and improving their quality of life. According to a press release sent to Z Digital, the new buses, which have a capacity of 33 passengers each, were purchased through the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency for more than RD$230 million pesos. They will benefit students traveling to and from their respective university centers and will result in significant savings in their family budgets.

Minister José Ignacio Paliza also announced that another fleet of these vehicles will be acquired by President Luis Abinader’s order and distributed to other student devastations, sports, and cultural clubs across the country. “The academic training of our young people is a commitment of all, but in the government of President Luis Abinader, we work harder so that they can achieve their dreams and be examples as good citizens in better conditions,” Paliza said. He added that these vehicles come to improve the economic conditions of families because their investment in transportation will be much lower from now on. He urged the young people present to take care of the vehicles, as this will allow them to continue providing the quality service that they deserve for a longer period of time.

At the event, Rafael Jesus Feliz Garcia, Minister of Youth, valued the Government’s donation as very positive and said he was very happy with the firm decision of President Luis Abinader to support young Dominicans and to be one of the best allies in this important stage of their academic training. “I want to thank all the support provided by the Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, a young man who has always shown his vocation of service in favor of others, and with greater effort when the beneficiaries are our young Dominicans,” he quoted.

The Minister of the Presidency, Joel Santos, was also present, as was the rector of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), Editrudis Beltrán; the Administrative and Financial Vice Ministers of the Presidency, Igor Rodiguez Durán and of Entrepreneurship, Escarlet Benzán; of the Carlos Valdez Youth, Vicente Luis de Pena, Francisco Santiago, Noeliz de Jess, and Henry Manuel Domingo

Platform launched that will allow booking charter flights between the Dominican Republic and Cuba

In Havana, Enjoy Travel Group officially launched the EnjoyPro flight booking platform. The platform will enable online reservations for charters between Mexico and Cuba, as well as the Dominican Republic and Cuba, speeding up the assembly of combined products for Caribbean destinations.

New flights will be added to the existing routes from Mérida, Mexico City, and Cancun to Havana in the near future:

Monterrey – Havana

Punta Cana and Santo Domingo – Havana

Santo Domingo – Santiago de Cuba

And as a novelty- Havana – Cayo Coco

Enjoy Travel Group, which already has a platform for online reservations of land services, activities, and hotels added a new tool that will allow tour operators to generate new proposals for their allied agencies. Carla Polise, Commercial Director of Promotere, an Enjoy Travel Group representative company in the Southern Cone, stated that “we continue to work to offer more destinations and promote not only tourism in Cuba but also tourism in the Caribbean to many other markets.” The Mexican ambassador, Miguel Diaz Reinoso, and the Marketing Director of Mintur, Pilar Alvarez, were both present at the launch.

The International Health And Wellness Tourism Congress returns in its sixth edition in the Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (Feb. 14, 2021) – Doctor Alejandro Cambiaso, president of the Dominican Association of Health Tourism (ADTS), and Amelia Reyes Mora, president of AF Comunicación Estratégica, announced the celebration of the most important medical tourism event in Central America and the Caribbean, the “VI International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress,” which will be held on November 1 and 2 of this year, at the JW Marriott Hotel, in Santo Domingo.

“The activity features important conferences and panels with renowned national and international speakers, aimed at the top players of the sector, such as health centers, dentistry, clinical and pharmaceutical laboratories, hotels, insurers, banks, investment funds, investment, airlines, medical facilitators, government, transportation, legal advisors, accreditors, among others,” said Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso.

Medical tourism annually mobilizes more than 21 million people worldwide, presenting an annual growth rate of approximately 20%, constituting a market that oscillates between 74 and 92 billion dollars, according to Patients Beyond Borders.

“This international congress constitutes a platform for multi-sector integration, innovation, networking, business development, and investment opportunities, and public-private synergies at a local and international level,” expressed Amelia Reyes Mora.

The 2020-2021 Medical Tourism Index, the top ranking of the sector, included nine Latin American nations among the 46 most attractive countries for Americans to receive health services: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Panama, Jamaica, Mexico, and Guatemala, which motivates us to draw up joint strategies to strengthen our regional positioning.

This prominent event, which was organized by the ADTS and the Communication and Public Relations firm, AF Comunicación Estratégica, has brought together in its last two recent editions more than 800 participants and around 70 local exhibitors, Canada, Costa Rica, the United States, India, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama, Spain, Colombia and Caribbean islands and more than 110 sponsors.

For more information about the event, registrations, and sponsorships, access the web portal: https://congresoadts.com/  (809) 567-2663.

About the Dominican Health Tourism Association (ADTS, for its acronym in Spanish): The Dominican Health Tourism Association is a non-profit organization that promotes the Dominican Republic as an ideal place for health tourism, because of its high-quality, cost-effective medical, dental, and wellness services, hospitality conditions, attractive geographical position, and climate.

Does the Dominican Republic use Title Companies?

In countries like the United States, title companies are used in the real estate buying process. The title company acts as an independent third party working on behalf of the lender and the buyer researches and insures the title of the real estate being purchased. The title company also conducts property surveys. Their role, particularly in the United States, is essential to the due diligence process.

The buying process works very differently in the Dominican Republic, and it is important for foreigners, buying property here, to accept that.

For one, the Dominican Republic, with very few exceptions, does not use title companies. In the case of the DR, you would use an attorney specializing in real estate to research the title. The Dominican Republic has a “title registry office,” and the attorney you’ve appointed will vet the title to confirm everything is in order, including ownership, existing liens, surveys, and any outstanding property taxes. The attorney also ensures transfer taxes have been paid, if applicable.

Assuming that there are no issues with the title or property and the sale has been completed, the attorney will submit documents to the title registry office to issue a new title under the name of the new property owner. The title process from start to finish takes approximately 60 days.

It is also important to note that you’ll need a title to get a mortgage from a Dominican bank, as the title is the collateral for the loan. You can get pre-approval for a loan amount. However, you’ll need a title for final approval.

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Maria Abreu is the CEO and Managing Attorney of Abreu & Associates, a law firm practicing exclusively in Dominican Republic Immigration and Nationality law. She is also the founder of Retire and Invest DR. This organization hosts conference events for foreigners interested in living, retiring, and investing in the DR. You can contact Maria at: mabreu@abreuimmigration.com.

Army Commander assures border is under control after incident with Haitians in Elías Piña

Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, Commander General of the Army of the Dominican Republic (ERD), assured this Monday that the border is calm and under the control of Dominican military authorities. Fernández Onofre explained that the incident of the day occurred at the binational gate of Carrizal in the county of Elias Piña, with some illegal Haitian citizens who burned tires on their country’s side, but nothing more unusual occurred. “It was an event that happened at the door on the Haitian side, the flames were extinguished, and shortly after that, the activities resumed as normal, a normal market day like any other,” Fernández Onofre explained.

He stated that the Dominican Republic’s border with Haiti is normal and under the control of military troops who maintain surveillance and control of each border point. Several citizens burned tires at the Carrizal binational gate in Comendador, Elias Piña, on Monday morning after attempting to breach the perimeter fence, for which they were detained by members of the Specialized Corps for Land Border Security (Cesfront) and the Army. According to reports, the incident occurred after citizens from the neighboring country attempted to enter Dominican territory, prompting a discussion with Cesfront members.

Following this incident, the Haitians were detained by Dominican authorities. Reportedly, the authorities of both countries met to discuss how to resolve the situation and prevent a similar incident from occurring again.

Puerto Plata, a booming port: 77% of cruise ship passengers in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic experienced a substantial increase in the movement and arrival of cruise passengers through the country’s tourist ports, according to a report by the Dominican Port Authority (Apordom), which shows a 20% growth during 2022 compared to 2019, the year prior to the pandemic.

The document details that 194 more cruise ships were received in 2022 than in 2019, representing an overall growth of 37%.

The increase in cruise ships is due, in the first place, to the incorporation of Port Taino Bay in December 2021, in addition to the increase of cruise ships in Catalina Island and the Port of Santo Domingo.

In 2022, the ports that received the most significant number of cruise passengers were the Ports of Amber Cove and Taino Bay, with 1,026,344 cruise passengers, representing 77% of the total arrivals for the year.

In third place was the Port of La Romana, where the total number of cruise passengers represented 15% of the year’s total arrivals.

Fuels: Finally lowered in price, here we tell you which one

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM) reported that for the week of February 11 to 17, it is again preparing to freeze the prices of all fuels, except Avtur.

• Premium gasoline will be sold at RD$293.60 per gallon, maintaining its price.

• Regular gasoline, RD$ 274.50 per gallon, keeps its price.

• Regular Diesel, RD$ 221.60 per gallon, maintains its price.

• Optimum Diesel RD$241.10 per gallon retains its price.

• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) RD$147.60 per gallon holds its price.

• Natural Gas RD$28.97 per m3 maintains its price.

• Avtur RD$ 218.28 per gallon lowers its price.

• Kerosene RD$338.10 per gallon keeps its price.

• Fuel Oil, RD$ 192.11 per gallon, holds its price.

• Fuel Oil 1% RD$ 211.77 per gallon maintains its price.

“By freezing these prices, the Dominican government remains firm in its conviction to protect consumers, maintain stable prices and contribute to the reduction of inflation in our country,” he pointed out.

The Vice Minister of Internal Trade, Ramón Pérez Fermín, also reported that the government of President Luis Abinader would maintain the hydrocarbon subsidy again for the week of February 11 to 17 and recalled that since February 2022 efforts have been maintained to prevent the fuels rise in price.

“Despite all this complex international context, the government of President Luis Abinader, responsibly and transparently, always with the unwavering objective of siding with the population and especially the least favored, has launched a plan to contain the rises in fuels, the popularly known hydrocarbon freezing plan, which has lasted for almost a year, where our country, fuels for domestic use, have not increased in price,” said the vice minister.

Emphasizing that one year has passed without an increase in the prices of LPG, gasoline, and diesel, he maintained that even though some international reductions in crude oil and its derivative products could be perceived every week, the energy crisis in Europe has made that gasoline and diesel will reach historical price levels in 2022 and that they are still very high, which is why unsuspected levels of prices for these items remain.

Growing interest in Dominican Republic from foreign investors

During a meeting with AIRD executives, Central Bank Governor affirms the country’s attractiveness due to its resilience and certainty regarding the economy’s performance.
The governor of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD), Héctor Valdez Albizu, reported that there is a growing interest on the part of international corporations and investors in the Dominican Republic, ‘attracted by our resilience, the certainty about the performance of the economy and the possibilities of yield for their investments.’

Valdez Albizu spoke at a meeting with the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), where the president of this entity, Julio Virgilio Brache, praised the measures taken by the Central Bank since the outbreak of the pandemic until today, ‘thanks to which an enviable economic stability has been achieved in the region.’

Valdez Albizu highlighted the stability of the exchange rate, considering that the accumulated appreciation as of December 30, 2022, was 2.0 %. In addition, international reserves reached a historical figure at the end of last year of US$14,440.6 million, equivalent to 5.6 months of imports and 12.8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

He expressed his optimism about the prospects for the Dominican economy in 2023, noting that ‘the result of 4.9% economic growth in 2022 in the context of a delicate international situation like the current one, just out of a global crisis caused by covid-19, and with adverse atmospheric phenomena that affected agriculture, can be considered a success’.

He also referred to the forecasts of the BCRD for 2023, following the estimates of international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB), and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), that the growth of the Dominican economy would reach a figure of around 4.5 percent.

He also referred to the Central Bank’s forecasts regarding inflation, which ‘we think will converge this year within the target range of 4+/-1 %, as the monetary policy transmission mechanism continues to operate and the conjunctural factors that have affected the volatile component of prices, mainly the effects of climatic phenomena and the drop in the prices of containers and commodities, dissipate’.

He highlighted that the inter-annual consumer price index (CPI) stood at the end of 2022 at 7.83%, 181 basis points lower from a peak of 9.64% in April of that year, being especially relevant to the underlying inflation data for price stability, which stood at 6.56% as of December, a figure that distinguishes the Dominican Republic in comparison with other countries in the region”.

He pointed out the importance of the fact that the monetary policy rate has remained at 8.50% per annum for about three months, indicating a pause at a time when almost all Latin American central banks have increased their rates, placing them significantly above pre-pandemic levels, as is the case of Argentina (75%), Brazil (13.75%), Colombia (12.75%), Uruguay (11.50%), Chile (11.25%), Mexico (10.50%), or Costa Rica (9%).

Arajet complies with the provision of the JAC and eliminates tourist card charges for Dominicans

Arajet, a Dominican airline, modified its computer system to eliminate the $10 billed to Dominican users as a tourist card, as required by a Civil Aviation Board (JAC) resolution for airlines that transport passengers from and to the Dominican Republic. Arajet is the first airline to adopt its air reservation system to benefit Dominican citizens and foreigners residing in the country, according to José Marte Piantini, president of the JAC.

This is “to comply with the Dominican Government’s deadlines to eliminate the tourist card charge for Dominicans entering the country from billing,” he explained. For years, the amount of ten dollars has been included in the price of the air ticket that is charged indistinctly to Dominicans and foreigners to enter the national territory, but that must only be paid by citizens of other countries who visit the Dominican Republic for tourism and do not require a consular visa.

Marte recalled that the deadline for the implementation of the resolution ends on March 1, 2023, and that those airlines that do not apply it could be fined, for which he urged air operators to make the adjustments in place.

Rod Stewart, a global icon, will perform in the Dominican Republic

An artist as iconic as Rod Stewart deserves a stage on par with his peers. This is how the stars aligned, and this Saturday, the British rock musician, composer, and producer will perform his hits on the stones of Altos de Chavón. The music legend arrives in a high-definition production prepared by SD Concerts as part of a tour that has taken him to several countries, including the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico this time.

Stewart has promised to sing all of the songs that Dominicans have loved for decades on that night. And it can’t be otherwise because he loves every one of his compositions. He also stated that he wishes to travel around the country and that he will do so with his granddaughter, a Puerto Rican national. “In this concert, I will demonstrate that, regardless of what happens in the world, music heals and unites us, and that this is the best way to heal,” he said in an interview with station 91.

The British legend is delighted to be visiting the country and performing in a tropical place where he can also enjoy the sun. Saymon Diaz, the event’s producer, stated that it is a great joy and pleasure for him to be able to bring a star of Stewart’s caliber to Dominican soil, an artist acclaimed worldwide.

Authorities prohibit swimming in beaches of Puerto Plata due to strong waves

According to the National Meteorology Office’s (Onamet) bulletin, the waves would be abnormal on the Atlantic coast between 4 and 6 feet high, as well as dangerous marine currents on the coasts of Puerto Plata and observing the conditions on the ground, the Puerto Plata Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Committee recommended the placement of a red flag.

Bathing is prohibited in the various beach resorts along the Atlantic coast of the Province of Puerto Plata as a preventive measure.

Furthermore, Onamet advised operators of fragile, small, and medium-sized vessels on the Atlantic coast to stay in port due to high winds and waves.

Dual Citizenship – Does the Dominican Republic allow it?

Many expats wonder whether the Dominican Republic allows dual citizenship, and the answer is yes. The DR does not require you to renounce citizenship of your country in order to obtain Dominican citizenship.

Nevertheless, you must first be granted residency before qualifying for citizenship in the DR. The Dominican Republic does not currently have a scheme by which you can go straight to citizenship. You must first go through the residency process.

At the time of publication, the law stipulates that residents through the investment department can apply for citizenship six months from the receipt of their residency card. Residents through the ordinary track are eligible for citizenship after 7 years—five years of temporary residency followed by two years of permanent residency.

Moving on from dual citizenship, does the DR permit triple citizenship? Expats’ Corner can confirm that the answer is again yes. However, born citizens have a limit as to how many citizenships they can hold.

Local lawyer Maria Abreu expanded on this for Expats’ Corner by explaining that you can be a citizen in one of three ways: “You are either born in the Dominican Republic or born to Dominican parents or you are naturalized.” A naturalized citizen is a person who becomes a citizen through a legal process granted by the State. A foreigner born to one or two Dominican parents can become a citizen through a transcription process. A born citizen is, as the term suggests, somebody who is born in the country.

All three types of citizens are equal. It is simply the manner in which citizenship is obtained that differs. The immigration expert continued by adding, “For a Dominican-born citizen, there is a limit as to how many citizenships the Dominican Republic will allow them to have.” This limit does not apply to naturalized citizens. At the time of publication, there is a limit for Dominican-born citizens.

Unlike the DR, some countries do not allow dual citizenship, so it is prudent to check your own country’s requirements when applying for DR citizenship.

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Maria Abreu is the CEO and Managing Attorney of Abreu & Associates, a law firm practicing exclusively in Dominican Republic Immigration and Nationality law. She is also the founder of Retire and Invest DR. This organization hosts conference events for foreigners interested in living, retiring, and investing in the DR. You can contact Maria at: mabreu@abreuimmigration.com.

The Dominican-German Chamber of Commerce is present at the FRUIT LOGISTICA fair in Berlin

The Dominican-German Chamber of Commerce (Cámara de Comercio Domínico-Alemana) is present at the FRUIT LOGISTICA fair, the leading trade show for the global fruit and vegetable business held in the city of Berlin on 8-10 February 2023.

During the first day of the fair, the Dominican Republic stand made Prodominicana, was led by its Director Bibiana Riveiro and the honorable Dominican Ambassador to Germany Francisco Caraballo, accompanied by the president of the Dominican-German Chamber of Commerce, Karsten Paul Windeler, and the Executive Director Frauke Pfaff.

FRUIT LOGISTICA brings together agents from the sector in one place to help them develop their full business potential. The range of products and services present is divided into four areas: fresh products, technology and technical systems, logistics, and services.

The presence of around 40 country pavilions means the exhibition area at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2023 exceeds even pre-pandemic levels.

“As FRUIT LOGISTICA, we bring the right people together, provide the industry with the latest information, and offer a platform for the latest innovations,” says Kai Mangelberger, the event’s director. Fresh produce companies face major difficulties right now – supply chain disruption, cost inflation, high energy prices, and lower consumer spending – and that closeness is an invaluable way to overcome such challenges. “We are the place where the industry not only comes together under one roof but also moves closer together.”

Therrestra on hotel in Cabo Rojo: “We are honored to be part of this great project”

Iberostar is one of the first brands to carry out a tourism project in Cabo Rojo, Pedernales, as part of the development of the southern province that the Government contemplates through the General Directorate of Public-Private Alliances (DGAPP) and under the tutelage of the Pro -Flints. For the realization of the hotel, which will have more than 500 rooms, recreational areas, and a conference room, among others, the hotel group chose the Therrestra-Estel consortium for its construction, for which the president of Grupo Therrestra, Hugo Pérez Ovalles, He highlighted the honor that weighs on the construction company for being part of the project.

“We are honored to be part of this great project that will represent more growth for the South Zone of the country. With engineering at the perfect time, together we can build a better Dominican Republic!”, he emphasized.

In addition, he added that «new conquests, new horizons! We are ready to overcome challenges with the same focus as always, with the excellence and level of perfection that characterizes us. Full of pride to be part of developing the Deep South in a sustainable way!”

High expectations in hoteliers by agreement to regularize Airbnb

The Dominican hotel sector is waiting to learn more details about the regulation strategy, without taxes, that the government will apply to the digital real estate rental platform Airbnb. The president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores), David Llibre, shared the expectation of the sector, highlighting the importance of the platform complying with some regulations for its activities. “We are highly interested in knowing more details since it is part of the pillars that we are working on for this year: the issue of digital platforms,” he specified.

Llibre stressed that the sector values accommodation alternatives for tourism in the country while specifying that, with compliance with the regulations, the growth of the sector is encouraged. Through an email, Airbnb informed its subscribers that they will be updating the terms of services, including payment and privacy policy. In the text, which they send regularly when they make updates, it is explained: “We make these changes to keep up with the constant evolution of our company and the development of new functions, to provide useful information about how we treat personal data and to abide by the upcoming laws and regulations.

In the message, it is not specified if the changes respond to the rules or regulations of the country, but they recommend that users read the policies or delete their accounts. The terms will come into effect on March 30, 2023. “After that day, you will have to accept them in order to make or manage reservations. When you use the Airbnb platform after that date, the update will be applied ”, they indicate.

Who Pays Property Taxes in the Dominican Republic?

As a real estate owner in the Dominican Republic, you may be subject to property taxes depending on the property’s value, the owner’s age, or whether you qualify for tax incentives through specific residency programs.

Under normal circumstances, a property valued at RD$ 7,438,197 (approx.US$132,000) or more is subject to property taxes. The current tax rate is 1% of the value of the property. Therefore, the taxes of a property valued at US$132,000 would be US$1,320 for the year.

There are cases where property owners are exempt from taxes.

For example, property owners aged 65 or older are exempt from property taxes.

Property owners who have Dominican residency through the investment program are not subject to property taxes for three years. Moreover, owners who have purchased a Confotur-certified property have a 15-year tax exemption, including transfer tax or rental income. The Ministry of Tourism created Confotur as an incentive to attract foreigners to the island.

It is important to note that not paying property taxes in the Dominican Republic will result in steep penalties. Immigration lawyer Maria Abreu points out that a considerable portion of property tax payments is penalties for unpaid tax and amounts to more than the original tax owed. So, as a foreigner investing in real estate in DR, this is something that they should keep track of to avoid excessive penalties or issues with the Dominican tax authorities.

It is certainly a good idea to seek personalized advice on property taxes from an attorney specializing in Dominican real estate.

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Maria Abreu is the CEO and Managing Attorney of Abreu & Associates, a law firm practicing exclusively in Dominican Republic Immigration and Nationality law. She is also the founder of Retire and Invest DR. This organization hosts conference events for foreigners interested in living, retiring, and investing in the DR. You can contact Maria at: mabreu@abreuimmigration.com.

Only 3,432 visitors are missing to return to pre-pandemic levels

Non-resident foreign visitors to the Dominican Republic totaled 674,737 at the end of January this year, representing a 9.2% increase over the same period in 2022 and a 168.4% increase over 2021, with 251,352 visitors. Meanwhile, 636,870 passengers arrived in 2020, a difference of 37,867 people. According to data presented last month by Minister of Tourism David Collado, there are only 3,432 visitors left to return to pre-pandemic levels when compared to January 2019, (678,169 passengers).

Non-resident visitors were divided into 84.2% foreigners (568,516) and 15.8% Dominicans who were not present (106,221). When the arrivals were broken down by air terminal, the official stated that Punta Cana International Airport received 406,000 tourists, followed by Las Américas Airport with 141,000 passengers. In the meantime, Santiago and Puerto Plata have 62,000 and 45,000 visitors, respectively.

Non-residents continue to favor sun and beach tourism. Statistics show that the coastal poles of Bayahbe and La Romana had an occupancy rate of 84%, while Bávaro and Punta Cana had an occupancy rate of 83%. The average hotel occupancy rate in the Dominican Republic, on the other hand, was 78%. Collado stated that as of the end of January of this year, the country had 70,941 hotel rooms.

Dominican Republic promotes Cabarete at Surf Expo 2023 as the capital of waves and winds in the Caribbean

The Dominican Republic participated in Surf Expo, the main trade fair on water sports and beach lifestyle held in the United States, through the Tourism Promotion Office (OPT) of Orlando, Florida. With its participation, the Ministry of Tourism hopes to attract the greatest number of tourists interested in water sports, professional competitors, and investors to this fair.

Cabarete, in the province of Puerto Plata, is the Caribbean’s wave and wind sports capital, with ideal conditions for surfing, kite surfing, and windsurfing, as well as a relaxed, healthy, and sporty lifestyle. The aforementioned fair features retail and professional exhibitors from this industry and the Surf Expo 2023 edition will be held from January 4 to 6, 2023, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

The Dominican delegation is represented by the Ministry of Tourism and the events World Surf League, Masters Surf Meeting, Master of the Ocean, and Caribbean Surf Connection, all of which are scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.