Sofiane Pamart, one of the best pianists in the world, arrives for the first time in the Dominican Republic

The French pianist Sofiane Pamart is considered one of the ten best in the world and will perform Tuesday, March 28 at 8:30 PM in the Carlos Piantini hall of the Eduardo Brito National Theater, in Santo Domingo. Known as “Piano King” and a reference for the piano in the French rap scene, he has forged a career that has led him to be recognized not only in the world of classical music but also in the hip-hop and electronic scene, making different collaborations throughout his trajectory. The tour coincides with the 2023 Francophonie Month, during the month of March when the cultural and artistic scene of the French-speaking world is made known. The Eduardo Brito National Theater, the French Embassy in the Dominican Republic, the French Alliance of Santo Domingo (AFSD), and Non-Stop Entertainment come together to make this party a moment of exchange and celebration of the French language, with the support of Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom), part of the VINCI Airports global airport network.

Born in the suburbs of Lille, in France, Pamart is the son of a family of Berber origin dedicated to mining, with no ties to classical music. His innate and precocious talent led him to study at the Lille Conservatory, at the age of seven. Today, at 32, he is redefining what it means to be a contemporary classical music star with his modern interpretation of piano music. His goal is to revolutionize and make accessible the world of classical music and the piano.

His talent and his love for classical music, inspired by his trips full of poetry, and soft and delicate melodies, transport multiple landscapes that arouse different emotions. Tickets are on sale at UEPA tickets, National Supermarkets, Jumbo, CCN, Sinfonía Foundation, National Theater Box Office, and AFSD. 15% discount for SENIORS and STUDENTS. Only applicable at the National Theater, Fundación Sinfonía, and AFSD box office. Ticket price: Right stall, central stall, left stall (Seats 1 to 4) RD$4,330 – Right and left stalls (Seats 5 to 8) RD$3,250 – Balcony (Row A to C) RD$2,710 – Balcony (Row D to Q) RD$2,165.

Condor will continue to fly to the Dominican Republic, a country that sounds on ITB

At the ITB Berlin International Tourism Fair, the name of the Dominican Republic sounded high, not only because merengue and bachata were being played at its stand but also because of important announcements and events that characterized the day. One of them is the reaffirmation of the agreement for one more year with Condor Airlines to maintain flights to the Dominican Republic.

Since the day before there were great expectations, which are being met as this fair progresses, which began on the 7th and ends tomorrow in the German capital. The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, has received several awards here for his efficient work at the head of an organization that led to the country’s tourism recovery at a faster rate than many others worldwide. One of these distinctions is made by the Federation of Tourism Economy of Germany, for its great work, in a world that was hit by covid-19.

“The Dominican Republic is a model to follow and an example of the good fruits that are obtained when there is a vision of what must be done,” said Soeren Hartmann and Sven Liebert, president and general secretary of the BTW, at the event, in the Dominican stand at the fair facilities. The Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, has acknowledged that he has a special affection for the Dominican Republic and that he is always attracted to return to that Caribbean land. “The Dominican Republic is the most beautiful country in the world,” he said.

Puntacana Resort & Club announces 6th. edition of the Corales Puntacana Championship PGA TOUR Event

The tournament, to be held from March 20 to 26, 2023, is the second edition of a 4-year extension until 2025 and expects to have the assistance of more than 15,000 people.

Santo Domingo, D.N. – With a purse of US$3.8 million valid for 300 FedExCup points, the highest in the history of Dominican sports, and the participation of 120 players from 20 countries and 5 continents, Puntacana Resort & Club announces the celebration of the 6th edition of the Corales Puntacana Championship PGA TOUR Event, to be held at the Corales Golf Course, from March 20 to 26, 2023.

“The Corales Puntacana Championship has become a flagship event for Puntacana Resort & Club. It fills us with joy and pride to continue the tradition of holding a unique sporting event in the country, which also promotes the Dominican Republic and Punta Cana worldwide as a leading golf destination in the Caribbean”, said Francesca Rainieri, Chief Financial Puntacana Group Officer.

The information was offered in a meeting with executives of the Puntacana Group, partners, allies of the brand, and the media. The main table was made up of Francesca Rainieri, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Grupo Puntacana; Enrique Valverde, president of the Dominican Golf Federation (FEDOGOLF); Manuel Sajour, executive director of Marketing for Grupo Puntacana and director of the Corales Puntacana Championship; and Hiram Silfa, director of golf courses at Puntacana Resort & Club.

“As the golf regulatory entity in the Dominican Republic, we recognize the importance that it represents for the international projection of sports tourism in the country and for the entire local golf community, having for the 6th consecutive year the Corales Puntacana Championship PGA TOUR Event, the main golf event of the country”, added Enrique Valverde, president of FEDOGOLF.

At the moment, past tournament champions Chad Ramey (2022), Joel Dahmen (2021) and Brice Garnett (2018) confirm their attendance; as well as Nate Lashley and Dominic Bozzelli, winners of the Korn Ferry Tour in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Also confirmed are renowned players Charley Hoffman, winner of 4 PGA TOUR victories and director of the PGA TOUR Players Advisory Council; Bill Haas, past FedExCup winner; Jonathan Vegas, Venezuelan player with several PGA TOUR tournament wins; and Emiliano Grillo, winner of the PGA TOUR and best ranked in Latin America within the circuit.

Local talent will be represented by Dominican players Juan José Guerra, Radhamés Peña and Hiram Silfa, who, in addition to Puerto Rican Chris Nido, qualified through their participation in the Canita Tour.

The tournament has a reach of 4.8 billion digital and print impressions nationally and internationally in 153 countries, reaching 3.4 million viewers in the United States.

The event will feature a wide variety of recreational activities, food truck areas, skybox facing the sea, live music, entertainment for the whole family, and a general parking area from Thursday to Sunday, starting at 5:00 p.m. To purchase day pass and tickets during the four days of competition, those interested can visit www.Tuboleta.com.do, the Puntacana Resort & Club Visitor’s Center, and at Will Call starting on Wednesday, March 22.

World Bank Group President David Malpass to Visit Panama and the Dominican Republic

WASHINGTON DC, MARCH 8, 2023 – World Bank Group (WBG) President David Malpass will arrive today in Panama as part of a four-day official visit to Latin America and the Caribbean that will also include the Dominican Republic. During the visit, President Malpass will underscore the importance of boosting competitiveness and enabling private sector investment to accelerate growth and the region’s recovery from current overlapping crises.

Mr. Malpass will meet with Laurentino Cortizo, President of the Republic of Panama, and Luis Abinader Corona, President of the Dominican Republic, as well as authorities and partners of the World Bank Group in both countries, including from the private sector.

“I am looking forward to discussions in Panama and the Dominican Republic focused on growth and competitiveness through increased investment. Like much of the world, people in Latin America and the Caribbean are facing difficult economic conditions, high prices for food and fuel, rising interest rates and climate costs, and a shortage of financing. We are working to better enable private sector investment, improve the regulatory environment, and increase sustainable growth,” said World Bank Group President David Malpass.

Joining Mr. Malpass on his visit will be Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Alfonso Garcia Mora, IFC Regional Vice President, of Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The World Bank Group is a long-standing development partner of Latin America and the Caribbean. Since April 1, 2020, and up to its last completed fiscal year (ending June 30, 2022), the WBG has committed an unprecedented total of $49.8 billion. This financial support has gone to help countries in the region respond to the overlapping challenges of the sharp economic slowdown, rising inflation, and deepening food insecurity due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as assist in the recovery from the health, economic and social impacts of COVID-19.

Raquel Peña: social peace is the Dominican Republic’s most important asset

Vice President Raquel Peña affirmed that the increase in investments and the confidence that the business sector has shown in the country are proof of faith in the Government headed by Luis Abinader because it guarantees a favorable climate for safe, reliable, and profitable investments. “The important thing is not only what we achieve in the time that we are governing, but how we are preparing the country so that it continues to grow and develop with foundations of institutionality, transparency, and continuity of the State,” she stressed when participating as a guest speaker at the Monthly Lunch of the American Chamber of Commerce (Amchamdr).

“In more than 30 months of President Abinader’s administration, although great historical challenges and inequality persist, the economy has achieved a surprising recovery and, as our president has already said: if we have achieved all this in adverse times and challenges, imagine what we will achieve in the years to come. Together, let’s take advantage of the window that President Luis Abinader has opened and the opportunities offered to become the best country to invest in and live in,” she said. Raquel Peña pointed out that the private sector recognizes which investment development areas are needed and which are more attractive. “We are here to facilitate and accelerate, within the legal framework, these investments,” she urged the businessmen.

The vice president highlighted the importance of maintaining the social peace that the Dominican Republic has had and that has generated confidence in national and foreign investors. “This social peace is planted in the conscience of national and foreign investors and due to this social peace, investors have the Dominican Republic among the small and decreasing number of countries in which they can believe. A Republic, that, until now, has not opened its doors to extreme political ideologies and poses. Neither from the left nor from the right, ”she stressed. In this sense, the vice president called attention to the need for the country to remain united in the face of crucial issues such as the Haitian crisis.

Caribbean sees jump in visitors since pandemic began

DÁNICA COTO

Tue, March 7, 2023, 2:16 PM EST·2 min read

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tourists flocked to the Caribbean last year in numbers not seen since the pandemic began, with the Dutch Caribbean and U.S. territories like Puerto Rico surpassing even pre-pandemic visitor arrivals, officials said Tuesday.

More than 28 million people visited the region in 2022, a more than 50% jump compared with the previous year, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

“It’s clearly apparent that even in the face of the devastating blows delivered by the pandemic, as a region, we have responded with hope, strength and determination to prevail,” Kenneth Bryan, the organization’s chairman, said during a news conference in Barbados.

The U.S. market drove more than 50% of arrivals to the region last year with 14.6 million U.S. tourists visiting — three million more than the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of European visitors nearly doubled to 5.2 million. Visits from Canadians, though, did not rebound as expected, with some 2.1 million reported.

Governments, tourism officials and local businesses in one of the most tourism dependent regions in the world celebrated the increase in visits.

“The Caribbean region (had) one of the quickest recovery rates in 2022,” said Neil Walters, the tourism organization’s acting secretary general.

Six islands and countries including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands surpassed total pre-pandemic arrival numbers, Walters said.

The number of cruise ship visitors also soared last year, with 19.2 million visits reported, five times compared with the previous year. However, it fell short of the record 30.4 million visits announced in 2019.

Nearly all destinations reported an increase in visitors except for Haiti, which saw a more than 20% drop amid a spike in gang violence and political instability.

Bryan said tourism officials expect overall arrivals to the Caribbean to increase by up to 15% this year, possibly surpassing pre-pandemic levels. A record 32 million people visited the Caribbean in 2019, a number that dropped by 65% the following year when the pandemic began.

Banco Popular will promote Dominican tourism at the ITB Berlin 2023

Banco Popular Dominicano reaffirms its leadership and support for the development of Dominican tourism with its participation in the ITB Berlin International Tourist Exchange, which will take place from March 7 to 9 in Berlin, Germany. The financial entity will hold more than 20 meetings with tourism companies, investors, and relevant entities in the sector to specify business opportunities in progress or identify new ones.

During the event, Banco Popular will continue to strengthen its alliances, for which it will offer its traditional cocktail to businessmen and hotel investors and to the authorities of the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) and members of the Dominican delegation present at this fair. Popular is the main historic sponsor of tourism in the Dominican Republic, with a track record of three decades contributing to the development of this industry, and as part of its catalytic role it actively accompanies the sector at international fairs, ITB Berlin is one of the first, in which it has participated since 2014.

In 2023, the German fair is reorienting itself to focus more on the B2B (Business to Business) segment or business between companies in the hotel, airline, tour operator, tourism, or vehicle rental sectors, among others. In this sense, the commercial exhibition will address a three-day program dedicated to business, content, and relationships between these professionals, with selected sessions that will be broadcast live through the itb.com portal.

Aerodom: Puerto Plata airport runway will close in May for works

Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom) informed that the works of the second phase of repair and remodeling of the runway of the Gregorio Luperón International Airport (AIGL) of Puerto Plata would close the infrastructure to all air traffic between May 8 and 17, 2023.

The works to be carried out involve an investment of more than US$4.5 million. They will extend the useful life of the runway, as it will level its central section and improve operating conditions for aircraft, as well as receive wide-body aircraft without restrictions, which will favor the expansion of flights between Puerto Plata and Europe, as well as other long-haul destinations.

The dates for the works were selected taking into account traffic flows, which, according to a press release, are lower during the ten days of the year.

In addition, Aerodom has been working with the airlines and tour operators that operate in the terminal to guarantee a minimum of inconvenience to passengers during this period.

UNWTO says Dominican Republic is the brightest country in the world

The tourism event was formally inaugurated today with the traditional ribbon-cutting of the Dominican Republic stand by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, businessmen, representatives of the main Dominican banks and hoteliers, and the gaze of visitors to this edition of the ITB Berlin 2023 international fair. The Minister of Tourism said that work was done here and that it is time to move forward and be innovative so that the Caribbean continues to talk about the Dominican Republic. The showy and colorful Dominican stand showed the Germans and Europeans the joy of the Dominicans with the song Dominicano Soy in the voice of Carmen Elena, who danced and sang in tune with the merengue, added to the immersive screens with beaches, coconut trees, whales in the high seas, fish and other attractions.

The president of Asonahores, David Llibre, highlighted the interest of the visit to continue growing in the German destination. Frank Rainieri valued the minister’s visit to Germany and highlighted his leadership in reaching this fair in a fundamental market for the development of the sector, which allowed it to grow as a tourist country. Rainieri pointed out the importance of rescuing this market together with the Swiss, and Italian and commented on the assessment of the “Roadshow” of the minister the night before. He asked to repeat that presentation in five European markets such as Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, and Hamburg. The executive vice president of Asonahores, Andrés Marranzini, also appreciated the importance of the ITB Berlin and congratulated Collado on the “Roadshow”.

Present at the inauguration of the stand was the ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Berlin, Germany, Francisco Caraballo; the president of Asonahores, David Llibre; the vice president of the entity, Andrés Marranzini; the administrator of the Reserve Bank, Samuel Pereyra; the vice president of international business of Banco Popular Dominicano (BPD), Juan Manuel Martín de Oliva; José Marte Piantini, director of the Civil Aviation Board (IDAC), and Frank Rainieri, president of the Board of Grupo Puntacana. Subsequently, the minister signed an agreement in which he announced that for the first time, the Republic will have a chair in the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) since the 118th meeting of the UNWTO Council will be held in Punta Cana.

Air Europa will connect New York with Santo Domingo starting next July

Air Europa will expand its network of destinations as part of its expansion plan started in 2022, reinforcing its summer programming with a new connection between New York and Santo Domingo. The company, which has opted for long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliners, as is the case in New York and Santo Domingo, affirms that it continues to increase its number of aircraft as part of its expansion plan. In addition, during the next summer season, making more than 65,000 seats available to passengers on four new routes in Europe and North Africa.

The operation begins on March 26 with the resumption of the route to Tunisia, where the Globalia Group will initially fly with two weekly frequencies to increase to three from June. In July, the airline will increase its network with Alghero, the city on the northwest coast of Sardinia where, as in previous years, it will have two weekly flights. Also from mid-July to mid-September, Air Europa will connect New York and Santo Domingo with two frequencies a week.

Santorini, Athens, Alghero, and Tunis will be operated by Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the model around which Air Europa has unified its entire short and medium-haul fleet.

Abinader arrives in Ecuador for the 6th meeting of the Alliance for Development in Democracy

The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, arrived Sunday afternoon at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito Ecuador, at 4:42 in the afternoon, to participate in the VI Meeting of the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD), which will take place in the South American nation. According to a press release, the president was received by the ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Ecuador, Milady Cuello de Cabral, and the foreign minister of the Republic of Ecuador, Juan Carlos Holguín.

During this event, the Head of State will have several interventions and will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts. The president traveled accompanied by the First Lady, Raquel Arbaje, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Álvarez; the Administrative of the Presidency; Jose Ignacio Paliza; the head of the Presidential Security Corps (Cusep), Jimmy Arias Grullón, and his assistant Mercedes Pichardo.

The head of State of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves Robles; the Vice President of the Republic of Panama, José Gabriel Carrizo, and the President of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso Mendoza also attended.

“Dominicacn Republic is the paradise of the Caribbean”

The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, presented to more than 250 tour operators and travel agents present at the ITB-Berlin Fair, the diversified tourist proposal of the Dominican Republic, in an effort to ensure that more tourists continue to visit the country. In the customary roadshow, Minister Collado showed the main tourism players who attend the ITB-Berlin fair why they should promote and encourage their clients to visit the Dominican Republic, a “country that has it all.” “Today we are here, in the German capital, showing you why you should choose us as your favorite long-distance destination,” said Collado, who called on travel agents, tour operators, and airline representatives to become promoters of the beauty of the Dominican Republic, “a true paradise in the Caribbean”. 

The official thanked the loyalty of German tourists, who for years have chosen the Dominican Republic as their favorite long-distance destination. “For years the Germans have preferred our destination in the Caribbean and today I want to express my gratitude on behalf of the Dominican people, who have always given them their best smile,” said the Minister of Tourism. Collado presented his roadshow in the German capital, on the eve of the ITB-Berlin tourism fair, which begins today with the participation of more than ten thousand companies from 184 countries. The ITB Berlin is the leading professional fair for the global tourism industry and will be taking place in the German capital from March 7 to 9, 2023.

In the “Roadshow” held at the Kempinski Berlin hotel, impregnated with technology, with videos and the zoom platform with representatives of various tourist areas, Collado said that he came to Germany to reconquer the Germans, to return to 265,000 visits. He introduced them to the different tourist areas and new projects such as Miches, Punta Bergantín, Santo Domingo, and Pedernales, among others. In addition, he spoke with people from the sector located in Macao, Punta Cana, and other areas with strong sun and beaches in the background, while in Germany “snow frost” and a light drizzle have fallen and it is cold.

Collado recounted the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, at which time the world came to a standstill and the airports were closed, there were no flights, and the decision he made before the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) and the Government to implement a strategy that allowed the recovery of Dominican tourism, which earned the country recognition, including several from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The UNWTO recognized the Dominican Republic as the number one country in the world in the recovery of tourism.

IMF projects Dominican Republic’s economy to grow 4.5%.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that the Dominican Republic will be the second fastest-growing country in Latin America this year, with an increase in the gross domestic product (GDP) in the order of 4.5%. At the same time, the World Bank and ECLAC expect it to grow by 4.8% and 4.7%, respectively.

The IMF also projects that the world economy will decelerate by 2.7% this year, and that of Latin America and the Caribbean will be 1.7% about 2022, according to data published in Empirica’s weekly bulletin.

“The main financial institutions foresee for the year 2023 scenarios of decrease. As a result, the countries of the region will once again face an unfavorable international context, in which a deceleration of global trade growth, higher interest rates and lower global liquidity is expected,” it indicates.

The World Bank projects that the Dominican economy will grow 4.8% this year, “well above the average for the region.” While for the rest of the world, it indicates that geopolitical tensions and increased adverse factors will affect the expansion of the economy. It projects that in Latin America and the Caribbean growth will be 1.9%, in the world 3.% and in the United States 0.5 percent,

While the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) projects that the Dominican economy will have a growth this year of 4.7% and that the deceleration in Latin America and the Caribbean will be accentuated with a growth of 1.4% about 2022, while global growth will be 2.6% and in the United States 0.7%.

He adds that although this process is expected to end in 2023, to the extent that inflation expectations are anchored in each country, the effects of the restrictive policy on private consumption and investment will be present this year.

“International organizations such as the IMF, the WB and ECLAC have positive expectations for the Dominican Republic, placing it in a growth range of 4.5% to 5%, placing us in a much higher growth range than that estimated for the Latin American region.”

Taíno Bay received three cruise ships at the same time; for the first time

Three cruise ships docked simultaneously for the first time since the Taino Bay tourist terminal began operations in the bay of this municipality.

The cruise ships Seven Seas Splendor, NCL Encore, and the Celebrity Constellation disembarked 13,362 passengers, activating the productive apparatus of the Bride of the Atlantic.

In this way, Puerto Plata continues positioning itself as the best cruise destination in the Caribbean, according to the regional director of the Ministry of Tourism, Atahualpa Paulino.

The official highlighted the boom in cruise tourism registered in Puerto Plata, which translates into collective economic welfare in this destination on the North Coast.

He said that these three cruise ships anchored in the port of Taino Bay, the arrival of the Carnival Spirit liner at the Amber Cove terminal, located in the municipal district of Maimon, Puerto Plata.

Paulino did not reveal the number of passengers this last cruise ship brought nor the number of crew members that arrived in Puerto Plata.

This March, 67 cruise ships are scheduled to dock at the two terminals of the Bride of the Atlantic.

Tourist arrivals to the Dominican Republic increase by 17% in February 2023

The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, presented the number of tourist arrivals at the end of February, highlighting that this month was the best February in the history of the Dominican Republic, with more than 661,000 tourists by air and more than 250,000 cruise passengers.

He emphasized that Dominican tourism continues its record streak and that the outlook is that it will continue to be so this March since “not only was February the best month in the history of the arrival of tourists by air, but it was also the best February in the history of the arrival of cruise passengers, almost tripling the arrival of 2022.”

According to the data presented, the arrival of tourists by air was 661,088, representing an increase of 17% over the same month of 2022 and an increase of 9% over February 2019.

Likewise, regarding the arrival of cruise passengers, a total of 252,435 visitors arrived in the country, representing an increase of 116% in 2019 and almost 300% in February 2022.

The total number of consolidated visitors was 913,523 when those arriving by air were added together with those arriving by sea so that in the first two months of the year, more than 1.8 million visitors were received in the country. This figure is also a record.

In addition, the figures presented indicated that Bogota continues to climb as a tourist-origin city for the country, and has become the second most important city from which visitors come to the Dominican Republic, surpassed only by New York. As for the countries of origin, the top 3 are still the United States, Canada, and Colombia.

As for the destinations visited, 67% of the foreigners who came to the country in February stayed in the province of La Altagracia (Punta Cana, Bávaro, Bayahibe), 8% in Greater Santo Domingo, 8% in Puerto Plata, 4% in La Romana, 3% in Samaná and 2% in Santiago de los Caballeros.

As for hotel occupancy stood at 82%, well above the 75% of February 2022. And in terms of commercial flights, it was the first time in February 2022 that more than 5,000 flights were received: a total of 5,070 commercial flights were received in Dominican airports in February 2022, where the busiest airport was Punta Cana, followed by Las Americas Airport (AILA).

Collado also emphasized that the work being done by the tourism cabinet, led by President Luis Abinader and coordinated by him, continues to yield results thanks to the joint work of the Mitur team together with the private sector, especially the Dominican Association of Hotels and Tourism (Asonahores).

The minister was accompanied by the technical vice-minister of Mitur, Jaqueline Mora; the president and executive vice-president of Asonahores, David Llibre and Andrés Marranzini, respectively; Mónika Infante, director of Aerodom; Paola Rainieri and Rafael Blanco Tejera, former presidents of Asonahores, among others.

Abinader heads the first meeting of the “great nation pact” this afternoon

It is already the day of the first meeting of the “great nation pact” announced by President Luis Abinader in his accountability speech on February 27. It is scheduled for this afternoon at 4:00 for the president to meet with the national political leadership to begin the meetings on the pact to strengthen sovereignty and the situation in Haiti. The activity will take place in the Green Room of the National Palace, as detailed in the presidential agenda.

In his speech, he took advantage of the stage to call for a “great Nation Pact, for a firm, a strategic and uniform State policy that protects and trusts the Dominican people.” Although the confirmed political leaders who will attend the meeting are not yet known, there are high expectations about this conversation. He stressed that “the Dominican Republic in everything related to Haiti and its crises, must have a unified position or the broadest consensus.”

He reiterated that there is not and will not be a Dominican solution to the problems of Haiti, which must be resolved in that same nation through a “formula of shared co-responsibility that does not exclude Haitians, but that guarantees the commitment of those who owe the most and they can, among the most developed countries”. The purpose of the meeting is to “talk about the national agreement for the defense and protection of national sovereignty”, as he explained in his address.

661,088 foreign tourists arrived in the Dominican Republic in February

More than 661,000 tourists arrived in the Dominican Republic by air, while more than 250,000 did so through cruise ships this month of February, which places this month as “the best” in historical terms, according to the Ministry of Tourism. “Not only was it the best February in history for the arrival of tourists by air, but it was also the best February in history for the arrival of cruise passengers, almost tripling the arrival of 2022,” he remarked. Together with the vice minister, Jaqueline Mora, she presented that the arrival of tourists by air represents an increase of 17% compared to the same month of 2022 and an increase of 9% compared to February 2019.

Likewise, regarding the arrival of cruise passengers, 252,435 visitors arrived in the country, an increase of 116% compared to 2019 and almost 300% compared to February 2022. The total number of consolidated visitors was 913,523 when those who arrived by air are added together with those by sea, with which in the first two months of the year more than 1.8 million visitors have been received in the country, a record. According to the figures presented, Bogotá continues to climb as a source city of tourists for the country and became the second most important city from where visitors come to the Dominican Republic, only surpassed by New York. Regarding the issuing countries, the United States, Canada, and Colombia continue to lead the first three places.

Regarding the destinations visited, 67% of the foreigners who came to the country in February stayed in the La Altagracia province (Punta Cana, Bávaro and Bayahíbe), 8% in Greater Santo Domingo, and 8% in Puerto Plata, 4% in La Romana, 3% in Samaná and 2% in Santiago de los Caballeros. As for hotel occupancy, it stood at 82%, well above the 75% of February 2022. As for commercial flights, it was the first time that the month of February exceeded 5,000 flights, with 5,700 registered at Dominican airports, with Punta Cana being the busiest, followed by Las Américas Airport.

Cibao Airport begins direct flights between Santiago and Madrid in June

The Cibao International Airport announced this Friday, June of this year marks the start of a direct flight between Santiago de los Caballeros, in the Dominican Republic, and Madrid, Spain. The route, which will be operated by the airline World2Fly, will have a weekly frequency, every Wednesday, to offer more and better air connectivity opportunities to Dominicans and foreigners. The flights of the new route begin on June 21 from the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport to the Cibao Airport.

Félix García, president of the Board of Directors of the Cibaeña terminal, stated that the start of this route is a sign of the confidence that Wold2Fly executives have in a community that grows and develops with the potential of this destination. The businessman thanked the management of the VDT Group – Air Consolidator and Travel Wholesaler to achieve the start of that flight.

He also predicted that these operations will be successful. Executives of the airline informed that they already have the sale of tickets available on their website open.

Water Observatory evaluates availability in dams in the face of seasonal drought

The members of the Water Observatory assured that the country’s dams have enough water to guarantee the demand of the aqueducts and ensure the harvest of crops already planted, although they called on the population to make rational use of the resource and must coordinate with the Agricultural Cabinet for the next crops. The information was offered during the weekly meeting, held this Wednesday at the headquarters of the Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (Egehid). The meeting was called to analyze the weather forecasts regarding the current seasonal drought, its prospects for the next three months, and the availability of water in the reservoirs for different uses.

The meeting was headed by the holders of Egehid, Rafael Salazar; the executive director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (Indrhi), Olmedo Caba Romano; the director of the National Meteorological Office (Onamet), Gloria Ceballos; the director of the Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewerage Corporation (CAASD), Felipe Suberví, and the executive deputy director of the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewerage (Inapa), Wascar Martínez.

During his speech, Salazar stressed that knowing the prospects of the climatic condition, they will be able to carry out more efficient management of the water from the reservoirs to guarantee its availability until the rainy season arrives. In addition, he emphasized that more dams are needed in the country, which will allow for a greater capacity to manage the variability of river flows.

Hodelpa plans to open two new hotels in Samaná and Punta Cana

Angel Hernández, Vice President of Operations at Hodelpa Hotels, informed that the hotel chain plans to add two new properties to its portfolio, the first in Samaná, a destination where it is not present, while the other project would mark its return to Punta Cana. He explained that in Samaná they have designed a project under the Emotions by Hodelpa brand that will have 750 rooms, under the all-inclusive system, but with a high-level offer. He indicated that it would be the first complex starting from scratch that would have the brand. “We have the design, the land, and the permits, what we hope is the ideal moment to start the project; Above all, we understand that we need an international tour operator that bets on the destination so that it has a good push”, he added.

He expressed that this is due to the hotel’s proximity to the Samaná airport, which will be located precisely in Las Galeras, “but we understand that we need some kind of alliance to make the project more successful.” Hernández also stated that the other project will be in Punta Cana in Uvero Alto, it would consist of 1,200 rooms and its construction will be divided into two stages, carrying out 850 rooms in the first one. “It is a longer-term project, remembering that Hodelpa was already in Punta Cana with other projects that were later sold, but we do have plans to return to the East area again,” he emphasized.

The manager recalled that Hodelpa has 10 properties, contributing 1,700 rooms to the tourism sector; of this: 9 are hotels and one establishment that operates as a convention center: 2 in Juan Dolió, 3 and the convention center in Santo Domingo, 3 in Santiago and 1 in Puerto Plata. With the addition of the 2 new projects, in time, the hotel company would increase its portfolio to 12 properties.