Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa will arrive in the Dominican Republic

President Luis Abinader will welcome Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa, the president of Portugal, on an official visit scheduled for Thursday. The visit is in connection with the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be held in Santo Domingo on March 24 and 25 under the theme “Together for a fair and sustainable Ibero-America”. Upon his arrival in the country on Wednesday, Rebelo De Sousa and his official entourage will be received by several officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Portuguese Republic.

The reception ceremony for the Portuguese president will take place on Thursday at 10:30 am on the front esplanade of the National Palace. After receiving honors for his high investiture, the heads of state will proceed to the Military Review Pass and the presentation of their respective delegations. They will then have a private audience in the White Room of the National Palace.

The official agenda includes an extended meeting of both delegations in the Government Council Room. In the afternoon, the heads of state will participate in a ceremony to sign instruments, award decorations, and issue a joint declaration in the Ambassador’s Room. A lunch banquet will follow in the Hall Dining Banquet. At the end of the events at the National Palace, the Portuguese president and his official entourage, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will visit the Altar de la Patria at 3:00 pm to pay their respects and lay a wreath.

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.

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.”

Air France: Dominican Republic is left out in its flight program for next summer

Air France will not be operating flights to the Dominican Republic in the next summer season, according to the airline’s recently announced flight schedule. The airline has decided to suspend its operations in the country and only carry out seasonal flights.  However, Air France will inaugurate a new flight on May 5, 2023, linking Cayenne (French Guiana) and Belém (Brazil), once a week.

In response to dynamic demand in North America, the airline will strengthen its offer this summer, operating up to 180 weekly flights to/from 14 US destinations (including two New York airports: John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty), as well as 50 flights to 5 Canadian cities.

The Ministry of Tourism has signed an agreement with the airline Cóndor to maintain connectivity with the French market.

Arajet exceeds 75,000 passengers to Central America and celebrates it with low fares from 3 dollars

Arajet, the Caribbean’s first low-fare airline, has surpassed the milestone of transporting more than 75,000 passengers between Central America and the Dominican Republic within just six months of commencing operations. In celebration of this achievement, the Dominican airline has launched a promotional offer, providing non-stop airfare for $3 plus tax on new planes to and from the Central American countries where Arajet operates (namely Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica). The promotion is a celebration of the successful routes and an incentive to continue promoting tourism exchange between the Dominican Republic and these nations.

Victor Pacheco Mendez, CEO and founder of Arajet, said, “In six months of operations, we have managed to strengthen ties and mutual interest in tourism, commercial and cultural development between the Dominican Republic and Central America. Thanks to promotions like the Vuelatón, we reached 75,000 passengers between the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala, who have flown in the newest and quietest planes in the region, and with the best fares.”

Since its launch in September 2022, Arajet has been offering direct and non-stop flights from Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo to Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, from La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala every day except Tuesdays and Saturdays, and from the El Salvador International Airport every day except Thursdays.

Pacheco further stated, “This promotion is valid for travel from April 11 to October 28, 2023 (except for dates from July 1 to August 15, 2023). We invite our customers to purchase their tickets and learn about terms and conditions at www.arajet.com.”

The Corales Puntacana Championship PGA TOUR starts today

The important event positioned the Dominican Republic on the map of professional golf worldwide and Punta Cana as a leading golf destination in the Caribbean.

Punta Cana, La Altagracia (March 21, 2023)– The sixth edition of the Corales Puntacana Championship PGA TOUR Event officially began at the Corales golf course, taking place until Sunday March 26, with an increase in its purse of $100 thousand dollars reaching $3.8 million dollars this year, the highest in the history of Dominican sports, and valid for 300 FedExCup points.

120 players from the United States, Europe, and Latin America will be competing for the title of “King of Corals”, facing past tournament champions Chad Ramey (2022), Joel Dahmen (2021) and Brice Garnett (2018). Dominic Bozzelli, winner of the Korn Ferry Tour in 2016, will be competing in this sixth edition along with the Dominican players Hiram Silfa, Juan José Guerra and Radhamés Peña.

Also participating are renowned players such as Charley Hoffman, winner of 4 PGA TOUR victories and director of the PGA TOUR Players Advisory Council; Bill Haas, past FedExCup winner; and Emiliano Grillo, winner of the PGA TOUR and best ranked in Latin America within the circuit.

During the event’s inaugural press conference, held at the Corales golf course clubhouse, the director of golf courses at Puntacana Resort & Club and professional player, Hiram Silfa, said: “on behalf of Grupo Puntacana and its Puntacana brand Resort & Club, it is an honor to be the hosts and organizers of the first PGA TOUR in the Dominican Republic for the sixth consecutive year and to be able to successfully carry out each edition of the Corales Puntacana Championship at our Corales Golf Course. As a professional tournament player, it’s an incredible experience to be able to represent my country on a PGA TOUR.”

“I have very good memories of my victory at the Corales Puntacana Championship. It was a springboard for my career and something I will never forget. I am excited to return to the Dominican Republic to defend my title and enjoy the experience among the wonderful people of Punta Cana” said Chad Ramey, defending champion of the Corales Puntacana Championship.

John Norris, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for the PGA TOUR Tournaments, stated that: “each edition of the Corales Puntacana Championship surpasses the previous one and this year is no exception. Having an incredible sponsor and host like Grupo Puntacana and Puntacana Resort & Club, we are prepared for an exciting and successful week, in which the eyes of the world will be on Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic. The PGA TOUR is honored and proud to be a part of this important international event, which means so much to our players, fans, and the local community.”

Activities and entertainment

The event will feature a wide variety of recreational activities, food truck areas, a 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. On Saturday March 25 there will be a great concert by the singer Manny Cruz.

To purchase day passes and tickets during the four days of competition, those interested can visit www.Tuboleta.com.do, the Visitor’s Center of Puntacana Resort & Club, and at Will Call starting on Wednesday, March 22.

Live broadcast
The event will be broadcast live on Golf Channel on Thursday, March 23 and Friday, March 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., and on Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 pm. At the local level and as Media Partners, CDN Deportes will be broadcasting from the Corales golf course capturing the incidents of the event, and on Sunday March 26 they will be broadcasting the award ceremony live at 5:00 p.m. Meanwhile, Listín Diario and Ritmo Social will be carrying out special coverage at the print and digital level.

Sponsors
The sixth edition of the Corales Puntacana Championship is presented under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), Banreservas, Universal, Texaco GB Energy, Brugal, Equifax, Punta Cana International Airport, DOMICEM, Puntacana Resort & Club, Aiport Team Solutions, The Westin Puntacana Resort & Club, Tortuga Bay Puntacana Resort & Club, Martí, Claro, Punta Cana Medical Center, Autohaus, Club Car, CDN Sports, Listín Diario, Ritmo Social, Grupo Raya, Grupo Viamar, Cerveza Canita, Caribbean Catering Services (CCS) , Coca Cola, Freixenet Cava, Aperol Spritz, Cava Alta, IMCA, AVIS, DP World, Tracks, Duty Free Americas, Café Santo Domingo, Runners Adventures, United Pretoleum, GULF, LLODRA, Baskin Robbins, DBI Industrial, Serviport, Vitalie, Grupo Dupla, Picky Plants, Spectro, Grayline, KG Constructora, Tu Boleta, Altron Trading Co, Codelpa, Emilio’s, Coolekos, INPROTEC, Sky Cana, The Butcher Shop, BlueMall Puntacana, Hartemania, Hartemontajes, Tribe & Folk, Mamitas Tequilla & Soda, Hola Punta Cana by Oscar Cerda and Onsite Caribbean.

About Corales Golf Course
Corales Puntacana Resort & Club, home of the first and only PGA TOUR Event in the Dominican Republic, was designed by world-renowned architect Tom Fazio. Opened in 2010, it is located next to the cliffs, bays, natural oceanic inlets, inland lakes, and coral quarries of the Caribbean Sea. It has 18 holes, six of them facing the sea, and culminates with its last three holes known as the “devil’s elbow”, which ranks among the most spectacular and difficult final holes in the world.

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.

Canada-Dominican Republic open skies agreement will protect users from “unfair price increases”.

The air transport or open skies agreement recently signed between Canada and the Dominican Republic is an “important step” in bilateral relations and will have a “direct impact” in several areas, such as a greater capacity to protect users from “unfair price increases,” said the Dominican ambassador to that country,

Cohen reiterated some of the benefits that the agreement provides for both nations, including the release of air frequencies, the possibility of integrating new airlines, also grants air traffic rights, strengthening the commitment and guarantees of aircraft safety, better service, and ground handling for aircraft from or in transit to Canada.

“Another of the benefits that the government has highlighted after the agreement is the reduction in the cost of airline flights, a statement that Cohen corroborates by assuring that “a greater supply… demand has to be incentivized in the reduction of prices,” he added.

According to the diplomat, the agreement also encourages airlines to offer promotional packages and look after users’ interests, for example, in the event of unfair increases in ticket prices.

“Governments have much greater capacity to protect the consumer and to have the capacity to verify prices that affect the final consumer, that is to say, that are unfairly increased,” he explained.

He indicated that “such restrictions, which are generally caused by the abuse of a dominant position, both States will be able to intervene in them,” according to Diario Libre.

When does it enter into force?
The agreement, signed on February 2, is awaiting the process of observations and ratification by both countries, which will give it the “force of entry into force.” The diplomat explained this process corresponds to the Canadian parliament and the Dominican Congress22.

“Each country has its own time and process,” said Cohen when questioned about the possible date on which the agreement could be implemented.

The signing of the open skies agreement between the Dominican Republic and Canada is a “manifestation that diplomatic relations have laid the foundations of trust” in the Dominican Republic and a “joint work” aimed at that goal, said Cohen, without wishing to reduce the efforts of each actor involved in a process, which, according to them, took about 14 years.

According to data from the Presidency of the Republic, between 2016 and 2021, trade exchange between Canada and the Dominican Republic amounted to US$4,123.6 million, of which 74% corresponded to Dominican exports.

Regarding tourism, Canada is the second largest issuing country of foreign visitors to the Dominican Republic, second only to the United States. In January 2023, 122,000 Canadians entered the country, representing 16% of the total number of tourists arriving in the country.

Trade between the DR and the European Union reached in 2022 the sum of 4,137 MM euros

The General Directorate of Customs (DGA) and the Eurochamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the aim of developing joint initiatives that promote legal trade between the country and the European Union through technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and training. Katja Afheldt, the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the European Union in the DR, explained that bilateral trade between the EU and the country increased to €4.1 billion in 2022, representing a 20% increase compared to 2021. This figure accounted for 11.15% of the European market’s total trade, and some of the main products that the DR exports include bananas, avocados, walnuts, medical equipment, and metal foundries such as ferronickel, cocoa, and tobacco, among others.

“We recognize the Dominican Republic as the main trading partner and investment destination in the Caribbean region from the European Union. The cooperation between the European Parliament and the DGA will be an important complement to the information available through the information channels we offer and the support that the EU provides for the development of commercial ties between Europe and the DR,” said Afheldt.

Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, General Director of Customs, stated, “Today is a historic day for our institution since the cultural and historical ties of descent that we have with the European Union are vast and essential for the preservation of our culture and our way of life. For this reason, we count on the DGA, the government of Luis Abinader, and a country that is increasingly aware that its participation in the world depends on the progress of its people.”

He stressed that this agreement is of paramount importance for the entity. “Customs of the 21st century are not merely tax collectors but are facilitators of trade, business, entrepreneurship, and port security,’ said Lovatón. ‘This MOU addresses several of these objectives as it gives us additional credibility: a trade facilitation channel for Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) and exchanges that we must have in training for any eventuality that occurs,” he added.

On the other hand, Fabio Guzmán Saladín, President of the European Parliament, assured that there is a clear trend of solid and diversified growth in economic and commercial relations between both countries. “We hope that this agreement will bring multiple opportunities to the Dominican nation and all member countries of the European Union to continue developing and facilitating trade relations.”

More on the deal

Through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Eurochamber undertakes to support the different foreign trade incentive programs that Customs has, such as Dispatch in 24 Hours, the certification of the Authorized Economic Operator (OEA), Exporta Más, among others. Making them known among the commercial community and the members of the Eurochamber. Among the issues to be worked on in the signed pact are: cooperation in training programs, publication programs, incentives of exports between both countries, initiatives for trade promotion between both nations and exchange of exhibitors.

The agreement entered into force from the date of its signing and will remain in force indefinitely, until either party expresses to the other, the will to terminate it. During the signing of the agreement, the deputy directors were present: Daniel Peña, from Technology of the DGA; Johannes Kelner, deputy director of the DGA; Ángel Encarnación, DGA operative; Gabino José Polanco, from the DGA Technical Area; Anulfo Pascual, from Zona Franca; Francis Almonte, DGA administrator; as well as: Jean Marco Pou Fernández, vice president of the RD Eurochamber; Luis Araque, head of the Commercial Section of the European Union in the Dominican Republic, among others.

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.

Carnival, the first cruise line to sail with 100 million passengers

Carnival Cruise Line achieved a major industry milestone by becoming the first cruise line to embark 100 million passengers since its first sailing more than five decades ago. Carnival President Christine Duffy visited Carnival Sunrise as guests boarded the ship at PortMiami, where the cruise line’s 100 million-passenger milestone was commemorated.

“We are the first cruise line to reach this incredible 100 million guest mark and I think it is a testament to the fun and inclusive atmosphere that our valued guests and extraordinary team members have created together on board our ships over the years,” Duffy said in a statement. “Certainly, there is much more fun to come. We continue to scale up our operations at a rapid pace, with three ships joining our fleet by spring of next year,” she added. The milestone comes as Carnival prepares to debut a new ship in May on Carnival Venezia, which will expand its New York offerings from seasonal to year-round.

Carnival Jubilee, a third sister ship to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, will join the fleet and sail from Galveston, Texas later this year, while Carnival Firenze, a sister ship to Carnival Venezia, will begin offering cruises year-round. year from Long Beach, California.

Cuban agency offers travel package to Punta Cana with tourist visa included

The DimeCuba Travel agency announced that it offers the tourist visa option to enter the Dominican Republic from Cuba with prices starting at $999 per person. In addition to the management of the document, eight days and seven nights are offered in an all-inclusive hotel. It is indicated that said requirement allows residents of the Greater Antilles to make trips for tourist and cultural purposes, as well as to attend congresses or conventions. Its validity is for a period of 60 days and allows single or multiple entries.

Your request can be made in different ways, but one of the most recommended, to also enjoy Punta Cana, is through travel packages. The promotion also includes roundtrip airfare from Miami and Cuba, as well as ground transportation to the hotel. DimeCuba offers its clients the possibility of reserving now for a summer vacation and paying in installments from US$100.

The agency’s packages allow the possibility of taking passengers from Cuba and achieving a family reunion in Punta Cana with those who reside in the US.

Rainieri: “All hotels are experiencing good occupancy”

Frank Rainieri, promoter of the Puntacana Group, said that hotel occupancy in the tourist destination of Punta Cana is currently excellent because it is above 75%.

“This week, we have 576 flights at the Punta Cana International Airport; in other words, thank God we are in a truly high and continuous season, all the hotels are experiencing good occupancy,” he added.

He explained that “we do not have a price war as in the past, we even have a problem of lack of personnel in almost all the hotels because with so many hotels opening, it is natural that they are offered more money and they leave, but we continue to train personnel, so for the Dominican Republic we are in a very important moment because we are in a tourist boom.”

Puerto Plata landmark: for the first time 5 cruise ships arrive simultaneously

A total of 19,883 cruise passengers arrived on Wednesday, March 15 of this year, in the province of Puerto Plata, which received five cruise ships simultaneously for the first time in its history.

Of the five, three entered through the tourist port of Taino Bay, while two entered through the terminal in the bay of the municipal district of Maimon, Amber Cove.

At the ITM Group’s port, Taino Bay, three cruise ships were received simultaneously for the second time; the Seven Seas Navigator with 494 passengers and 362 crew members; the NCL Pearl with 2,165 passengers and 1,080 crew members; and the Celebrity Silhouette with 2,859 passengers and 1,207 crew members.

Meanwhile, at the Amber Cove terminal, the Carnival Mardi Gras with 6,381 passengers and 1,754 crew members and the Rotterdam with 2,616 passengers and 965 crew members, according to the regional director of the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), Atahualpa Paulino.

Altos de Chavón, Dominican Republic one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean

Looking for something a little different?

How about an authentic touch of the Mediterranean… In the Dominican Republic?

La Romana’s Altos de Chavón was listed as One of the 28 Most Beautiful Places in the Caribbean by Conde Nast Traveler.

Sculpted entirely of stone, Altos de Chavón —a model 16th-century Mediterranean village—sits 300 feet above the Chavón River. Built over a period of six years, the village opened in 1982 with Frank Sinatra performing live at the 5,000-seat Grecian-style outdoor amphitheater, where numerous world artists have since performed. Today, the village is a delightful place to tour for its charming medieval feel, its architecture, a plethora of cigar, clothing, and jewelry shops, fine dining, bars, and arts and crafts. Its centerpiece, the St. Stanislaus Church, is a popular wedding site in the DR, with its unmatched views over the river. To boot, the Altos de Chavón Archaeological Museum houses one of the most comprehensive collections on indigenous culture in the DR.

The panoramic views over the Chavón River and over the Dye Fore golf course, which borders on the east side, make Altos de Chavón a perfect photo stop on a journey through La Romana. There’s an entrance fee for non-guests of Casa de Campo, or you can book a tour of the village. At night, the setting becomes even more magical, with romantic lighting on the stone plazas and dining verandas overlooking the river.

Jetblue will connect to Orlando without layovers with Punta Cana and Santiago

Jetblue announced a new non-layover service between Orlando International Airport (MCO), scheduled to debut in November 2023, with flights from Orlando to Punta Cana and Santiago, Dominican Republic. Tickets are already on sale and prices start from US$ 123. Once the service begins, Jetblue will become the only airline to serve Santiago with a service with no layover from Orlando. The new flights that connect Orlando with the Dominican Republic will offer Florida customers more options for pleasure trips and encourage the important presence of the airline in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Punta Cana and Santiago are the main destinations of the Caribbean, but there are limited options for customers to get there from Orlando,” said David Jehn, Vice President of Network Planning and Jetblue associations. In addition, he added that “these new routes, which will also enable our combination with Spirit, will position us to provide even more growth and connectivity to popular destinations for customers in Central Florida.” After its planned combination with Spirit Airlines, the airline hopes to reach 200 daily flights from Orlando by 2027. Jetblue would offer flights to approximately 20 markets that currently do not attend to either of the two airlines from Orlando and increase the flight frequencies on about 25 additional routes.

The airline estimates that its plan would add approximately 350 new jobs in the airports in Orlando while supporting greater economic activity throughout the region that is anticipated to lead to a greater growth of employment.

Begoña Amengual: “The W Punta Cana is our star project in Dominican Republic”

The Executive Vice President of Mac Hotels, Begoña Amengual, said that the W All-Inclusive Punta Cana is the star project of the hotel chain in the Dominican Republic. “We have been visiting DR for a long time, we have invested in projects several times but this hotel is our star project and we are very excited,” she emphasized. She indicated to Arecoa.com that the partners that accompany her (Puntacana Group and Marriott Hotels) are the first category, which guarantees success. In addition, she indicated that the confidence in the Dominican collaborator and the commitment, and facilities that the Government gives to tourism keep the investment interest in the Caribbean destination of the family hotel company alive.

“It was in 2018 when my father Miguel Amengual Cifre visited the land in Uvero Alto; He saw it, fell in love, bought it, and from there began the concern of licenses and terminology to develop the Pure Salt Orchidarium project. This hotel was going to assume the hotel knowledge of life; An ultra-luxury project that unfortunately could not be carried out due to the arrival of COVID-19 and decided to safeguard the Spanish heritage due to the uncertainty of the moment, ” she said. Begoña emphasized that resuming the project occurred in August 2021 when her father reiterated that investing in the Dominican Republic was of the utmost importance.

“We decided that this path should not be traveled alone and there was the opportunity to meet the Rainieri family. With them, it unites the passion for tourism, the passion for work, and for the family, and therefore it was easy to reach decisions; Then we had the opportunity to establish a relationship with Marriott, ” she said. She reiterated that after the given steps and the union between the brands, the hotel will be an icon in the Caribbean.

Design Week Dominican Republic 2023 is inaugurated, a country brand proposal

Talking about fashion is talking about identity, this is how it was lived at the inauguration of Design Week RD 2023. This platform, created by the designer Jorge Brown, is a commitment to “make visible and value creative identity as a country brand”, celebrating the growth of the sector and its impact at a national and international level. On this occasion, the Fray Antonio de Montesino Monument was the setting chosen to inaugurate this edition that highlights Dominican fashion. The event was attended by important personalities from politics, fashion, and communication, including the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, Raquel Peña, Carlos Bonilla, the Minister of Housing and Buildings, and the Minister of Culture, Milagros Germán.

Design Week RD 2023 seeks to reconnect the origin of Latin American culture and this year it returned to its origin using the streets of the Colonial City so that design is the axis and brand of this metropolis until March 19, showing the proposals of designers from reference, emerging and innovative bets in the national and international industry that seek to redesign the world. Under the framework of DWRD week, the attending public will enjoy the First City of America, local talent, fashion, architectural design, interior design, industrial design, crafts, and hundreds of contemporary works of art in curated sections, presenting outstanding programs of national and international galleries meticulously chosen for artistic enjoyment. The inauguration was attended by international speakers, Adriana Cisneros, Sofia Perazzo, Ana Mombiedro, Kai Diederichsen, Juan Carlos Baumgartner, Kathylka González, Mies Anderson, Marwan Al Sayed, Ginger Wang, Caroline Corbin, Andrea Cesarman, Tomás Vera, Ana Ma. Fríes , Rafael Freiré, Mónica Sordo, Carolina Figueredo, Caterina Licitra, Maurizio Bianchi, Fernando Laposse, Christian Mohaded, Andrés Aybar, Karim Rachid and Hernan Arriga.

“The design week in the Dominican Republic, Design Week RD, was born with the purpose of connecting more as a country and as a union, exposing ourselves internationally. An initiative that intends to contribute to the development of the Country Brand, strengthen the Dominican identity, promote our creative industries and create strategic plans that elevate the design and image of the country in the world,” said Jorge Brown Cott, executive director, and CCO Design Week RD.

Dominican Republic is positioned as a Cruise Hub in the Caribbean region

The Dominican Republic received more than 250,000 cruise passengers this February, which represents 157% more than the same period in 2022, figures that place the country as a Cruise Hub in the Caribbean region. According to data from the Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM), among the main ports that received visitors this year are Amber Cove, in Puerto Plata, which received 95,933 visitors, and Taíno Bay in the same city, which welcomed 80,393 tourists. In addition, the La Romana Tourist Terminal, with 52,131 cruise passengers. In the ports of Santa Bárbara de Samaná, Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo Ferries, and Catalina Island, a total of 22,461 visitors were present.

The Dominican Republic has become one of the main destinations for cruise lines from around the world, finding support in the administration of President Luis Abinader with new investments for the reconstruction and construction of ports, through APORDOM. It is recalled that recently, President Luis Abinader together with Jean Luis Rodríguez delivered the second stage of the Taíno Bay tourist and cargo terminal in San Felipe in “La Novia del Atlántico” Puerto Plata, with an investment of more than US$15 million. Dollars.

During the inauguration of the project, the president highlighted the importance of the investment and how the Dominican Republic has already become a Cruise Hub in the Caribbean region.

US banking crisis will not affect the financial system of the Dominican Republic

The Monetary Board concluded in an extraordinary session held yesterday that the Dominican financial system has no direct interaction with failed banks in the United States. At the meeting, aimed at discussing the situation presented by international markets after the bankruptcy and closure of operations of the Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, in the United States of America, the strength of the country’s financial system was highlighted. The authorities analyzed the causes that led to the closure of these entities, the measures adopted by the US government authorities, and the evolution of the main stock market indices in advanced economies.

In a press release from the Central Bank (BCRD) it is explained that at yesterday’s meeting, the authorities highlighted the strength of the Dominican financial system, reflected in sufficient liquidity and capital provisions to absorb unexpected shocks and maintain the orderly operation of the financial market. It was pointed out that, as of March 2023, the delinquency ratio of multiple banks remains at 1.0% with reserves that are four times higher than nonperforming loans, while regulatory solvency amounts to 15.3% as of December 2022, higher than the 10 % required by the Monetary and Financial Law. Likewise, it was determined that the International Reserves of the Central Bank, which to date amount to US$15.6 billion, are not exposed to the affected entities and are invested in first-line financial institutions and high credit quality.

In that same order, it was pointed out that international investors continue to value the Dominican economy very positively, as a result of the strength of its fundamentals and the stability of the Dominican peso, which to date reflects an accumulated appreciation of 2.6%.