The trends dear boy, the trends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ron,

Go get them.

The country has much to offer. The great lure for the tourist is of course the sun and the warmth of the Dominican people but includes the allure of a great vacation at a low price. Europeans and Northamericans I have conversed with have always said it is more costly to vacation in their own country's than to visit the RD.

More arrivals, more money, more jobs!...The enriching, full of promise cycle, snow-balls!
Prosperity dawns!

This is great news. I was in Punta Cana a few weeks ago and met people from Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Russia, Poland, France, Dubai, Canada, England, Spain, and other places. Who would have thought? Now they're coming from all over the globe, not just Spain, Canada and the US.

Jamaica comparison:

Stopover visitors accounted for 739,000 of overall arrivals between January and April, compared to 733,000 recorded during the same period last year.

Jamaica Observer

"There was a slide in stopover arrivals since May 2011, which worsened from the second half of last year into January 2012 in spite of the fact that there was adequate airlift," he said. "Stopover arrivals were down 1.6 per cent in December 2011 while in January 2012 we were down three per cent over the same period last year."

"We cannot only assess our performance based on the availability of air seats," said the Minister. "Our main markets experienced the warmest winter in decades, which affected travel to Jamaica. There is also the fact that travel out of Europe is being affected by the ongoing recession."

Maybe Jamaica should send their Minister here .

The DR obviously wants to be in the Cruise Ship game.

Last week Minister McNeil reported that total visitor arrivals to the island grew to 19.9 per cent from last year, largely owing to an influx of cruise ship arrivals.

So ron you see the dominican republic has the number one toursit attraction ? We still have to compeate with powerhouses like mexico , barbados , puerto rico, jamaica .

Jamaica comparison:

Stopover visitors accounted for 739,000 of overall arrivals between January and April, compared to 733,000 recorded during the same period last year.

trends, dear boy, trends

Written by: dreadlocks, 18 May 2012 10:26 AM
From: United States

Jamaica comparison:

Stopover visitors accounted for 739,000 of overall arrivals between January and April, compared to 733,000 recorded during the same period last year.

trends, dear boy, trends"

6000/739000= 0.00811

Great trending there. LOL

Atabey, if it was really worth my time arguing with the likes of you, i would. then again, it is not. so, believe what makes you happy. you guys know more than everybody, anyway. stopover visitors in Jamaica are on the decline NUMERICALLY, because Jamaica is trending away from the all inclusive, mass market, to a more upscale clientele, which spends more per customer. the headcount will go down. then again, to understand that concept, you need to be able to count to ten.

hey, Atabey, we pioneered the all inclusive concept in the caribbean, and you copied it. since you are so much smarter, it should have been the other way around. now, our guys have seen that all inclusive is not sustainable in the long run, and are moving towards the creation of a new model. when we work out the wrinkles, you can copy that one , too. then, maybe we will not see another Puerto Plata.

John Issa is known as the pioneer of the all-inclusive resort concept, introducing the first such hotel on the island with the development of Negril Beach Village Resort in 1976 (now Hedonism II). Issa’s aim was to offer tourists vacations with no hidden costs. This promise has drawn visitors from around the world. From Hedonism II, Issa launched the SuperClubs group of 16 all-inclusive hotel properties in Jamaica, Curacao, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Brazil.

if you believe that you can outperform us, with minds like these at our disposal, then dream on. when Hedonism was world famous, you did not even have a functioning tourist industry. oh..i forgot. you are Dominicans, and smarter than everyone else, so that will be easy to do.

Dready,

DR has troubles NO DOUBT, but things are far more challenging in J. Just be balanced. That's all we ask.

"Jamaican government waits to do international bond deal" just under two weeks ago, which advised that the Jamaican government would be wise to do the bond deal even if they had to pay a little more.


The reasons are simple, and should be easy for a Jamaican audience to understand. It required enormous liquidity support by the European Central Bank, of one trillion Euros, to avert a European banking and sovereign funding crisis between December and February of this year, the so-called "Merkozy" trade, a combination of the name of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former French Premier Nicholas Sarkozy. The idea behind the trade was that if the European Central Bank offered enormous liquidity support to the European banking system, then those newly flush banks, particularly Spanish and Italian, would be able to turn around and buy their respective Governments' debt, thereby financing the government budget deficits at a sustainable interest cost.

A combination of events has put pressure on this trade. They include, firstly, the results of the Greek election, where the strong emergence of the far left party has left the government unable to form a coalition and could lead to Greece's earlier-than-expected exit from the Euro, and the associated risks of contagion. Spain has had to nationalise one of its largest banks in the aftermath of the biggest real estate bubble in Europe (the second biggest after Ireland as a percentage of GDP), and it is likely that loan losses, despite several upward revisions, are still massively understated. The twin motor of Europe, France, whose possession of a AAA credit rating was meant to, jointly with Germany, guarantee the EU bailout funds, has a rating that is now hanging by a thread, and has just elected new socialist President Françoise Hollande on an anti-austerity platform. International investment bank JP Morgan, seen as the premier investment bank in terms of size and risk management,

What all this suggests is that it will be difficult to issue a Jamaican Eurobond when the international capital market is clearly in a risk off-mode, having missed the opportunity at the beginning of May. The next potential timeline is after the opening of the budget debate next Thursday by the minister of finance, at which time we will learn how the budget will be financed. Over the next few weeks, we may see a new round of international central bank-driven liquidity rallies. The government would be wise to grab any such opportunities, as it is likely such intervention will be much less effective than in the past.

As far as the likely upcoming tax package is concerned, the best guess is that excluding grants and the likely normal projected increase in tax revenues, of, say, five to six per cent, the number required to meet IMF fiscal targets would be between $20 billion and $24 billion Jamaican dollars, a potentially severe blow to an already depressed economy.

Such a large tax package would also suggest that there would be virtually no fiscal space to finance the type of tax reform likely to encourage future growth. Financial analyst Colin Steele believes, however, that the government should move the NHT employer contribution, which he estimates at approximately $12 billion, to the consolidated fund, thereby sharply reducing the amount of new taxation required. Interestingly, moving the employer contribution to central government is not a new suggestion, and was last made in a joint article by both of us for the Gleaner, entitled "Budget on the path to first-world status" in July 2007. At the time, this measure was estimated to be worth $5 billion.

The same article noted that the memorandum of understanding with the unions (MOU) had spoken to the importance of balancing the budget, but that the government had agreed to an unwise increase in the wage bill for the two-year period ending in March 2008 of 40 per cent,

rather than the 20 per cent originally envisaged. We noted that the MOU had been agreed on only between the government and the unions, and that the vast majority of Jamaica's budget was consumed by interest and wages, leaving very little to fund discretionary expenditure in areas such as education and health. We also argued that the cost of public sector pensions was unsustainable, as it had doubled from $5.4 billion in 2002 to $11 billion in 2007. In 2012, pension costs have more than doubled over the subsequent five year period, reaching $24 billion.

A number of the suggestions in the article were subsequently implemented, namely the removal of school fees, reduction in hospital fees (we did not in fact advocate zero), the increase in the tax threshold, the privatisation/restructuring of Air Jamaica, the reduction in stamp duty and transfer tax (particularly on bonds so as to increase lending competition ) and the removal of double taxation of dividends.

Following the latter two measures (and the welcome introduction of the junior stock exchange), access to finance, whilst still poor, has improved. However, for the most part, these measures did not occur within the suggested 12- to 18-month period, so some of the impact was lost. Of course, the global crisis also made conditions much more difficult, and markedly reduced the potential impact, than if they had been implemented earlier in the decade.

The overall thrust of the article was that a combination of aggressive privatisation and other asset sales (to reduce debt), outsourcing and restructuring, and prioritising limited resources on such critical areas as crime, education and health was the way forward for Jamaica. It is again time for the creation of a national consensus, whether it be called the partnership for transformation, the partnership for progress, or some other name, if we are to avoid severe crisis and create an environment for growth.

Can someone please explain:

1) How does an increase of 0.81% become a 7.35% increase?
2) What percentage of those on board visiting cruise ships actually go ashore?
3) How much do they spend (I think Dready already explained it is 2 5ths of f*ck-all)?
4) If numbers on passing cruise ships are counted as arrivals, what about passengers on flights passing nearby on their way to Puerto Rico?

actually, Roy, there is no point arguing with these guys. we have tomato, making predictions about becoming a home port, when the first brick has not been laid at the facility. sane minds would wait to see how things pan out, before braying like a jackass. either that, or they would draw upon historical performance of other ports in the DR, as a possible guide. Samana, the only other port which gets looked at, in the collection of data, has the lowest return rate of all Caribbean ports , at 18%. places like Barbados have over 50%. but, as i said, you cannot tell then anything, because they always know more than you do. if they believe that Maimon is going to be a festival of riches, let them. i predict that 80% of all tours will be to Ocean World, which , last time i checked, was a foreign owned, and operated, entity.

Dread and Roy,

Yes, there are very real and trouble areas that DR HAS TO IMPROVE ON like better trained ENGLISH SPEAKING labour to advance its tourist sector. The luck of the draw has given THIS UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE ADVANTAGE to those islands, Jamaica, Barbados, etc, colonized by Great Britain into the 20th century. And in the case of Puerto Rico, dominated by US interest thus provided with massive infrastructure & educational opportunities.

DR IS IN ITS MODERNIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT PHASE IN THIS PERIOD!

HAITI is entering ITS MODERNIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT PHASE NOW!

Those two sets of economic expansion will create MANY opportunities in the CENTRALLY LOCATED island of Hispaniola. Mark my words, if these two sets of economic expansions, driven largely by basic infrastructure schemes, tourist offerings, mining operations and export platforms, garner the expected returns, the results will impress many short seller today.

DR is on the rise and Haiti will follow, too.

says Professor Atabey

DR IS IN ITS MODERNIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT PHASE IN THIS PERIOD!

HAITI is entering ITS MODERNIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT PHASE NOW!

can you define what you mean, in concrete terms, with some reference to strategies, models, and other salient issues, rather than some one sentence blurb, which means LESS THAN NOTHING? what do you mean by DEVELOPMENT PHASE? DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT? when did this phase begin? what was the phase before it begun? what characterized the prior phase? what is the departure from that epoch? be specific, Professor. i expect something tangible from one so erudite as yourself.

again, more blather from the professional
Those two sets of economic expansion will create MANY opportunities in the CENTRALLY LOCATED island of Hispaniola. Mark my words, if these two sets of economic expansions,

what two sets of economic expansion?

dreadlocks,


hey, Atabey, we pioneered the all inclusive concept in the Caribbean."

You should know that being pioneers doesn't give one any call on continuing to be THE driver of the concept.

The Incas pioneered Potato farming hundreds of years before the Europeans or Americans. How much is that worth to them in terms of value in the market?

The Pre-Colombian natives pioneered Tobacco and other valuable crops: who made out like bandits in that situation?

The idea is just that: an idea. When a nation fails to keep pace, innovate beyond the first conceptual tasks, it risk what has occurred in Jamaica. For instance, you speak about Higher End Tourist dollars and Jamaica reloading for that piece of the pie, but even YOU have to admit that that change over has occurred way late in the game and other islands have reached that destination way earlier in the game than the "pioneer setting" Jamaican lads. It takes sustained effort and reinvestment in good ideas to dr

drive your initial concept into more profitable sections of the market. One menacing problem in Jamaica is the level of violence and dreadful economic mistakes of the past have come home to negate, some say up to 6% !!! of GDP!!! from Jamaica.

To make that transition, and I agree that labour wise Jamaica has better trained personnel than DR, but the DR also has advantages: mainly, it's still in its modernization and development phase with many investments coming in, plus a neighbor who will be one of but a few nations in the world given access to cheap, in some cases outright grants, to develop. Plus, it's not like the tourist section in DR is poorly developed. No, it's made enormous progress from the early 1970s. Jamaica was head and shoulders above the DR back in the early 1970s. But no more Dready. Scales of operation, many more opportunities await the investor in DR than Jamaica. And guess what: Cuba offers even more tantalizing opportunities than either J or DR.

you, as usual, have not answered my question. i take that to mean you do not know how to.

says Atabey

You should know that being pioneers doesn't give one any call on continuing to be THE driver of the concept

are you comatose? i stated that Jamaica is abandoning the concept, to a degree, for better things. higher end tourists. more bang for the buck, less environmental overload. we do not want to create a Puerto Plata. by the way, on the little matter of trends...one of your tourism scions reports that 55% of all direct jobs in tourism , in POP, have been lost in the last 20 years. now, that is showing them how to do it!

OJO! In POP. What about the Southeast??

It's still....................the same country you know.

Dom Rep tourism could grow 250% in 10 years

JULIAN RICHARDSON Assistant business co-ordinator richardsonj@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, May 18, 2012



DOMINICAN Republic could attract 10 million tourists to its shores by 2023, says a tourism industry expert.

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) Chairman Enrique de Marchena Kaluche said the target was desirable because it would create more than 800,000 jobs and add US$10 billion ($870 billion) in revenue to the economy, or more than the total value of Dominican exports last year.


Currently more than four million tourists visit the Spanish-speaking country each year, luring revenues totalling US$4 billion and 250,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to World Travel and Tourism Council figures.

De Marchena, speaking before tourism entrepreneurs recently at a conference held at UNIBE Cap Cana, was endorsing a plan by presidential contender Danilo Medina of the Dominican Liberation Party.

says the Professor
Written by: Atabey, 18 May 2012 1:39 PM
From: United States, NYC

Dom Rep tourism could grow 250% in 10 years

i am sure that someone said that about Puerto Plata, 20 years ago.

Dready,

You know me, I always have to check my Jamaican sources, you know.

check your Dominican sources , and show me the 250% increase in POP, in the last 10 years.

Dready,

Les trends favor DR old chap. By 2023, DR might have ten million paying customers coming to our shores. As John would say: the Spanish Caribbean are the Big Show, and all the others small potatoes. The future is heavily weighted in favor of developments in DR, Cuba, with PR, and yes, to a far lesser extent- IF YOU ADJUST YOUR BAD TRENDING-Jamaica will share some of the left overs.

i saw this little underlined section of yours, in the forum

The organisation said the increase in total FDI to the Caribbean after two years of decline was mainly driven by a 25 per cent jump in FDI flows to the Dominican Republic (US$ 2.371 billion), boosted primarily by investments in its mining sector.

before you go off half cocked, as usual, thinking that it is great news, you better do some background reading, and learn about the sectoral benefits of inbound FDI.

How's this for an answer:

"Conclusion

Both economic theory and recent empirical evidence suggest that FDI has a beneficial impact on developing host countries. But recent work also points to some potential risks: it can be reversed through financial transactions; it can be excessive owing to adverse selection and fire sales; its benefits can be limited by leverage; and a high share of FDI in a country's total capital inflows may reflect its institutions' weakness rather than their strength. Though the empirical relevance of some of these sources of risk remains to be demonstrated, the potential risks do appear to make a case for taking a nuanced view of the likely effects of FDI. Policy recommendations for developing countries should focus on improving the investment climate for all kinds of capital, domestic as well as foreign.'

@Atabey

Don't waste your time with this chopo as he may try to lead you to believe Jamaicans invented the AI model.I had the same discussion with him some time ago and educated him on how they too copied the model. They might have pioneered in the area but they copied the model like everybody else in the region.

nice, Atabey. a paragraph from one article. now i know why you guys are such sabelotodos. as to shoeshine boy, at least Jamaica formatted the idea for the Caribbean reality. you copied it from Jamaica.

Caribbean All-Inclusive
The Caribbean, specifically Jamaica, invented the all-inclusive resort and it is a popular vacation style found in a good number of Caribbean destinations.

you were saying, Mr Educator.

At the Montego Bay airport, piped-in Jimmy Buffett music and pictures of performing dolphins conjure a could-be-anywhere-tropical vibe. But Jamaica is far from a Caribbean cliché. Outside the gated all-inclusive resorts (the concept was invented here),

educate me, limpiabota boy.

@Chopo

The all-inclusive model originated in the Club Med resorts which were founded by the Belgian Gérard Blitz in the 50's.

Educated.

Dready,



Crime takes 6% of GDP

BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter

Friday, May 18, 2012

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MEMBERS of the business sector yesterday bemoaned the forceful economic decline the country has undergone as a result of high levels of crime.

"We are spending between five and six per cent of our GDP in protecting ourselves from crime," said Lt Commander George Overton."

Now that's a huge amount. If J were growing that fast, it would truly be excellent news.

Issa gave tourism life with new idea

Published: Thursday | June 11, 2009

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer




JAMAICA WAS on the proverbial knife's edge in 1976. The Government declared a State of Emergency in June to stem crime and political violence, a strategy that not only affected citizens but also crippled the economy.

Throughout the turmoil, hotelier John Issa came up with an initiative that helped transform Jamaica's tourism industry. The all-inclusive concept, first utilised by the French resort, Club Med, in the 1950s, was launched at what is now Hedonism II in Negril, Westmoreland, in December 1976.

"It was when tourism was in a terrible state, private hotels were shutting down and the Government was buying them. I had to find a way to bring visitors back to Jamaica," Issa told The Gleaner.

Issa, a director at The Gleaner, is one of 16 persons who will receive honorary degrees from the University of the West Indies (UWI) later this year.

"The all-inclusive concept, first utilised by the French resort, Club Med, in the 1950s"

Again, the concept or original idea WASN'T EVEN YOURS!

So DR has NOTHING to steal from your application dear Dready.

We're just doing what YOUR COUNTRY did, apply an existing idea but with BETTER PRODUCT CONTENT POTENTIAL.

And check out Haiti's Mining Laws being changed to facilitate FDI in its rich potential. Said to approximate 20 Billion USA dollars.

You might be VERY SURPRISED in both outcomes come 2023!!!

The island that was terminally plagued by vicious Dictatorial rulers and vastly undereducated populaces with teeming poverty will look and be very different and much improved. No longer the slackers of the Caribbean but two of the trend setters in economic growth and vitality.

You'll remember my words old chap.

@Atabey

Great artcle but I hope that was not an attempt at the imposible feat of educating this vagabond who might have been persuaded by a Duarte con Paris cuero into believing he knows anything about, well anything.

I caught him in that lie with his pants down some time ago and with no regard to shame (what a surprise) he keeps repeaing it in denial like a broken record.

Tomito,

As Dominicans we understand more than anyone the huge problems we still face in correcting many Legacy deficiencies in our country, but we can also appreciate that the trends and trajectory ARE moving positively and if we can sustain the efforts, we'll reap the rewards soon: better access to education, health care, housing, sanitation, bridges, roads, trains, buses, jobs, etc.

Rome wasn't created in a day!

We got into a huge hole with our long history of mismanagement and general instability. We also have the case of having a country that makes us look like Switzerland by comparison in Haiti as our neighbor. But FINALLY it appears that both sides are getting their modernization and development into gear. And what potential there exist for both countries!!!

Remember this salient fact: There are MORE people on the island of Hispaniola than on ALL the other islands of the Caribbean combined!

For many generations this has been a curse; now it just might open up

a huge market that will drive strong economic growth for decades to come.

Haiti just recently is setting its target on reforming its Mining Laws to make it easier for other countries and investors to invest in her vast stores of minerals: Gold, Copper, and Silver. 20 Billion dollars worth!

And there are more potential markets to take advantage of the increase in investments and GRANTS provided by Europe and the US/Canada and others.

The future looks promising for the two nations of Hispaniola.


Just have to have serious leadership supplying good governance and stay the course on being BUSINESS FRIENDLY!!!

With an understanding USA NAFTA as a market of last choice supporting us and having Europe's backing, DR and Haiti will prosper like never before in their history for the good of their people.

I'm sorry, Dready, but the Dominican Republic IS modernizing.
Nearly everyone owns a smart-phone to read (no books) and have you not seen the proliferation of satelite-TV dishes around the place? Okay, so they still cut the grass and the sugar-cane with machetes (or are they Haitians?) but women dry their hair with electric hairdryers, and every bicycle has a motor!

The potential for Haiti has always been there, we had similar economies just a few decades ago, sadly it was not until 1986 when they finally could get rid of the Duvalier regime and with that came the political unrest, the same that we ourselves endured after we got rid of Trujillo, to make matters worst they had the misfortune of the 2010 earthquake to impact their already challenged economy. I hope one day they catch up to the point they no longer have to cross the border but instead help accelerate the development of this beloved island and that both countries could live in peace.

tomito,
It seems to me that the Dominican Republic no longer suffers from political unrest and now suffers from political apathy.

Roy,

How about the numbers from The Economist Intelligence Unit?

You have a sounder basis to reject their estimates?

@Roy

I wouldn't necesarily call it apathy but rather having to choose between the lesser of two evils, Dominicans are obviously very passionate when it comes to politics, now believe it or not, overall, things are better now than some decades ago. It will take time and determination but we have overcome bigger obstacles in the past such as occupations and dictatorships. If Hippo wins, the situation will be set back for years, if Danilo wins and the PLD continues to help the economy to grow at a decent rate, old problems will still persist for quite some time but the country will keep moving in the right direction. We all know It ain't gonna happen overnight though.

BTW, you did not respond to my question on the Carnival Cruise article.

tomito,
The Dominican electoral system, lacking a proper preferential vote, is not conducive to the emergence of minor parties, essentially locking-in the two major parties as the only realistic options. I am totally flabbergasted that an ignorant buffoon like Hippo could be a serious contender, especially when he has already proven to be such a disastrous president.

RONEVAN this is the sad thing that this year there is more unemployment than last year in the d.r..

Sorry, tomito, what was your question regarding Carnival Cruises?

Cocoa, show me numbers.

Written by: RoyStone, 18 May 2012 5:38 PM
From: Australia

I'm sorry, Dready, but the Dominican Republic IS modernizing.
Nearly everyone owns a smart-phone to read (no books) and have you not seen the proliferation of satelite-TV dishes around the place? Okay, so they still cut the grass and the sugar-cane with machetes (or are they Haitians?) but women dry their hair with electric hairdryers, and every bicycle has a motor!"

Roy,

You should invest a few hours and go to a public library and read a few history books on DR. You think things are bizarre and out of place. What exactly do you know about the society that opened up after the Dictator Trujillo was assassinated in 1961? Sadly, many foreigners haven't a clue as to WHY things are so out of whack and see no way out or possibility.

Blut is a foreigner who at least understands balancing his First world views/understandings with the conditions and realities of a developing society like the DR. He's missed on DT.

says RoyStone

I'm sorry, Dready, but the Dominican Republic IS modernizing.
Nearly everyone owns a smart-phone to read

ahhh, smart phones. yes, the things that have made the study of geography passe. according to Atabey, that is.

Blut is a foreigner who at least understands balancing his First world views/understandings with the conditions and realities of a developing society like the DR. He's missed on DT.

more arrivals, more money, more Jeepetas y avionetas for Felix Bautista y co :)

Sadly but not surprisingly, Atabey, San Cristobal, a city of over 220,000 Dominicans, does not have a public library. However I have read far more about Dominican history than any of my neighbors (except maybe history of former Dominican baseball players in USA) on-line.

Every country has excuses in their history for being poor, uneducated or corrupt. The reality is, with the exception of a few idealistic patriots, this country's history has been one shaped by self-serving, corrupt individuals robbing or exploiting their fellow countrymen.
The Dominican Republic is about the same size as Switzerland, with about the same population and problems with illegal immigration, but far more natural resources, arable land, good climate and access to the sea. Yet it has a much lower GDP, higher rates of crime, corruption and environmental vandalism. So what's the real reason?

"Blut is a foreigner who at least understands balancing his First world views/understandings with the conditions and realities of a developing society like the DR. He's missed on DT."

Yes, and he was lynched by a mob of Dominicans on DT - what does that tell you about Dominicans?

says RoyStone

Yes, and he was lynched by a mob of Dominicans on DT - what does that tell you about Dominicans?

the prosecution rests

Written by: RoyStone,



Yes, and he was lynched by a mob of Dominicans on DT - what does that tell you about Dominicans?"

There's more to it than you let on; and his battle with a particular poster and their battle led to both being banned.

So don't fall victim to the same short sightedness that others have: missing the forest for the trees. Because some Dominicans do x, y or z doesn't mean all do or desire so.

What irks Dready's apes reflex is that I post the TRUTH about HIS NOT SO thriving Homeland. In fact, it makes the current DR look GOOD!


Dready talks about prostitution in DR without even acknowledging that THE SAME SORT OF PROBLEMS EXIST IN HIS OWN BACKYARD. Mothers and fathers Pimping their daughters and sons in Jamaica to foreigners and old Jamaicans alike, has been going on for many years.

Before throwing stones, check to see that YOUR OWN HOME ISN'T MADE OF GLASS.

"Yet it has a much lower GDP, higher rates of crime, corruption and environmental vandalism. So what's the real reason?"

To paraphrase Pogo: "We have met the enemy, and he is us"...!!

We, Mr Roy, are what the real reason is for being where we are today!...There's no denying that!
We, or a few of us, realize where we've been and where we want to go. And we also realize that, to get there, we also need to understand ourselves and make adjustments, as we see fit.
Yesterday's model of ourselves, does not fit the reality of today.
I truly believe that, in spite of our deficiencies, we can change and prosper.... and triumph!!
You'll see!

Ron,
I think you are right, and it seems there are not enough Dominicans like you, and most are not in the country where they are needed - the Eloi are still there and the Morlocks are in the USA.

Dominicans are unlike the rest of us mere mortals. they are exceptional, in every walk of life. their greatest gift is in the sphere of knowledge. earth's rank and file generally have to dedicate arduous hours of study , towards learning a subject. we have to start out in high school, then on to college, grad school, and the odd institute. Dominicans do not have to make such sacrifices. they are born with the sabelotodo gene. so, even if you spent 40 years studying quantum physics, any Dominican motoconcho jockey can teach you all you need to know, and more. it is God'd gift to Quisqueya. since there are only 700, 000 library books in a country of nearly 10 million people, it shows that reading is not necessary, when you are born with knowledge in your veins. so, do not ever argue with one, because he will always WIN, because he was born with the gift of knowing it all.

Dread, contrary to your keen and well-researched observations, we know that we don't know diddly, about much. We accept the fact that, in order to get anywhere, we have to improve our schools and higher learning institutions.
I, for one, give you plenty of credict for your well written, accurately-sounding postings on much of what is discussed here....To your detriment, your claim to be the only learned individual on these pages, makes you seem moronic, at best.
You talk about "sabelotodos", well, what do you think some of us think of you!?

i am different than you guys, in one major respect. i cannot discuss high tech, computers, ships, aeroplanes, guns, and a host of other subjects. i know less than zero about them. when people start talking about those subjects, i open my ears, and shut my mouth, and hope to come away having learned something. some of you guys here are the complete opposite. you know everything, about everything. so, i have been studying economics sine the 1960s, but some guy like Atabey, who does not have a single college credit in the discipline, will fight with me, to the death, and thinks he WON. so, you tell me who is the one who thinks he knows everything? you ever see me posting in a thread about the history and culture of Hispaniola? why do i have to get into a dogfight over something like FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT , something i have studied since the 70s,with a guy who never studied economics?

RonEvane. take a look at the exchanges between Ricardolito and myself, regarding matters of economics , and development. absolute respect, and mutual cordiality. know why? we both studied the subject, and we know our limitations, and we are on a common wavelength. then, look at those between myself, and a guy like Atabey. he never studied the difference between supply and demand, but he thinks that he somehow has the power to outgun, and outmaneouver me, on matters pertaining to the discipline. then you say i think i iknow everything?

RonEvane.


Take a look at the exchanges between Ricardolito and myself, regarding matters of economics , and development. absolute respect, and mutual cordiality. know why?

Because unlike Dready, who will take the position that if it happens in DR it's the worst example since.....well you know what I mean. Anything that happens appears to be the worst possible example, until that is ONE PEEKS BEHIND THE CURTAIN AND WITNESSES WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OLD JAMAICA! LOL

If Dready were balanced in his assessments, I would have far less problems with his takes on DR. But he acts as though DR is the worst.

edit

says Atabey

If Dready were balanced in his assessments, I would have far less problems with his takes on DR. But he acts as though DR is the worst.

this is his standard modus operandi. to lie. he cannot tell the truth, to save his life. i criticize the idea of the cruise ship port in Maimon. i also criticized the idea of the port in Jamaica. the former Minister of Tourism in the last government, Eddie Bartlett, is my very good friend, from childhood. we have exchanged emails, in which i have voiced my displeasure regarding cruise ships as a development strategy for Jamaica. so, Atabey is just lying again, the thing he knows to do best, next to being irritating.

Dready,

One example does NOT make a case. Also, whilst you make a point about the Cruise business being far from a panacea-and who was saying otherwise?-the salient point IS THAT in the Caribbean context having Cruise business opens up OTHER possibilities and creates conditions for MORE and diversified tourism packages.

This Carnival Cruise business will garner DR good PR among other potential investors. As they will see that DR is adjusting and making the country a more Business friendly environment. The trick is to forge a diversified and ecologically sustainable, on balance, set of tourist packages to meet different tourist markets.

Atabey,
Sorry, but I don't see how cruise-ship visits are good for other forms of tourism in the Dominican Republic. Most Dominican tourism is first-time tourism. The return rate is very low. They come expecting what they see in the brochures promotional videos. They are disappointed to find it is not what they were sold. You only get one shot at taking their money. Better a week at an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Plata than an afternoon in the Colonial Zone and Boca Chica.

"Cruise business opens up OTHER possibilities and creates conditions for MORE and diversified tourism packages. "

Exactly my point, Atabey. Even if only one in ten visitors like it enough to come back, it is still ONE extra visitor that can potentially spend a few dollars that we wouldn't otherwise, earn!

Some here think a penny is insignificant. Some of us think it's a penny more than we had before.
I don't minimize or belittle ANY extra income, regardless of it's size.!

Roy says: "the return rate is very low". Well, how low is it?.. Are you guessing or do you have hard figures? ...
"they are disappointed to find it is not what they were sold"..Again, how do you know that? Or are you projecting your own biased opinion on this. Eh?

and Ron,

The other point is that when a business this size opens up and is able to do business without problems that MESSAGE GETS SENT TO ALL OTHER POTENTIAL INVESTORS. Many people take a wait and see view, especially in places that have a history of being complicated to do business in LIKE DR.

So there's much more to this than meets the eye.

Hang in there. We just got Josean La Gatita crying the night away.............LOL

The Hippo was last seen in high seas without a life-jacket. Josean and BASTA close by his side.

Atabey, with Medina, the worst that could happen is that he'll mirror Leonel's brand of government!
but I expect a lot more. I watched him on an interview, the other day, and the guy blew me away with his intelligence, and, seemingly, genuine concern for the sorry state of our economy and educational systems.
The man has solid strategies for tackling our most perverse, degrading and damaging hardships/ impediments, we're struggling with today!

El tipo me cae bien. A ver lo que pasa.

"Many people take a wait and see view, "

That's true. But the risk-takers are the ones who either lose their shirts or strike gold!
The way I see it, our DR is on a path to becoming a major earner in many fields.
Those without faith can go to hell. My money is in the vastly undeveloped potential in DR for the near future...with Our Lady Of the Capitalists Fools, blessings, that is....Amen!

Ron,

1) If only 1 in 10 come back, that's 9 you only got chicken-feed from when coming ashore from a cruse-ship, that would have spent far more, had they stayed only once in an all-inclusive.

2) Dready has already posted statistics showing the return-rate is abysmally low, even for the Samana Peninsula, arguably the best this country has to offer.

3) Anecdotely, I have spoken to a number of people in resorts saying they will not return due to the poor service, and they didn't even step outside the resort to see the rubbish and the crime.

4) I have lived in 3rd-world countries before so I did not come with the unrealistic expectations one would get from the tourist brochures and videos. I did not come for pristine beaches, forests and mountains - they are far more abundant in Australia. I found what I came here for and am more than happy - thank you Dominican Republic!

Ron,
For the best of what this country has to offer, go to:

latineuro.com/browse.php?PHPSESSID=gl9mu7og84snlehpqr1oku26u4&u=4fb9d16e73317&genre=0&seeking=1&country=60&I2.x=14&I2.y=50

One example does NOT make a case. Also, whilst you make a point about the Cruise business being far from a panacea-and who was saying otherwise?-the salient point IS THAT in the Caribbean context having Cruise business opens up OTHER possibilities and creates conditions for MORE and diversified tourism packages.

SUCH AS WHAT? by the way, RonEvane, you need to read some more about cruise ship tourism. i suggest you start with The CROWDING OUT EFFECS OF CRUISE SHIP TOURISM ON STAYOVER TOURISM. when you are done, we can discuss this matter further

says Profe Atabey, the new authority on tourism

"Cruise business opens up OTHER possibilities and creates conditions for MORE and diversified tourism packages. "


such as what, oh wise man?

Roy, thanks for the link. saw lots beautiful/sexy/gorgeous/ pussies..er cats!

Dread. I'll check it out. Is it a book or a report?..where do I find it?

ermes.u-paris2.fr/doctrav/0811.pdf

just add the http to this link, since the site does not allow links. it is a working paper by Georges Bresson

Atabey says that i am jealous of the cruise port in Maimon

royalcaribbeanblog.com/category/category/jamaica

this makes Maimon look like a bathtub. winner ofthe 2011 cruise port awards, worldwide. besides, partly owned by the Jamaica government, as opposed to Maimon, an enclave owned by Carnival, and which most Dominicans will never see, in their lifetimes, since it is at the end of a private road.