Abinader inaugurates a new hotel suites with an approximate investment of RD$5 billion in Casa de Campo

La Romana.- President Luis Abinader attended the inauguration of a new hotel suite at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic. The project, which involved an investment of $90 million (RD$4,897,572,750.00), is expected to generate numerous direct jobs in the province and the eastern part of the country. The newly opened hotel suite includes modern amenities such as new suites, a Premier Club, and a state-of-the-art spa center. This expansion is part of a larger multi-phase project aimed at enhancing Casa de Campo. During the ceremony, President Abinader commended Casa de Campo for its continuous innovation and excellence in the hospitality sector. He emphasized the importance of supporting projects like this, which contribute to the development of the region and the country as a whole.

The president expressed his commitment to supporting Casa de Campo and working together to implement efficiency projects and mechanization in the agricultural sector. He applauded the company’s long-standing tradition of efficiency and assured them of the government’s continued support. Minister of Tourism David Collado also lauded the public-private partnership and highlighted the Dominican Republic’s success in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the country experienced record-breaking tourism numbers, with 3.7 million tourists entering in the first four months of the year.

Andrés Pichardo, President of Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, expressed gratitude for the government’s support and emphasized the resort’s commitment to providing top-quality luxury tourism experiences. The newly opened suites offer stunning views of the golf course and are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and amenities. The spa center features world-class facilities, including a hydrotherapy area, specialized treatment cabins, relaxation areas, and a VIP suite. The Premier Club provides personalized service and exclusive amenities for guests staying in the new suites.

The inauguration ceremony was blessed by Monsignor Jesús Castro Marte, the Bishop of the Diocese of Nuestra Señora de La Altagracia.

The advantages of investing in the Dominican Republic are presented in Mexico City

The business and investment opportunities in the Dominican Republic were showcased during a breakfast conference organized by Quiroz Advisors – QA Legal and supported by Sainz Abogados, both members of the Ibero-American Legal Network (RLI). The event aimed to strengthen trade and investment relations between Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Alejandro Sainz, founding partner of Sainz Abogados, emphasized the importance of enhancing trade and investment ties between the two countries. José Quiroz, the founding partner of QA Legal, delivered a presentation titled “Investing in the Dominican Republic: Regulatory Framework and Current Opportunities to Invest.” He highlighted the country’s competitive advantages and incentives that make it an attractive investment destination.

The event focused on investment opportunities in sectors such as tourism, energy, infrastructure, app development, nearshoring, and logistics parks. These sectors benefit from favorable legal frameworks, significant tax incentives, and existing trade agreements that facilitate export to larger markets.

The conference also highlighted the growing interest of various capitals in the Latin American region, driven by political situations in countries like Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico. The Dominican Republic stands out as a safe and attractive investment destination due to its economic and political stability.

Jonathan Aragonez Tineo, Counselor for Trade and Investment Affairs of the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Mexico, represented Ambassador María Isabel Castillo Báez at the event. He shared information about the constant growth of the Dominican Republic, highlighting its evolution in productive sectors and the country’s macroeconomic data that demonstrate its economic stability.

Aragonez emphasized the comparative advantages of the Dominican Republic, including preferential access to a market of over 1.2 billion consumers, participation in six trade agreements, and the benefits of the Generalized System of Preferences (SGP). The SGP provides preferential access to 55 countries, and the Dominican Republic boasts a wide range of exportable products across more than 3,167 tariff lines.

Tourism industry must adapt to be sustainable

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic is facing several challenges in making its tourism industry environmentally friendly and resilient to climate change. These challenges, including reducing plastics, transforming sargassum, promoting community tourism, and organizing destination management, were discussed at the International Forum for Sustainable Tourism in the country.

As part of the efforts to address these challenges, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, and the Secretary of the UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, signed a declaration of intent to develop a public-private strategy within the next 90 days. The strategy aims to outline short, medium, and long-term measures to promote sustainability and environmental friendliness in the tourism sector.

One of the immediate measures proposed is the gradual elimination of plastic throughout the hotel sector’s value chain. The Dominican Republic is expected to be one of the first countries in the Caribbean to implement such an initiative within the tourism industry. This action aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and demonstrates tangible results.

During the forum, the Iberostar Group Sustainability Manager highlighted the case of their hotel chain, which successfully eliminated single-use plastics in 2020 and replaced them with reusable materials. This achievement serves as a model for other establishments and helps raise environmental awareness among tourists.

The focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility in the Dominican Republic’s tourism sector underscores the country’s commitment to creating a more sustainable future for the industry.

Punta Cana hosts 118th UNWTO Executive Council meeting from 16-18 May

Punta Cana.- The Dominican Republic will host, for the first time, the 118th Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), to be held in Punta Cana from Tuesday through Thursday and which will bring together the leaders of the sector worldwide.

The opening will be led by Tourism Minister David Collado and UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili, and will be attended by ministers and delegations from UNWTO member countries.

It will serve as an ideal venue to analyze, among all the actors of the sector and the host country, the advances, experiences, strategies and challenges for the future; the main theme will be sustainability in tourism, in the search for the development of more sustainable tourist destinations.

Sustainability and its related issues will be addressed by tourism authorities and experts attending the ”Inter-Institutional Forum on Sustainable Tourism in the Dominican Republic,” which will be inaugurated by Minister Collado and UNWTO head Pololikashvili, and will take place on Tuesday, May 16 at the Meliá Caribe Beach Resort Punta Cana.

The forum activities will begin with an introductory session with the presentation ”Tourism for the Sustainable Development Goals,” by Zoritsa Urosevic, executive director of the UNWTO (France).

The second presentation will address the topic “Sustainability of Dominican Tourism. Conclusions of the project Transforming Tourism Value Chains in Small Developing States and Island Countries”, which will be presented by Lissette Gil, Sustainability Consultant and Director of the TRANSTUR Project, supported by Tourcert, the German Ministry of International Cooperation and non-profit organization KATE.

The celebration of the UNWTO meeting is of capital importance for the Dominican Republic, which has assumed as a priority –in the current term of Minister Collado– “to promote the development of a responsible, sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals”.

According to the head of Dominican tourism, the forum, like the Executive Council meeting, will be an opportunity to tell the world “how the country has become the leader of this sector in the region.”

Through this venue, representatives of the public and private sectors linked to the environment, tourism and biodiversity will hold panels in which they will discuss, among other topics, the way in which Dominican tourism, along with the leadership and growth achieved, is focused towards a more sustainable, rational, coherent and responsible proposal, as currently demanded by the times at a global level.

Topics such as the sustainability of Dominican tourism; consequences of climate change; water, a challenge for Dominican tourism; biodiversity protection, among others, will be discussed as well.

New Narratives in Tourism

The program of the Executive Council includes the Thematic Session ”New Narratives in Tourism,” which will take place on Thursday, May 18, an event in which communication leaders will show how tourism adapts its image, messages and communication channels to the demands of a more technological, demanding and committed public.

Among its objectives, with its contents and debates, this activity pretends to become a very useful tool to guide tourism authorities and professionals so that their communication strategies show their evolution to a more resilient and supportive sector.

At the same time, it provides a platform for governments, tourism authorities and private entities to exchange experiences and ideas on how communication can convey the message of a more innovative, sustainable and people-centered tourism sector by integrating innovative tools and concepts.

New Narratives in Tourism is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at the Meliá Caribe Beach Resort.

Tourism of the Dominican Republic captured more than US$1 billion of Foreign Direct Investment

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic has achieved a record-breaking level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the first time, with a year-on-year growth of USD 813.6 million (25.5%) in 2022. According to the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD), the country received an extraordinary sum of USD 4,010.4 million in FDI, accounting for 35% of investment flows in the Central American region for that year.

Biviana Riveiro, the executive director of ProDominicana, highlighted that the trend is expected to continue, with the Dominican Republic consolidating its participation above 40% in investment flows to the Caribbean, historically.

The tourism sector played a crucial role in the country’s FDI growth, becoming the leading sector with an investment of over USD 1,000 million for the first time in history. This accounted for 25% of the total FDI flows in 2022. The energy sector also experienced significant growth, with an additional USD 475.2 million and a total of USD 753.4 million in investments. The Commerce/Industry sector followed closely, with an absolute growth of USD 292.1 million and a total of USD 599.5 million received.

In terms of investment origins, Brazil contributed USD 109.5 million in 2022, representing a substantial recovery with an absolute growth of USD 303 million. Additionally, residents of the United States made direct foreign investments of USD 1,520.9 million in the Dominican economy in the same year.

This remarkable growth is seen as an indication that the country has attracted the attention of foreign investors due to its social, legal, political, and economic stability. The policies promoted by President Luis Abinader, the coordination of the Investment Cabinet led by Vice President Raquel Peña, and the efforts of various government entities have capitalized on strategic and competitive advantages. The Dominican Republic’s privileged location, high connectivity, and growing economy in sectors such as energy, tourism, free zones, commerce, real estate, and telecommunications have attracted interest from investors worldwide, positioning the country as a logistics hub, as stated by Riveiro.

The Dominican Republic is a benchmark for its priority in the search for solutions to sargassum

Santo Domingo.- The Central American Integration System (SICA) has commended the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of the Environment for establishing a multisectoral table dedicated to the comprehensive management of sargassum. Jair Urriola, the executive secretary of the Central American Commission for Environment and Development of SICA, praised the Dominican Republic for prioritizing the search for solutions to address the presence of macroalgae on coastlines and beaches.

He emphasized that SICA’s mission as an integration system is to unite efforts to combat the sargassum issue that affects the entire region.

Urriola further stated that SICA will promote the establishment of national tables in other countries and the creation of a regional commission to facilitate coordinated efforts in tackling the sargassum problem. The Dominican Republic’s table focuses on developing a comprehensive and sustainable management plan for sargassum, which includes short, medium, and long-term strategies.

The concerns regarding sargassum were previously addressed by the leaders during the 56th meeting of SICA Heads of State and/or Government. They expressed worry about the detrimental impact of sargassum on marine flora and fauna, tourism, and the economies of many island nations in the Greater Caribbean. The establishment of the multisectoral table in the Dominican Republic showcases the country’s commitment to finding effective solutions to mitigate the impact of sargassum in the region.

Dominican Republic to host 12th Intl. Congress of Tourism Journalists and Professionals

Santo Domingo.– The Dominican Republic will host for the first time a congress of the World Tourism Journalism Organization (WTJO), whose twelfth edition will take place in Santo Domingo and will be dedicated to empathy and effectiveness, its organizers announced.

In exclusive statements to Dominican Today, WTJO director and founder Miguel Ledhesma pointed out that “it is an honor for us to be able to share knowledge and experiences with professionals and communicators from a destination with such a long history in tourism. We are very much looking forward to it and we know it will be a great experience.”

According to the renowned expert in tourism, the main topics to be addressed at the congress will be responsibility, collaboration and sustainability in tourism as well as specialized communication.

Ledhesma, who has visited the Dominican Republic before, stated that the foreign delegates –about thirty– will find, above all, a great example of hospitality and the resilient spirit of a great people.

World Digital Solidarity Day

To coincide with the celebration of the 12th Congress, the World Tourism Journalism Organization  (WTJO) and the Dominican Association of Tourism Press (Adompretur) will declare, together with other national and international organizations, the World Digital Solidarity Day on June 6 in Santo Domingo.

The commemoration of this day will seek to recognize the value of technology to promote a fairer and more humanitarian world by encouraging the support, exchange and dissemination of activities and ventures on websites and social networks.

It is also aimed, Ledhesma said, at raising awareness of the importance of humanitarian discourses and practices that promote respect, online safety and honesty.

“I consider both organizations to be good examples of digital solidarity, not only for our work together, but for our openness and collaborative practices with society in general. At this moment we are registering the willingness of many other organizations of all kinds that are interested in supporting the declaration of this day,” Ledhesma assured.

Leaders of national or international organizations willing to sign this declaration can register in this link: https://forms.gle/QRrAtyXxvTk5pb786

A congress to remember

Speaking to Dominican Today, one of the organizing committee member, Salvador Batista, vice president of Adompretur and WTJO director for the Dominican Republic, confirmed that more than 30 journalists from Latin America will attend. “We feel proud that our country has been chosen as one of the nations to hold events of the World Tourism Journalism Organization (WTJO).”

The congress panels will feature international representatives of tourism journalism who will address crisis management in the sector and in their countries. “Raúl Baz will talk about empathetic and effective communication in tourism, while Viena Divaluna will address the topic of ‘firsts’ and fake news. Both are highly knowledgeable on their subjects,” said Batista.

The foreign delegates will not only benefit from useful knowledge about crisis management in tourism issues and what the role of the specialized journalist should be. “They will also have a pleasant time in different attractions of Caribbean’s number one destination, beyond the popular sun and beach segment: culture, traditions, history and gastronomy…,” Batista pointed out.

The special agenda for the international delegates, explained the local WTJO director, includes tours to various points of the national geography, such as Santiago de los Caballeros, La Romana, Bayahibe, Bávaro, Punta Cana, Cap Cana and the Primada de America, Santo Domingo’s colonial city.

Caribbean Summit agrees to unite efforts against sargasso

Guatemala City.- The Dominican Republic achieved the unanimous acclamation of all the countries that make up the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) to confront Sargasso as a regional emergency by virtue of the threat it represents for the development of the affected countries, and advocated for the unification of the region to address the great common challenges, this during the IX Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of this organization held in Guatemala.

At this summit, member states referred to this and other issues in the Antigua Declaration approved by the delegations present, in which Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez participated on behalf of President Luis Abinader.

“The proliferation of sargassum represents a present threat to the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people in the Greater Caribbean; it sickens and kills the fish that communities depend on for food; it obstructs the passage of small and large boats; it dirties and overwhelms our beaches, the main attraction of Caribbean tourism, and with the beaches the direct tourism industry and the small industries that benefit from it indirectly. Its simple bad odor and noxious gases reduce the quality of life and potentially affect the health of those who are in its presence,” said the Foreign Minister during his speech at this conclave held in Guatemala.

A note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that Foreign Minister Alvarez called the attention of those present to the rising sea levels that deepen vulnerabilities and affect the resilience capacity of the Greater Caribbean, in that it brings as a consequence the contamination of drinking water, the decrease of agricultural production capacities, the increase of floods that may be generated on the coast and the inundation of most of the islands due to the receding coasts.

“Added to this are the foreseeable demographic problems due to migration of the population affected by this phenomenon and the disappearance of Caribbean beaches, one of the main tourist attractions we share as a region,” he added.

While participating in this conclave, the diplomat also stressed that in view of the economic, political, social, and cultural threats that arise in the current context, multilateralism is of paramount importance, since outside international forums, the possibilities of effective advocacy are reduced.

“In order to face the global challenges of the 21st century, it is necessary to reform and strengthen the structures and policies that emanate from these institutions (…) The international system must evolve towards a more horizontal and agile order. This implies greater participation of developing countries in decision-making, a new global financial architecture that does not penalize middle-income countries, and greater flexibility in the way global problems are addressed”.
Roberto Álvarez, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Roberto Alvarez
Minister of Foreign Affairs

During his participation in the IX Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the ACS, Alvarez was accompanied by Vice Minister Hugo Francisco Rivera; the Director of Trade Integration, Carmen Elena Ibarra; and the Dominican Ambassador to Guatemala, Sara Paulino.

Where did the products made in Dominican Republic go and from where were others brought?

During the first quarter of 2023, the Dominican Republic exported US$46.5 million less than in the same period last year.

There were 3,005.7 million dollars against 3,052.2 million dollars in 2022. This is reflected in the moderation of the growth rate of the Dominican economy in the first three months of the year.

The data is compiled in the National Statistics Office (ONE) bulletin. Gold, for example, was one of the products that decreased. It exported 52 million dollars less in FOB value due to a drop in production.

And, while 3,005.7 million dollars in merchandise were exported in the first three months of the year to 119 countries, the country imported 7,154.0 million dollars.

This means an increase of 140.8 million dollars in the first quarter of 2022 when goods for 7,013.2 million dollars were brought into the country from 170 countries.

Tourism minister reports that 3.8 million visitors arrived in only 4 months

Santo Domingo.– Tourism minister David Collado revealed today that in April 862,705 visitors arrived in the Dominican Republic by air and sea, breaking another new record in tourist arrivals.

In his now usual monthly press conference, Collado announced that last April 681,567 tourists arrived in the country by air, representing 9% more than in 2022 and 17% more than in 2019.

He explained that of that figure, 587,455 were foreigners and 94,112 Dominicans. Of the 862,705 visitors, 681,567 traveled by air and another 181,138 by sea.

He also noted that in the January-April period 2,757,810 tourists were welcomed, 25% more than in the same period of 2022 and 17% more than in 2019.

The minister pointed out that the 2,757,810 tourists that arrived in the first four months of this year exceeds the 2,340,959 of 2022 and the 2,460,423 of 2019.

“These are palpable and irrefutable numbers, which we achieve month after month, surpassing our own records,” Collado said.

He also affirmed that the growth in the arrival of cruise passengers has been constant, which places the country as one of the leaders in that line of business in the region.

Collado reported that 181,138 cruise passengers arrived in April, surpassing the 90,427 who visited during the same month in 2022 and the 74,452 in 2019.

In the January-April period, the country received 987,665 cruise passengers, exceeding the 417,744 of last year and the 459,441 of 2019.

Collado said that in the previously mentioned period, the country received 3,745,475 visitors, 2,757,810 by air and 987,665 by sea.

The official estimates that by the end of this year the Dominican Republic will receive 7.9 million tourists, which he described as a historic figure.

The Dominican Republic attracted 4,010 million dollars in foreign direct investment in 2022

Santo Domingo.- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Dominican Republic reached a record high of $4.01 billion in 2022, representing a 25.5% increase compared to the previous year. The data, provided by the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (ProDominicana) based on Central Bank (BCRD) figures, marks the largest inflow of FDI in the country’s history. The report highlights that 35% of the total FDI came from Central America.

The tourism sector attracted the highest amount of FDI last year, reaching $1 billion, another record-breaking figure. The energy sector followed closely with $753.4 million, while commerce and industry received a total of $599.5 million. The director of ProDominicana, Biviena Riveiro, attributes this significant growth to the country’s social, legal, political, and economic stability, which has caught the attention of foreign investors.

The record-breaking FDI inflow signals positive investor sentiment and confidence in the Dominican Republic’s business environment. The country’s policies and stability have positioned it as an attractive destination for foreign investment, contributing to economic growth and development.

US delegation would arrive in June to sign the open skies agreement

David Collado, the Minister of Tourism, has announced that a delegation from the United States will be arriving in the Dominican Republic next June to sign the open-close agreement, a treaty that has been anticipated by the sector for more than 15 years. The United States government has communicated that it is prioritizing the signing of the open skies treaty between the two countries.

Collado told arecoa.com that the project is 95% complete, with the Dominican authorities putting the finishing touches and responding to a communication sent by the US State Department on the matter. The agreement aims to make traveling easier for tourists and will have a significant impact on the tourism sector in the Dominican Republic.

The signing of the open-close agreement has been long-awaited by the sector, and it is expected to strengthen the relationship between the Dominican Republic and the United States. The tourism industry is one of the primary contributors to the Dominican economy, and the treaty’s successful signing will create opportunities for growth and development in the sector.

Arajet prepares its second phase of expansion focused on the US market

Arajet, an airline based in the Dominican Republic, is gearing up for its second phase of expansion, targeting the United States market. The company plans to gradually open 17 routes starting in 2023, with destinations including Boston, Miami, New York, Orlando, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Arajet aims to compete with major US airlines such as American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, and United, focusing on price-sensitive travelers and offering a product and price similar to its competitors.

Victor Pacheco, CEO and founder of Arajet, stated that while they have 17 US routes in their portfolio, they won’t all open immediately. The launch of flights to the United States is expected to boost passenger numbers, not only to and from the Dominican Republic but also from other markets Arajet currently serves. Following their entry into the US market, Arajet plans to explore opportunities in the American southern cone, targeting destinations in South America.

The expansion plans of Arajet also include routes to destinations such as Asunción, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, and Santiago in South America. The exact dates for the new destinations are yet to be determined and will depend on the delivery of new aircraft and the evolution of Arajet’s current operations.

Development Bank of Latin America creates the Dominican Republic Tourism Directorate

The Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) has created a Tourism Directorate based in Santo Domingo to support its member countries in harnessing their tourism potential as a driver of development and employment. The newly operational department of CAF places significant emphasis on environmental, social, cultural, and economic sustainability, as well as innovation, regeneration, and inclusion, according to a statement released by the institution.

Sergio Díaz-Granados, the Executive President of CAF, highlighted the growth potential of the tourism sector and the synergies that can be fostered through this new direction. He sees it as a valuable contribution to sustainable development and integration among partner countries by leveraging tourism as a key sector for job creation and foreign exchange generation. CAF aims to collaborate with the public and private sectors in Latin America and the Caribbean to promote a robust agenda that supports tourism and its positive impacts.

Oscar Rueda García, a lawyer from Javeriana University in Bogotá with a master’s degree in Spanish-American Literature from the University of Barcelona, has been appointed to lead the Tourism Directorate. Rueda García brings a wealth of experience in the tourism industry to his new role.

CAF, founded in 1970 and comprising 21 member countries (including 19 from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Spain and Portugal), along with 13 private banks, serves as a key source of multilateral financing and knowledge generation for the region. The establishment of the Tourism Directorate further strengthens CAF’s commitment to supporting sustainable development and regional integration.

The Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) has created a Tourism Directorate based in Santo Domingo to support its member countries in harnessing their tourism potential as a driver of development and employment. The newly operational department of CAF places significant emphasis on environmental, social, cultural, and economic sustainability, as well as innovation, regeneration, and inclusion, according to a statement released by the institution.

Sergio Díaz-Granados, the Executive President of CAF, highlighted the growth potential of the tourism sector and the synergies that can be fostered through this new direction. He sees it as a valuable contribution to sustainable development and integration among partner countries by leveraging tourism as a key sector for job creation and foreign exchange generation. CAF aims to collaborate with the public and private sectors in Latin America and the Caribbean to promote a robust agenda that supports tourism and its positive impacts.

Oscar Rueda García, a lawyer from Javeriana University in Bogotá with a master’s degree in Spanish-American Literature from the University of Barcelona, has been appointed to lead the Tourism Directorate. Rueda García brings a wealth of experience in the tourism industry to his new role.

CAF, founded in 1970 and comprising 21 member countries (including 19 from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Spain and Portugal), along with 13 private banks, serves as a key source of multilateral financing and knowledge generation for the region. The establishment of the Tourism Directorate further strengthens CAF’s commitment to supporting sustainable development and regional integration.

Central Bank projects the Dominican Republic will close 2023 with 7.8 million tourists

Santo Domingo.- The governor of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, Héctor Valdez Albizu, has stated that the country’s tourism sector is expected to receive 7.8 million non-resident passengers by air by the end of 2023 if current trends continue. He also noted that hotels, bars, and restaurants had the greatest contribution to the country’s gross domestic product in 2022, with a year-on-year expansion of 24.0% in its real added value.

Valdez Albizu’s comments were made after a meeting with an IMF delegation, whose head of the Monetary Fund mission, Emilio Fernández-Corugedo, stated that the Dominican economy is proactive in regulating and supervising the financial system, exhibiting a good business climate. The IMF also praised the country’s robust financial system and solid macroeconomic fundamentals, stating that the Dominican economy was the most “dynamic” and “resilient” in the last two decades in Latin America.

The positive outlook for the tourism sector and the overall strength of the Dominican economy bode well for the country’s continued economic growth and development.

Minister Pavel Isa says the Dominican Republic “is emerging unscathed” from international inflation aggravated by the Russia-Ukraine war

Santo Domingo.- Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development, Pável Isa Contreras, stated that the Dominican Republic has managed to emerge unscathed from international inflation aggravated by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The government has sacrificed investments and a set of issues to prevent the rise in prices of the products of the basic basket, which has helped reduce inflation. Contreras also mentioned that the country has reduced the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to a minimum.

Contreras announced the celebration of the second edition of Development Dialogues, scheduled for Tuesday, May 9, where the Vice President of the Republic, Raquel Peña, will participate. The purpose of the event is to reach a consensus on the development model that the country wants, according to Contreras. The minister stated that productive development will not be possible without the participation of the population.

The minister emphasized the ministry’s commitment to accompanying municipalities to prevent land with agricultural vocation from being urbanized. Additionally, the state will not promote projects that affect said territories. Contreras informed that the results of the tenth National Population and Housing Census will be presented by July or August of this year. The coverage survey of the uprising is currently underway.

The event will be moderated by Isa Contreras and will include Mileyka Brugal, the president of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Plata Chamber of Commerce; Santiago Álvarez, the executive director of the Strategic Development Plan of the Espaillat province; Fernando Capellán, the president of the Association for the Development of Santiago, and researcher Rafael Emilio Yunén. The dialogue aims to reach a consensus on the national and regional development model that the country wants, and Contreras established this activity as interactive, transparent, and close spaces for all participants to express their views.

Dominican Republic to issue measures in May in favor of sustainable tourism

The Dominican Government will issue next May a resolution to promote sustainable tourism that contemplates the reduction of the use of plastics in hotels, announced Thursday the Minister of Tourism, David Collado.

On the first day of the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE), the leading tourism fair of the Dominican Republic and also of the insular Caribbean being held until Friday in Punta Cana, Collado reiterated the Dominican Republic’s commitment to environmental protection – “We are determined to be an example of sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism.”

“We want to make the Dominican Republic not only a leader in the region (in the tourism sector), but also a more environmentally friendly destination, with sustainable tourism,” said the minister, given the clear signs that the planet is giving.

He also referred to the importance being given to sargassum and, in this sense, highlighted that the country was the first to hold this week a conference of national and international experts, authorities, the private sector, and academia to analyze the problem of these algae in the Caribbean and possible solutions.

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Specifically, during his speech at the seminar, Dominican President Luis Abinader announced the donation of one million dollars for research on the integrated management of sargassum, a problem to which the Ministry of Tourism has been seeking a solution for more than a year.

For his part, Andrés Marranzini, executive vice-president of Asonahores (Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic), organizer of the fair, referred to the reuse and optimization of energy in the lodgings already underway and the recovery of the frequency of washing sheets and towels after an increase due to the sanitary situation during the covid-19 pandemic.

All the measures are part of the constant development of tourism in the Dominican Republic, a sector that contributes 25% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and that breaks records month after month in terms of tourist arrivals.

After 2022 closed with the arrival of 8.5 million visitors (7.1 million by air and nearly 1.4 million on board cruise ships), the Dominican Republic reached 2.8 million tourists in the first quarter of this year and expects to end 2023 with 10 million.

With this goal in mind, work continues to be carried out on beach refurbishment, infrastructure improvement, and the safety of visitors to the Dominican Republic.

More than 400,000 people traveled through AILA in April 2023

Santo Domingo.- The José Francisco Peña Gómez International Airport of the Americas (AILA) mobilized 446,382 domestic and foreign passengers in April 2023, according to statistical data provided by Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom).

The concessionaire explained that the number of passengers who traveled during the past month represented an increase of 6.8% over the number of travelers who came in the same month in 2022.

He emphasized that Easter Week was the period in April when the highest number of inbound and outbound passengers was registered, exceeding 100 thousand visitors, both locals and tourists.

Aerodom also recalled that during the first quarter of this year, 1,339,000 domestic and foreign passengers traveled through the airport terminal.

During this period, most of the passengers were Dominicans residing in cities in the United States, Europe, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Aerodom explained that in April of this year, travelers who came to the country went through the AILA on regular and charter flights of the different airlines.

Ministry of Tourism inaugurates Community Center in Maimon Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata.- The Ministry of Tourism has invested over 42 million pesos to open a new Community Center in Maimón, a municipal district in the Puerto Plata province. At the inauguration ceremony, Minister of Tourism David Collado emphasized the importance of improving the conditions of rural communities in tourist areas, as tourists who visit these places must be presented with the best conditions. The Community Center, which covers a 1,400 square meter area, will be available to serve the Maimón community. Although only the infrastructure has been inaugurated so far, the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency has committed to providing the necessary furniture and a fire truck for the new Fire Department detachment.

Collado emphasized that the growth of tourism must be felt by the communities and their people. According to figures to be officially released by the Central Bank of the Republic, Puerto Plata is currently receiving up to 170,000 tourists per month, which has had a positive impact on the town. Previously, the cruise terminal was closed and there were no job opportunities or open hotels.

The Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, expressed his appreciation for the work done for the residents of Maimón. The Community Center was executed by the Executing Committee of Tourist Areas Infrastructures (Ceiztur) at a cost of RD$42,493,421.79. The Community Center will also serve as a local for the town hall, with two levels of 200 square meters each, and a space for the chapter house, union offices, and other functions. Additionally, there will be two bathroom modules per level and the building will be constructed with masonry walls, porcelain tile floors, and aluminum sliding windows.

The fire brigade area, which also has two levels of 160 square meters each, will provide space for two fire trucks, an office, as well as living quarters, kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, and a living room for the personnel. Lastly, the district funeral space will have two spaces for chapels of 25 square meters each and a preparation and conservation area. Minister Collado expressed his gratitude to the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency for their commitment to donate 10 million pesos towards the necessary furniture.

Official planes from Spain traveled several times to the Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.- Over the past two years, official Spanish government planes have made numerous trips to the Dominican Republic without clear reasons for their visits. Spanish media reports indicate that Falcons have flown at least 27 times to the Dominican Republic, making it the second-most visited destination outside the European Union, after the United States. While the reasons for these visits are often unknown, critics have raised concerns about the excessive use of government planes by the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez.

Opposition parties have demanded accountability from Sánchez regarding the use and motives of these aircraft. They have criticized the President for using the planes for personal reasons, as well as for matters that do not warrant such use. According to reports, Sánchez often chooses the five Dassault Falcon 900s, even for short trips, some of which last only half an hour. In total, the planes have made 2,109 flights in just two years, while the two Airbus A310 and two A330 have made 1,026 displacements between March 1, 2021, and May 1, 2023.

The cost of these flights has also come under scrutiny. According to elEconomista.es, the Falcon 900 has an estimated rental cost of $6,500 on average, with each hour of flight for Sánchez costing an average of €5,600 when adding the cost of fuel, maintenance, and personnel salaries. In 2021, Sánchez made a total of 125 flights, almost 32% more than in the same period of the previous year, making it almost equivalent to a flight on an official plane every two days. The newspaper cites information from the Transparency Portal as its source.