Venezuelan ‘tourists’ flock to Dominican ATMs for dollars

Santo Domingo.- Most Venezuelans who come to the Dominican Republicas tourists don’t do so for pleasure and instead to benefit from the quotas in dollarswhich they can withdraw from ATM machines at airports by using the "travelercoupon" which form part of the Venezuelan government’s currency regulations.

Listin.com.do reports long lines of Venezuelans are seen dailyat the Las Americas Airport terminal seeking ATMs to withdraw dollar within thequotas established by Caracas for those who visit the Dominican Republic with atourist status.

In Dominican Republic’s case Venezuela’s National Foreign TradeCenter CENCOEX issues a "traveler coupon" with a dollar amount to eachpassenger, which can be withdrawn upon arrival at the airport.

Many visitors have been stranded in the country withoutmoney to pay their lodging expenses or for the departure tax dollars to returnto Venezuela, when their credit cards failed to respond when introduced into anATM.