Actually now is the time to invest. Prices are low and it will rebound.
During every economic downturn there are people like Dready who claim that people will never spend like they did before. And of course he is wrong like he always is.

the einstein of economics, anthonyc, gives his prize winning appraisal. well, anthonyc, there are different moving part to all economic machines. so, buying certain things and hoping for rebounds will work in certain cases, not in all. but, since you have smelt too much castrol R fumes, i would not expect you to fathom that.

So you are expecting the tourism industry to flounder and never recover?

Care to expand on that?

go google "tourism life cycle" and read some insights. i do not expect it to die, no. but take Puerto Plata. two years ago they blew millions bringing sand from Sosua to make an artificial beach on the Malecon. it was going to be the Monte Carlo of the Caribbean. land was selling like hot bread, because everyone saw big things brewing. now Puerto Plata is a ghost town. and Punta Cana is not, so it cannot entirely be blamed on the state of the world economy. Puerto Plata will have to be completely re-tooled, or it will become a cow pasture. it has run its course, and no amount of land speculators can change that.

Expert on everything, truly amazing...

Escott, the pest of the forum, is jealous because people see him for what he is; a loathsome vermin, with atrocious manners and even worse education. the poor guy attempted to call me a "pseudo intellectual", but embarrassed himself by mis-spelling the word. but, he knows no shame. any decent human being, following up on a faux pas such as that, would have at least had the good sense to lay low for awhile. but the child in him beats on, unabated. he is like a five year old, who is not sufficiently prepared to discuss events with adults, so he sits on the couch and sulks. similarly, he cannot participate in any conversation which does not offer him opportunity to berate Dominicans, the only apparent tool he has in the box. so, he snipes at me. hey, Escott, the intelligent people on this board, like Mr Lautaro, ElToro, Tupapaupa, Generoso, Devin, DominicanLady, and many others, find my postings useful. so, i am not perturbed by some guy who can barely sign his name. you are inconsequential, and, just like they do at DR1, they find you idiotic here too. BEGONE! DISMISSED!

They took London's docklands and developed that. I see an increase in long stay tourism with an aging poputlation Europe and the Euro being very strong. For some people spending 3 months in the sun can be as cheap as living at home with fuel bills, car expenses, high food and entertainment costs etc. etc. A friend just back from italy says a small beer is about 6-7 dollars. In Paris dinner for two is up to 400 dollars prix fixe (130 E per person ) A couple of nights away at a decent hotel 600 dollars.
In DR prices are much lower......
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g259440-d1215898-r23394953-Mi_Corazon-Las_Terrenas_Samana_Peninsula_Dominican_Republic.html
European languages such as French are of course widely spoken in parts of the DR

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S.

That is a case of bad planning in a unsuitable area. Puerto Plata is a dump and always will be a dump.

I know all about tourism life cycles...That just proves my point and that you are wrong.

well, anthony, international politics being the uncertain things they are, what would be the result of a complete liberalisation of movement between the USA and Cuba, for instance? any effect on tourism and investment here, you think? besides, Puerto Plata did have salad days, but has been supplanted by Punta Cana and Bavaro. and, if some fantastic area crops up in El Salvador, speculator money will be heading there ,too. sand and sun tourism is dime a dozen. it is not like the statue of liberty, or the sphinx. every country within 20 degrees from the equator has them, unless landlocked.

When Cuba opens up to the US and changes to a full market economy, the DR will see stiff competition. In an attempt to join the profitable tourism band wagon, I suspect that eventually, together with Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Salvador and Honduras, will follow to offer similar low cost tropical beach vacations. Our hope and most unique quality Dominicans have, different from the rest of those countries is our open, hospitable, friendly and festive demeanor. However, as we have prospered and become more of an urban and less rural society, even that is now changing. We can go even further and add Colombia to the mix. Only a few hours flight from the US mainland, Colombians have a similar personality to that of Dominicans. Among others things, it is a most complete country. They have beautiful locations such as San Andres, Santa Marta, Baranquilla and Cartagena. If they ever get their national safety issues resolved, they will rack up well, because it offers a well diverse product.

My point is that the DR must re-invent itself, prepare and be ready to compete against future players and not relay on previous models, that at one time worked but today fail to meet and adapt to changing market demands, such is the case of Puerto Plata. Though it was orginally conceived as a low cost beach destination and openned the doors to Dominican tourism, today no longer works. Pto. Ptata attracted a low end, low caliber, unprofitable tourist which eventually provoked its demise.