Puerto Plata cluster: new link between Cibao and Punta Cana an efficient option

Puerto Plata, DR.- The Puerto Plata Cluster was described as an excellent opportunity to unite the Northern Region with the Eastern Region, announcing the new commercial route of the Dominican excursion airline Reef Jet, which will begin on September 29, 2023.

In this sense, Birgitt Heinsen, president of the Cluster, expressed her positive valuation of this good news with which, according to the airline executives, in only 50 minutes, it will be possible to make the trip from Santiago to Punta Cana.

“It is an important step that adds Reef Jet in the intentions of offering alternatives that allow the best use of the multi-destination proposals of our regions since it opens the possibility and facilitates the displacement to the visitors of the tourist destinations of both regions. Our country’s extremes will now be much closer, opening a range of possibilities to strengthen new strategic alliances,” she said.

Heinsen indicated that in addition to being an efficient option from the tourist point of view since attractions and lodgings in Santiago, Puerto Plata, La Vega, Espaillat, San Francisco de Macorís, and Punta Cana would benefit, from the corporate point of view, it is also a “plus” because it is a viable alternative for executives from both areas.

More than 30% increase in U.S. travel to the Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.- The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and ForwardKeys and Mabrian Technologies members released new insights into the substantial expansion of the U.S. Travel and tourism sector.

According to WTTC’s Travel & Tourism 2023 Global Trends in Economic Impact Report, the contribution to GDP from the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector grew by 16.9% in 2022 to reach US$2 trillion. In addition, the industry also created 2.7 million more jobs compared to 2021.

ForwardKeys data reveals a 13% increase in forward-looking outbound travel from the U.S., with top growth destinations such as Greece, Dominican Republic, Italy, Jamaica, and Mexico seeing increases ranging from 30% to 63%.

In addition, families are leading the travel recovery, with family-sized groups witnessing 21% growth over 2019.

The top international destinations for U.S. visitors are Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom, which account for 52% of all outbound departures in the United States in 2022.

In addition, in 2023, the sector’s contribution to GDP is forecast to reach US$2.2 trillion and the number of jobs to total 17.4 million.

The impressive growth was driven by a strong resurgence in demand from international visitors, whose spending increased by more than 150% yearly to reach US$ 115.7 billion in 2022.

The report also shows that domestic visitor spending has nearly recovered to its pre-pandemic levels, reaching US$ 1.18 trillion in 2022, close to the US$ 1.2 trillion spent by domestic visitors in 2019.

Measured by economic contribution and spending by international and domestic visitors, the United States led with the world’s most extensive travel and tourism sector in 2019 and 2022.

U.S. airports witness a surge in passenger numbers. The resurgence in travel is also reflected in U.S. airport statistics.

Statistics from Mabrian Technologies reveal that the United States continues to host some of the busiest airports in the world. Denver International witnessed the most significant inbound passenger growth of any U.S. airport, with nearly 2.2 million more passengers between 2019 and 2023.

Orlando International also experienced an increase in inbound traffic, accommodating 1.8 million more travelers in 2022 compared to 2019. The newly renamed Harry Reid International Airport in Nevada ranks third, with 1.7 million more travelers passing through its gates in 2023 compared to 2019.

Overall, the figures underscore that U.S. airports welcomed a combined total of 9.6 million more passengers last year compared to the period just before the pandemic hit.

Julia Simpson, president and CEO of WTTC, noted that “the U.S. performance is more than just numbers; it shows resilience and enduring demand for travel and tourism. In 2019, one in ten jobs has becomebally was in the Travel & Tourism sector and is expected to contribute $9.5 trillion to the global economy this year alone.”

The arrival of tourists from unconventional destinations to the Dominican Republic grows

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic’s tourism industry has solidified its position over time by attracting visitors from two traditional markets that annually send millions of tourists: North America and Europe.

However, in the past two and a half years, there has been a notable rise in the number of tourists arriving from other regions, with Oceania and Africa experiencing the most significant growth rates.

Based on data from the Central Bank, the initial seven months of this year saw 1,341 resident passengers arriving from Oceania, indicating an impressive growth rate of 86.1% compared to the same period in 2021, when only 187 tourists visited.

Among these visitors, over 1,000 hail from Australia, while 177 are from New Zealand. Additional visitors come from various destinations, including French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Western Samoa, Fiji, and Kiribati. These diverse sources collectively contributed to tourists choosing to spend their nights in the Dominican Republic.

African tourist arrivals have also surged by 81.7% during the period of January to July 2023. The number of visitors increased from a mere 497 foreigners to 2,702 individuals residing across 50 countries on the continent. Prominent countries that contributed to this influx include South Africa, Morocco, and Nigeria.

In the realm of South America, there was a noteworthy growth rate of 71.9%. The passenger count escalated from 157,673 in January-July 2021 to 558,917 in the initial seven months of the current year. The leading countries responsible for sending the most visitors were Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Peru.

This trend is in part attributed to improved air connectivity between the Dominican Republic and South America. The emergence of new routes offered by low-cost airlines has played a pivotal role in fostering increased tourism, as reported by Diario Libre.

Arrival of two cruise ships to Puerto Plata suspended due to storm Franklin

Puerto Plata.- Due to the potential impacts of tropical storm Franklin passing through the Dominican Republic, the arrivals of two cruise ships scheduled for Tuesday at the ports of Puerto Plata have been postponed. The cruise liners affected are the Carnival Celebration, initially set to dock at Amber Cove Terminal, and the MSC Seascape, destined for Taino Bay.

The North Regional Director of Tourism, Atahualpa Paulino, informed that the visit of the Carnival Celebration has been rescheduled for the upcoming Friday.

The two cruise terminals in Puerto Plata had planned to welcome a total of 27 cruises in the current month. Among them, 16 were anticipated to arrive via the Amber Cove port, owned by Carnival Corporation, while the remaining 11 were scheduled for the Taino Bay terminal, operated by the ITM Group.

These cruise ship visits serve as a significant economic boost for Puerto Plata, fostering local business and promoting tourism. This contributes positively to the overall community and local economy.

U.S. expert Jay Rodriguez affirms Dominican aviation is living a historic moment

Santiago, DR. – The technical advisor of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), Javier Rodriguez -Jay-, acknowledged that the country is living a historic and timely moment to open the doors to the world of aviation.

The former official of the FAA, of the United States, considered that it is time to “bury the hatchet, open the fist and take us hand in hand” for aviation to continue advancing, as it is a vital means of transport for the growth of tourism and employment opportunities.

He said that since the arrival of Hector Porcella to IDAC, corrective measures are being taken to ensure compliance with international standards of civil aviation, while highlighting the hard work of a team of inspectors and qualified personnel who normally receive training, so that the body responsible for the safety of commercial aviation remains ready to be audited at any time.

Today Dominican aviation has begun to grow with giant steps, said the expert, while considering that all Dominicans should focus on the opportunities that exist for the country to continue with the development of air transport and get the advantages of being the Hub, or perfect center for aviation in the region.

When interviewed on the radio program “Por Aire Mar y Tierra,” produced by veteran pilot Pedro Dominguez, Rodriguez said that it is likely that everyone recognizes the need for air transport for the country, “what many do not understand is the need to create an awareness of the operational safety of civil aviation. Civil aviation safety awareness is everyone’s commitment,” he stressed.

He assured that there is great support within the institution to continue cooperating and ensuring compliance with the obligations established by the conventions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). “For the peace of mind of everyone who hears me, I assure you that the team of inspectors and support staff of the IDAC is highly qualified and has received all the necessary training for any external audit,” Jay assured.

The IDAC advisor said he is optimistic and confident that the International Air Safety Advisory (IASA) will give the go-ahead to continue in Category 1 of that FAA program. “I personally know the team that is working 6 and 7 days a week, 8 and 12 hours a day to keep the country in compliance with ICAO standards. We must take off our hats and recognize the dedication and work of everyone in the IDAC team,” he pointed out.

Free-trade zones achieve record-breaking July in export history

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Association of Free-trade Zones (ADOZONA) has underscored the remarkable export achievements of the sector in the month of July, as per data unveiled by the General Directorate of Customs (DGA). These figures reveal a notable 7.9% surge in exports, rising from $645.71 million in July 2022 to $696.71 million in July 2023. This upswing translates to an approximate $51.00 million escalation in value.

Luis José Bonilla Bojos, President of ADOZONA, emphasized that this accomplishment signifies a momentous stride for the sector, solidifying its position. Notably, in May 2023, the sector achieved a historic pinnacle with exports amounting to $772.37 million. Subsequently, a robust performance was maintained in June 2023 with $718.72 million in exports.

Bonilla further elaborated, “This exceptional performance in July 2023, the most successful July in history, has exerted a positive influence on the cumulative export value for the January-July period. During this timeframe, we’ve observed a modest rise of 2.5%, progressing from $4,571.14 million in 2022 to $4,684.42 million in 2023. This reflects a value growth of approximately $113.28 million.”

The surge in exports from the Free-trade Zones stands in stark contrast to the significant decline in national exports, which have experienced an 11.1% reduction. National exports have dwindled from $2,616.69 million in 2022 to $2,325.48 million in 2023, representing a loss of $291.01 million. Notably, the sturdy performance of the Free-trade Zones has partially mitigated the decline in national exports.

The Free-trade Zones have achieved an unprecedented July in exports, underscoring their resilience and capacity for growth in a challenging economic landscape.

Banco Popular is the first Dominican bank among the thousand best in the world

Santo Domingo.- Banco Popular Dominicano has made significant strides in global recognition, ascending by an impressive 44 positions within a single year on The Banker’s list of the world’s top 1,000 banks. The bank secured the 739th spot on the list, maintaining its distinction as the leading Dominican bank in the ranking, holding a substantial 31-position lead over its closest local competitor.

The bank’s consistent improvements have been reflected in its rise of 68 positions over the past five years on The Banker’s prestigious list. The publication, owned by the Financial Times group, has been conducting this evaluation for over four decades.

The evaluation process for the 2023 results involved analyzing financial statements from 2,000 banks across 101 countries. The primary criterion for assessment was the financial strength, specifically the Tier 1 capital, which signifies a bank’s capacity to support its customers.

The Banker magazine raised the minimum Tier 1 capital requirement to USD $557 million for inclusion in the list of the top 1,000 banks this year. In this context, Banco Popular demonstrated significant financial strength with primary capital exceeding USD $1,193 million, and a solvency rate greater than 15% at the time of the evaluation by the financial publication.

Franklin gives the DR a break; storm damages less than expected

No one was paying attention to Tropical Storm Franklin as its course was well south of the island. Then on Monday, 21 August 2023, Dominicans were surprised when forecasters announced Franklin would cross the DR given that wind shear would detour it north from its westerly course.

Fresh in people’s minds was the flooding in Greater Santo Domingo caused by intense rains on 4 November 2022 and that caused by Category 1 Hurricane Fiona on 19 September 2022 in eastern provinces.

President Luis Abinader acted on the safe side and ordered work off on Tuesday, 22 August 2023 afternoon through Wednesday, 23 August. The country should prepare for the worst and pray for the best. The day off also allowed for thousands of volunteers to get ready to help their fellow Dominicans prepare.

Dominicans adhered to the Presidential order to stay at home on Wednesday, 23 August 2023 as most people shared the same expectations the huge storm would bring heavy rains and major flooding in cities, towns and rural communities nationwide. There were, nevertheless, reports on social media of people enjoying swimming in pools of dirty water and street parties.

There was nothing easily predictable about Franklin. The storm seemed to want to outsmart everyone. The storm parked itself south of the Dominican Republic, turned further south, and only then gradually began the forecast turn to the north.

The storm would take its time as it proceeded to enter by Paraiso in Barahona province on the southwest and exit land by Puerto Plata, in the center of the north coast.

The forecast had been for upwards of 100mm of rain to 300mm. “The models continue to indicate that in the next 24 to 48 hours, the accumulated rainfall expected concerning this system will oscillate between 200 and 300 mm and may be higher in isolated points,” the National Weather Office (Onamet) had warned on Monday evening.

The good news is that the rains were much less. Enriquillo-Barahona, where the storm entered did receive 240.8 mm of water, followed by Polo-Barahona 190 mm and Las Americas International Airport to the east of the capital city received 109 mm.

Otherwise, the reports were of 98.6 mm in eastern Rafael del Yuma, 95.5 mm in central San José de Ocoa, 89.7 mm in Santo Domingo East, 85.0 mm in Punta Cana on the East Coast, 72.9 mm in southcentral Azua, in Santo Domingo province, La Isabela Airport received 72.8 mm and La Victoria 66.4 mm. There were reports of Peralta-Azua receiving 59.4 mm, Pedernales (Olivares) 54.6 mm and Escondido, Peravia (Baní) 51.3 mm.

In Greater Santo Domingo, most areas got more a drizzle than rain. The city flooding did not happen, with the exception of some pockets. Among these, the so-called Av. Barceló that borders the Ozama River to the east.

The cities were mostly calm Wednesday evening, with almost all businesses shut down.

Listin Diario reports damages in farming areas, especially to the tomato nurseries in San Jose de Ocoa province. Nevertheless, areas such as the northwestern border province of Dajabón reported no rains, whatsoever. Santiago, in the center of the country, did not seem to notice the storm had passed. Macadamia farms in San Jose de las Matas complained they needed the rains that didn’t come.

In San Cristóbal, 32-year old Carlos Marino Martinez was reported to have died on Wednesday, 23 August in the community of Bandaño, reportedly swept buy the waters of a gully. Two persons are missing, suspected to have drowned in a gully in Santo Domingo West. A teenager is suspect of also having drowned when taking a dip in the rising waters of Nigua River in San Cristobal.

Punta Cana, the country’s most important tourism destination, reported some downpours, but for the most part resorts continued to operate with special activities for the guests. Nevertheless, in the rural areas of La Altagracia province, river flooding affected bridges and rural communities.

The Punta Cana International Airport never closed. Most other airports closed on Tuesday, 22 August at 10pm and reopened early the following day. Punta Cana International Airport only reported three flight cancellations for the storm. Yet, overall, airports reported 37 flight cancellations.

The National Association of Hotels & Tourism (Asonahores) reported that the storm did not significantly affect tourism activities.

El Nuevo Diario executive editor, Persio Maldonado wrote an editorial calling the storm “a blessing” because it pointed out the vulnerable areas. The peak time of the Atlantic Hurricane season is September for the Dominican Republic.

Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
Hoy
El Dia
Noticias SIN
Listin Diario

24 August 2023

Rains, rains, rains; President calls work off on Tuesday pm and Wednesday

President Luis Abinader called off work for Tuesday, 22 August 2023 after 12pm and on Wednesday, 23 August 2023 after a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace to decide on measures to mitigate the impact of Tropical Storm Franklin.

Tropical Storm Franklin is expected to bring upwards of 300mm of rain to most of the areas in the country.

The storm has been slowly moving as it turns north on the path that would take it to cross the Dominican Republic. There is uncertainty as to the exact path the storm will take. Everyone agrees that it will bring more rains than the country has had as far back as most people can remember.

As early as this Tuesday, intense rains began falling in the country.

The director of the COE, Juan Manuel Méndez said that teams were being positioned to assist people in areas where floods traditionally happen. He said all contingency plans have been activated and indicated that the positioning of teams have been sent to places where floods traditionally occur. Mendez spoke of the activating of the contingency plans of institutions and first response organizations such as the Lightning Plan of the Armed Forces, the National Police, the Fire Department, the Civil Defense, the Red Cross, Economic Canteens and the Social Plan of the Presidency.

The director of the National Weather Office (Onamet), Gloria Ceballos estimated minimums of 100 and 200 millimeters in some areas and up to 375 millimeters in isolated points.

So far, the storm is about 400 kilometers south-southwest of Santo Domingo and maintains a slow movement of 7km/h with winds of up to 85km/h.

The enormous storm has baffled weather forecasters. An 8am forecast by the NHC NOAA of the United States stated: “Poorly organized Franklin drifting westward.” The previous 5am report had indicated the storm had taken a NW turn.

MikeFisher for DR1 Weather & Beyond Forum reported at 9am: “This Franklin is indeed a very weird thing. It is still barely moving forward, doing a few steps in different directions all night long.
Now it shows at 3mphrs West, but it is simply stationary, moving on the same spot back and forth.
And the strangest thing is that it does not get taken down by the wind shear, which been all the time present. We just can sit and look and wait until it moves.

“Tonight late night and until tomorrow afternoon should be the time for our rock ‘n’ roll dance on the Island. All non swimmers: Keep your life jackets handy.”

Read more:
Presidency
Diario Libre
DR1 Weather

22 August 2023

Tropical Storm Franklin expected to hit the DR

New weather forecasts indicate that what started out as a tropical depression moving on a path south of the Dominican Republic is now likely to make a direct hit to the island as a strong tropical storm. The storm is now expected to make an abrupt turn north on a similar path to that of infamous Hurricane David when it hit the DR big in 1979.

The National Weather Office (Onamet) has been recommending Dominicans follow the storms passing through the area as they make their way into the waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Weather forecasters say that one of these storms, now named Tropical Storm Franklin, could reach the Dominican Republic as a Tropical Storm by Tuesday, 21 August 2023.

MikeFisher, the expert weather forecaster for DR1 Forums has been keeping close track of the storm and reporting for DR1 readers.

On Sunday, 21 Augiust, he reported that “the water load of such northwards moving TS will come down on its east sides, so that will def be over our soil. Let’s get ready to bring the cattle in, prepare for a lot of heavy rain and on the track from Barahona through the Cibao to Puerto Plata for a strong windfield of TS Force.”

The US National Hurricane Center reports heavy rainfall from Franklin can be expected across portions of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola through the middle of the week. The heavy rainfall may produce areas of flash and urban flooding as well as river rises and mudslides across Hispaniola with significant and potentially life-threatening flash flooding possible Tuesday into Wednesday.

Onamet alerts:
“On Tuesday, Tropical Storm Franklin will directly impact the Dominican Republic, causing cloudy increases with strong to intense downpours, frequent electrical storms, very strong gusts of wind and dangerous waves over a large part of the national geography.”

The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) has the southern provinces under yellow alert and the northern provinces under green alert so far.

The National District and the provinces of Santo Domingo, San Cristóbal, Peravia, Barahona, San Juan, Independencia, Elías Piña, San Pedro de Macorís, San José de Ocoa, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Azua, Bahoruco and La Altagracia are on yellow alert.

In green are La Vega, Sánchez Ramírez, Duarte, Santiago, Espaillat, Hermanas Mirabal, Valverde, Puerto Plata, Monsignor Nouel, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, Samaná, María Trinidad Sánchez, Santiago Rodríguez and Dajabón.

Follow the storm:
Onamet
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Hoy
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
DR1 Weather

21 August 2023

Government issues positive forecast

On Friday, 18 August 2023, the Abinader cabinet met to review the prospects for 2023. According to Presidency Minister Joel Santos and Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ignacio Paliza, the Dominican economy will grow by some 3% to 4% in 2023.

The ministers that spoke to the press after the cabinet meeting said that President Luis Abinader told the cabinet that his work will focus on gaining the confidence of the economic sectors to ensure that the second half of the year surpasses the performance of the first half.

Among the issues that the government has to show for itself is the control of inflation, a great year for tourism and the improvement of the country risk assessment grade among important international agencies such as Moody’s and Standard & Poor. This last point is essential for international loans, bond issues and long-term financing of major projects.

One point that was emphasized in the meeting was the penalization of the use of public funds for any political proselytizing either in the primaries in 2023 or leading to the general election in 2024.

Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe

21 August 2023

National mourning, funds available to assist victims of San Cristóbal tragedy

The Presidency announced national mourning for Thursday, 17 August 2023 in solidarity with the victims of the major blast that decimated a block in downtown San Cristóbal, west of Santo Domingo. The national flag will fly at half-mast. The city government of San Cristóbal and San Cristóbal Mayor José Montás had already declared three days of mourning.

The governor of San Cristobal Pura Casilla expects San Cristóbal to be declared a disaster zone and special funds to be available.

As of Wednesday, 16 August afternoon, the Center for Emergency Operations had reported 27 fatal victims in the San Cristobal explosion. Several of the corpses have not yet been identified by the Forensic Sciences Institute (Inacif). 59 persons are reported with serious injuries.

The authorities have not given the official version of what could have caused the blast on Calle Ayala in San Cristobal, a bedroom community to Greater Santo Domingo. The authorities say the official report on what caused the blast needs to await the investigation results by the firefighters and the J2 intelligence unit of the Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, Somos Pueblo reports that the bomb-like situation could well have originated at a plastics recycling business that would be shut down the next day. The Ministry of Public Works had scheduled to begin construction of a municipal parking area in the area of the explosion.

Eduardo Sanchez Tolentino (El Piro) of Somos Pueblo interviewed Daurin Muñoz (Policia Cebolla) who said city government officials told him the plastics recycling plant was not permitted to operate there. Reportedly, an unskilled worker sought to disconnect the propane gas installations in time for the eviction on the next day when the construction of the municipal parking area was scheduled to start.

Meanwhile, President Luis Abinader, First Lady Raquel Arbaje and Vice President Raquel Peña were in San Cristóbal on 16 August 2023 for a Catholic mass in honor of the victims on Wednesday, 16 August 2023. The President had cancelled the speech to the nation he would have rendered from Pedernales in the Southwest, replacing it with his solidarity with the tragedy in San Cristobal in attending the mass. The previous day, Abinader had visited the disaster zone.

President Abinader said the government has ordered that there not be financial limits to assisting the victims.

It took firefighters three days to put out the blaze, including dozens of volunteers. Textile merchandise in the Casa Toledo store continued to go up in fire. The situation was precarious because the blaze affected the stability of nine buildings in the area.

The canine unit of the rescue services detected several corpses in the debris.

Diario Libre reports that residents in San Cristóbal were prompt to donate blood for the victims.

Meanwhile, the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) called off all medical strikes in solidarity with the San Cristóbal tragedy.

Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre

National Census official numbers for the population in DR

The National Statistics Office (ONE) says the 2022 National Census found the total population of the Dominican Republic to be 10,760,028 (5,437,095 women and 5,322,933 men). According to Miosotis Rivas, ONE director, this is a 1,304,747 more inhabitants than the 9.455,281 registered for the 2010 National Census. The population increased by about 14%.

41.7% of the population is centered in Greater Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo province and the National District) and adjacent San Cristóbal city. Thousands of new residents have moved to Santiago and La Altagracia attracted by major developments and job opportunities in manufacturing and medical sectors and tourism. La Altagracia is most outstanding, as it almost doubled its population from one census to the other given the boom the tourism activities in Punta Cana have created, resulting in hundreds of thousands relocating to the eastern province.

According to data from the 2022 National Census, the population of the National District (the capital city of the Dominican Republic) and provinces, the percentage of the total population and how they compare to data from the 2010 National Census are:

Santo Domingo: 25.7% of the population. 2,769,589, up from 2,374,370
Santiago: 10% of the population. 1,074,684, up from 963,422
National District: 9.6% of the population. 1,029,110, up from 965,040
San Cristobal: 6.4% of the population, 688,828, up from 569,930
La Altagracia (Punta Cana, Higuey and Veron): 4.1% of the population. 446,060, up from 273,210
La Vega: 4.1% of the population. 442,720, up from 394,205
Puerto Plata: 3.1% of the population. 338,354, up from 321,597
San Pedro de Macoris: 3.1% of the population. 337,145, up from 290,458
Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris): 2.9% of the population. 308,353, up from 289,574
San Juan de la Maguana: 2.3% of the population. 244,668, up from 232,333

Espaillat (Moca): 231,938, down from 233,636
Azua: 236,478 up from 214,311
Peravia (Baní): 209,372 up from 184,344
Monte Plata: 205,499 up from 185,956
Barahona: 200,884 up from 197,105
Monseñor Nouel (Bonao): 195,547 up from 165,224
Valverde (Mao): 183,738 up from 163,030
Sánchez Ramirez (Cotuí): 162,638 up from 151,3
María Trinidad Sánchez: 156,633 up from 140,925
Montecristi: 123,519 up from 109,607
Samana (Samana and Las Terrenas): 111,990 up from 101,494
Bahoruco: 108,717 up from 97,313
Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo): 96,442 up from 92,193
El Seibo: 99,168 up from 87,680
Hato Mayor: 100,134 up from 85,017
Dajabón: 74,809 up from 63,955
San Jose de Ocoa: 69,081 up from 59,544
Elías Piña: 64,615 up from 63,029
Santiago Rodríguez: 64,635 up from 57,476
Independencia (Jimaní): 60,692 up from 52,589
Pedernales: 34,375 up from 31,587

Read more in Spanish:
National Statistics Office
2010 Census
Diario Libre

Presidency recognizes outstanding Dominicans abroad

During his visit to New York to attend the 13 August 2023 Dominican parade, President Luis Abinader and First Lady Raquel Arbaje took time to honor outstanding Dominicans abroad. The event was organized by the executive director of the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (INDEX), Foreign Relations Deputy Minister Carlos de la Mota. 26 outstanding Dominicans in the United States were recognized for their work in favor of fellow Dominicans.

Among those honored were academics, politicians, artists, athletes, professionals from different fields, community leaders and entrepreneurs.

The third edition of “Outstanding Dominican Abroad” recognized César Presbott for his work on behalf of vulnerable youth in the United States and Latin America; Dr. Richard Ramón Peralta Hernández, who is a native of San Francisco de Macorís and opened his clinic in Haverstraw, NY; Fernando Teodoro Taveras, for his medical services to the Dominican community; and Rosibel Ventura Almonte, who became the first Dominican to be an assistant district attorney in Rockland County.

Also recognized were Manny Pérez, for being one of the most recognized Latino actors in Hollywood; Rafael Bello, for his work as a communicator abroad; attorney Genesis Peduto, for her pro bono services to the Hispanic community; the so-called mayor of Washington Heights, Nurys De Óleo; Carlo Otilio Hernández Medina, for his social activism; and the successful veterinarian, Luciano García-Trejo.

Also recognized were Ramón Antonio Fernández Henríquez, the first Dominican-born councilman of the city of Peekskill; Nidia Iluminada Henríquez, known as the queen of habichuelas con dulce in New York; María Luna, known as the political legend of Washington Heights; Dio Lluberes, recognized for his productions on the Univision network; Dr. Iván Espaillat, affiliated with Baptist Hospital of Miami; and Sandra Harris, an experienced professional in government and community affairs.

In addition, Pedro Mejía, Assemblyman-elect and businessman related to the residential real estate industry; Milly Quezada, Dominican merengue singer and actress known as “La Reina del Merengue” 5 times winner of the “Latin Grammy Awards”; Pedro Pablo Pérez, sports talent scout, recognized for his work as a manager of educational scholarships for basketball players; Ricardo Ureña, historian, folklorist, anthropologist and dancer with more than 40 years representing Dominican art and folklore; Angel Mescain, sports leader, founder of the first patriotic games with more than 40 years of experience in Dominican community sports in New York; Hector O’Neil, resident of the NY Baseball Association and founding member of the NY Sports Union; Eliazar Bueno, is the only Dominican member of the disciplinary system of Lawyers of the New York State Court and recent president of the District Board of Upper Manhattan. The event also included a posthumous tribute to Officers Jason Rivera and Wilber Mora.

Also attending the Index outstanding Dominicans recognition event were:
Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza; the President of the Senate, Eduardo Estrella; the Dominican Ambassador to the United States, Sonia Guzmán; the Dominican Consul General in New York, Eligio Jaquez; the Director of Research and Study of MIREX, Pablo Asencio and the head of the INDEX Office in New York, Jhon Sanchez, as well as other members of the INDEX Offices in the United States of America.

The INDEX’s Sociodemographic Registry counted 2,835,593 Dominicans abroad, most living in the United States.

Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Foreign Relations

President Luis Abinader announces Dominican Pact for Water

In an event headed by President Luis Abinader at the Presidential Palace on Monday, 14 August 2023, more than 100 representatives of various organizations and institutions signed the “Dominican Pact for Water 2021-2036.” The signatories commit government, academic, university, environmental, municipal sectors, private companies, organizations regents and political parties to 38 actions to ensure the continuity of the water resource in the Dominican Republic, from its governance and management, to its preservation and care.

President Abinader stressed that the “Dominican Pact for Water 2021-2036,” more than being an agreement for water, is intended to ensure the lives of present and future generations of Dominicans.

The President announced that steps are already being taken to preserve water for human use in the Dominican Republic. He stressed that government investment in water infrastructure in 2022 was 2.5 times greater than in the 2016-2019 previous government period. He said that US$600 million have been allotted in the 2023 National Budget to government investments in water infrastructure projects.

The consultations carried out to prepare the pact revealed there is a lack of a regulatory framework; institutional dispersion; scarcity of water and the deterioration of its quality; lack of water regulation and storage works; the unsustainable management of the resource; lack of education about the value of the resource.

The investments seek to resolve the deficit in drinking water infrastructure, and include measures for sanitation, protection and conservation of basins, innovation of irrigation systems and adaptation of irrigation canals. The focus is to carry out measures to benefit urban and rural services, water security, and development social and economic of the country.

Economy and Planning Minister Pável Isa Contreras called for the pact to become the framework for state policies for the institutional and governance reform of capitalization and modernization for sustainability and equity in water management.

“Water governance must be based on the three functions or dimensions of water. It is a natural resource that must be protected and conserved, a human right that must be guaranteed and an economic resource that must be regulated. At the same time, this governance must guarantee an integrated approach to water management, which covers everything from the protection of upper basins to the disposal of wastewater,” explained Contreras.

The “Dominican Pact for Water 2021-2036” has been the result of consultations and dialogues organized by the Water Cabinet. This entity is coordinated by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development. Actions were carried out in the 32 provinces of the national territory, with the participation of 1,235 people, represented by 558 government organizations, civil society and congressmen.

In a year and a half of consultations and dialogues, 259 points of improvement and 1,261 generating causes were identified, to be incorporated into the recently signed “Dominican Pact for Water 2021-2036”.

In the landmark act of signing, the President was accompanied at the table of honor, in addition to Minister Isa Contreras, by the director of the Water Cabinet, Gilberto Reynoso. The president of the Academy of Sciences, environmentalist Eleuterio Martínez gave details on the commitments assumed.

Also, civil society was represented by the president of the Sur Futuro Foundation, Melba Segura de Grullón. Public Works Minister Deligne Ascención Burgos; Housing Minister Carlos Bonilla, and Public Health Minister, Dr. Daniel Rivera, were also in attendance.

During his explanation on the 38 commitments in the “Dominican Pact for Water 2021-2036”, Eleuterio Martínez highlighted the pact seeks to ensure water remains as a good in the public domain and as strategic heritage of the Dominican Republic. Other commitments are to promote the approval of the Water Law, consecrate a regime of formal rights for the use and exploitation of water; value water in its three basic dimensions: social, economic and environmental; design, agree and approve with civil society as a whole the National Plan for Water Resources and Infrastructures, for its effective application.

The Pact calls for promotion and control by the state of water resources. It also calls for the protection, conservation and restoration of hydrographic basins; to develop a river restoration plan in each river basin; to prepare the National Drinking Water and Sewerage Master Plan; to support the urgent formulation and approval of the National Hydrological Plan; and to educate current generations, through awareness campaigns and environmental education programs, among others.

Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Economy and Planning
Listin Diario

15 August 2023

Dolores Vicioso

Dominican Republics population growth rate is declining

Santo Domingo.- The preliminary findings of the X National Population and Housing Census revealed that the population of the Dominican Republic has reached a total of 10,760,028 inhabitants. Compared to the count in 2010, which stood at 9,445,281 individuals, this indicates a population growth of 13.9%.

Breaking down the numbers, the census data demonstrates a population comprised of 5,437,095 women (50.50%) and 5,322,933 men (49.5%).

While the overall population has increased, the rate of average annual growth between censuses continues to decrease, declining from 1.22% between 2002 and 2010 to 1.10% between 2010 and 2022. This downward trend has been consistent over the past seven decades.

The census also brought forth changes in the ranking of the five most populous regions, with La Altagracia entering and La Vega exiting this group.

In terms of geographical distribution, the Ozama Region contains 35.3% of the total population, with the Santo Domingo province alone contributing 2,769,589 inhabitants, making it the most populous area in the country.

Santiago province now claims second place with a population of 1,074,684, surpassing the National District, which now stands third with 1,029,110 individuals.

The remaining top five include San Cristóbal in fourth place with 688,828 inhabitants and La Altagracia in fifth with a population of 446,060, reflecting a growth rate of 4.1%.

Other provinces with significant population concentrations are La Vega (442,720), Duarte (308,353), San Pedro de Macoris (337,145), Puerto Plata (338,354), La Romana (287,915), San Juan de la Maguana (244,668), Azua (236,478), Espaillat (233,636), Peravia (209,372), Monte Plata (205,499), and Barahona (200,884).

On the opposite end, the provinces with the lowest populations include Pedernales (34,375), Independence (60,692), Elias Pina (64,615), Santiago Rodriguez (64,635), San Jose de Ocoa (69,081), Dajabón (74,809), Hermanas Mirabal (96,442), and El Seibo (99,168).

The census bulletin provides insights into the Dominican Republic’s population growth over the past 70 years. Over this period, the population increased 5.04 times, rising from 2,135,872 in 1950 to 10,760,025 in 2022. The annual rate of population growth between censuses displays a consistent decrease, falling from 3.6% between 1950-1960 to 1.10% between 2010 and 2022.

The census also delves into variables such as total population, gender distribution, province and region demographics, total dwelling count, and population density.

The X National Population and Housing Census provide essential data for informed decision-making across public and private sectors, aiding in policy formulation. The incorporation of technology during all stages of the census process has enhanced data quality.

JetBlue strengthens its dominance in the Dominican Republic, its largest market outside the U.S.

Forty percent of flights departing from the Dominican Republic to the United States are operated by JetBlue, as the airline operates 33 daily flights between four airports in the country: Las Americas, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, and Santiago.

The airline operates 990 monthly flights spread over six U.S. airports, while 24 of the 33 daily departures are to New York City and Boston.

In this regard, Robin Hayes, CEO of the airline, said that 8% of all flights they work with arrive from the Dominican Republic, making the country their most significant market outside the U.S. Hayes said they are looking to increase their strength, services, and operations here.

He indicated that they are currently looking to increase their strength, services, and operations in the country and, to that end, have taken several steps to improve processes in the Dominican Republic.

He stated that he is looking to directly supervise the service to identify improvements that need to be implemented, according to Diario Libre.

“The most important measure they have taken is to facilitate that pilots and flight crew members have a place to sleep and rest in the Dominican Republic so they can fly the next day,” he added.

Another of the measures will be to add more time between the departure time of one flight and another so that passengers have more space to get off the plane, pick up their bags and calmly board the next flight.

“Before, the crew would travel to Puerto Rico or New York so they could take their rest hours,” Hayes said.

Dominican Republic smashes record in arrivals with 6.2 million visitors through July

The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, revealed that the Dominican Republic continues to reach unprecedented numbers in the tourism sector by registering the arrival of 792 981 non-residents in July of this year alone, making it the best month in the entire history of the country and surpassing July and December 2022, which had been until now the only months in which the government had managed to break the barrier of 700,000 tourists.

He reported that of the 792 981 tourists, 652,506 were foreigners and 140,475 Dominicans, representing a growth of 34% over 2019, 41% over 2021, and 8% over last year.

The official said that sustained growth is also reflected in the cruise industry after noting that the country received 148,560 cruise passengers by sea in July alone.

He noted that in the January-July period, 1,416,011 cruise passengers arrived in the Dominican Republic, “something never seen before in the history of tourism.”

“If we add the 792,981 tourists who arrived last month by air and the 148,560 visitors who arrived by sea, we are talking about 941,541 visitors. Something historic in the month of July,” said Collado.

He also indicated that for the first time, the country registered the arrival of 6,295,667 visitors in the first seven months of the year.

He detailed that the Dominican Republic received 4,879,656 tourists in January-July, plus 1,416,011 cruise passengers.

The central countries of origin of tourists in July were the United States with 54%, Canada with 8%, Puerto Rico with 5.1%, Colombia with 3.7%, as well as Spain.

The top cities were New York, with 6.8%, followed by Miami, Bogota, Lima, and Santiago.

Abinader travels to New York this Friday

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader’s upcoming visit to New York City on August 11th is expected to be a busy and significant engagement. During his time in the city, he will participate in a range of events and activities that highlight his engagement with the Dominican diaspora and his commitment to strengthening ties between the Dominican Republic and the United States.

One of the prominent events on his itinerary is the Dominican Parade in Manhattan, a colorful and lively celebration of Dominican culture and heritage. This provides an opportunity for President Abinader to connect with the vibrant Dominican community in New York and showcase his support for their contributions to the city’s cultural diversity.

Additionally, President Abinader will take part in a unique initiative by handing over keys to homes for Dominicans residing in the United States. This gesture underscores his dedication to providing housing solutions and support to members of the diaspora, reinforcing the strong bonds between the two countries.

The President’s schedule also includes important meetings and recognition ceremonies. He will be honored by retired officers, a recognition that acknowledges his leadership and contributions. Attending the award ceremony of the Institute of Dominicans Abroad (Index) further emphasizes his commitment to engaging with the diaspora and acknowledging their achievements.

President Abinader’s interviews with major media outlets like CNN, Telemundo, and Univisión will enable him to address a broader audience, discussing matters of interest to both Dominicans living in the United States and those back in the Dominican Republic. These interviews offer a platform for him to share his perspectives on various topics, including the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Engaging with community leaders, elected officials, and various sectors reflects President Abinader’s dedication to building strong connections and partnerships. These interactions provide an opportunity for meaningful discussions on issues of mutual interest and benefit.

The Dominican Republic is the third country with the highest export of publishing products in the Caribbean

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic holds the distinction of being the Caribbean’s third-largest exporter of publishing, recording, and printing products. The primary recipients of these exports are Puerto Rico, the United States, and Haiti.

In a recent publication by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM), it was revealed that the year 2022 witnessed a remarkable surge of 106.8% in exports related to this sector. The figures surged from $5.2 million in 2021 to an impressive $10.8 million in 2022.

The study pinpointed a total of 1,396 businesses dedicated to these pursuits within the country. An overwhelming 98.6% of these are classified as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (Mipymes), with a significant 99.9% engaged in local manufacturing.

Turning attention to formal employment, the collective workforce engaged in the publishing, recording, and printing industries reached an annual average of 8,155 employees in the year 2022.

Breaking down the tax landscape, contributions linked to the tax on industrialized goods and services (ITBIS) reached a noteworthy sum of 823 million pesos in 2022. This represented a significant 48.6% of the total tax contributions from this industry.

Contributions to income tax (ISR) from corporate entities amounted to 443.6 million pesos, constituting 26.2% of the total. In parallel, ISR collections from employees totaled 281.0 million pesos, making up 16.6% of the contributions made by manufacturing units within this sector.

The remaining tax components amassed 144.4 million pesos, contributing to 8.5% of the total tax contributions from manufacturing entities engaged in this sector.