with the economy worsening these measures will be interpreted as elitist and not what they really are which is the protection of an economic resource

I agree with the " OPERATION "

as long as they provide a place for street vendors to sell their products.

100% no tourist wants to be hassled by these vendors.

They are way to agressive , trying to "annoy" you into buying something.

Escott,
Yes these people can be a real/royal pain in the a-- and even Stupid sometimes but to suggest them be "SHOT DEAD" for trying to make a honest living come on ! yes they should be given a area at least 100 yards away from the Hotels and give the customers a choice for a number of reasons...Like price Competition, Free enterprise besides everyone likes a good bargain...Save the bullets for the Kidnappers, Thieves/muggers, Dug dealer/users scum of the earth. Theses people are only trying to make a living that's all.

Escott,

you wouldn't want to be shot, would you, for saying something as stupid like you did in your comment, if your trying to prove a point by saying that these venders are stupid for trying to make a living, then I guess you are to, and think about it...........you just made a comment.

Hey scott, I agree with you in the part of been too agresive to tourists......But how you ever been outside the lake? if so then you should it have notes it that in many places like in WDC when you go there you see street vendors selling their goods to tourists. so for you yo say that it is not good. Go to the counch islands like Key West, stock island, island morada big pine key or key largo or may be new orleans and many many other places where you do find these vendors. so before you make such stupid coment please do your work.

Beaten severly maybe shot dead well, maybe just a metaphor.. but we can all agree they are nuisance and out of control.
When I am approached by these wolves I politely say no gracias about 20 times before I get angry.

Then out of spite I go to the vendor who is sitting their quietly and spend wads of money.

That my way of teaching the uneducated..

Jander now thats what I call educated,

I'll be on Febrero 27 and duarte, I'll try and mind my own business ok, how will you know its me
look for a furry tail, and I'm white with big light brown eyes, kind of like honey,,,,jajajja, just kitten

anyways thats how to do it, they trying to make money, and they shouldn't be treated bad, all we have to do is just ignore them and use self disapline, unless something their selling catches your intrest. thats all their is to do.

sadly, this is one of the sociological concomitants of the tourism industry which is found everywhere. places like bavaro are oases of relative affluence in a wasteland of poverty, and people will always gravitate to where they can earn a living. these are desperate people, who, unfortunately, do not have the social graces which allow them to understand when they are becoming pestilent. it is too dismissive of the issue to recommend that they be expunged summarily from the environs, so as not to disrupt the precious tranquility of the tourists. that is too easy, almost like recommending a cessation of all immigration for economic reasons. there has got to be some middle ground here. that is what tourism should address in part; how to alleviate the poverty of the region. this is all due to the indolence, short sightedness, and lack of understanding of social issues by the principals involved. they believe that tourism is simply a matter of putting up spectacular structures, and high

occupancy rates, and the devil take the hindmost. some sort of education process for the vendors, or a formal vending arrangement is necessary. how about a nearby crafts market, with stalls at nominal rental, THEN the banning of informal approaches to the visitors?

I say...Coño!.... Diablo!

Try feeding your family and making ends meet on what you earn busting your ass in the DR.

Who really owns Punta Cana?

I say the people...

Punta Cana is the richmans whorehouse... Go try fooling someone else..

Very good, those agressive salespeople should be removed from the beach long time ago, all they do is molesting tourists.

and, of course, ozone1, we just cannot have that, can we? we cannot have some precious first world tourist inconvenienced by some scruffy third world native, who is just trying to feed his family. why, the absolute nerve. and before you start, spare me the homilies about the benefits of tourism to the caribbean. any scholar of the tourist industry knows that the first world countries derive FAR more benefits from tourism than the host countries. in a country such as the DR, because of the phenomenon of leakage, only 19 cents of every tourist dollar actually accrues to the country, which has to deal with issues such as environmental degradation, resource diversion, and the contamination of its customs and culture. so, if some "peasant" tries to get you to buy a shell, albeit a little forcefully, or you get stung by a centipede, or it rained a little too much for your liking, just remember that you are not called upon to be nice to the "natives", while they have to kiss your butt!!

let us hear about the magic of Ozone and where can i send my money

actually dread the idea of a craft/flea market is a great idea and it works very well in Jamaica, Mexico and the Bahamas and actually winds up being an attraction drawing many tourists and locals alike. Both sides of the argument win! The tourist ministry in conjunction with the resorts should set aside the land and maybe even fabricate the booths to keep from being too much like a shanty town. I am really kind of surprised no one has done this already.

Domericano,
Great Idea .........end of problem......Have the local City Gov. set a area approx. 100 yards away then have craft / flea Market vendors pay rent and issue them a temporary License which is renewed yearly. This in turn will take care of the trash problem [ tax / permit money be used for clean-up & local POLICE ] and create both a Tourist and a local economic Market area for all, then create a complain system after so many complains the vendor is fined and his License removed for life.

Domericano, when i am not in my usual state of disarray, i see some things clearly. a crafts market need only be a simple , almost symmetrical, array of stalls, constructed inexpensively, but attractively. the government could charge a monthly, or annual rental, reasonable enough to be affordable, but sufficient to allow for the recovery of the initial investment. this monthly fee could then be applied to the construction of other stalls, if the situation calls for more. that way, the vendors could display and sell their wares in a more orderly fashion, without being a source of molestation to prospective buyers. there should be zero tolerance for barkers of any kind; the market should function free of buscones. the market would have some sort of security force, so vendors could leave their product in situ, not having to trek it in each day. voila! a job for a guachiman or two!!

What I am seeing as i work...and live on the resort...and once off the resort look just like a tourist...is that the crafts being offered on the beach are not what one would carry through customs....coke.....smoke.....exctasy.

it's a changing world here and some of these vendors are benefiting from those wayward kilo's that always seem to missing.

is that right, PuntaCanaMike? it would appear that the nature of the game is changing.

PuntaCanaMike,
SURPRISE...SURPRISE...SURPRISE....You should have known better scum will always find scum no matter where one goes, no matter what part of the World you're at, why travel half way around the World for the same crap.....The crap is probably 10 times better here in the US at any major City anyway. Why just say nope to dope, ug to drugs...THE WORLD WILL BE A BETTER PLACE WITH OUT IT ANYWAY. Anybody, anywhere could find dope...........Even me.

hhhhhmmmmmmm, mrios

does that mean your trying to make a sale?

Gatitapequena,
You don't know me....And I don't know you..........good thing you don't .........I don't know what you meant by that last comment ...So I'll just excuse you as one who lost there freaking mind for now ....What I meant was trash will always attract trash no matter what ......I hate drugs and drug users, it's simple no drug users .....NO DRUGS........So I'll keep it clean for know.

dreadlocks:
It is the way that vendors "attacking" it is not selling, it is molesting
gouletcolonial:
you don't have money, and you are too ignorant to understand technology

I am looking for a cure for cancer can you help me Wizard of ozone.......

you see, ozone1, one of the problems associated with the tourism phenomenon is the aspect of cross-cultural perception. what is one man's vinegar is another man's wine. so, approaches which are acceptable, or at least tolerable, in one society, are irksome in another. as i sit to breakfast at an outdoor cafe, i am approached by myriad limpiabotas, all trying to importune me to have my shoes shined, even if they are already glistening (they aren't, usually). i understand their desperation and despair, because i am familiar with the economics and culture. my response is different to that of some guy from Banff, who sees it as a pestilent intrusion upon his quietude, and his primary source of worry is to determine the most efficacious way of shooing them out of his presence without appearing obnoxious. actually, it is very similar to new york in the early 1980s, when stopping for a traffic light in certain parts of manhattan would occasion a crowd of prostitutes aggressively

you ought to know about the hookers in NYC dread they say you were a true aficionado

sprawling all over your car, desperate for a customer who will provide them the funds for their next drug fix, or to have Rufus the Pimp's money at the end of the shift. the dynamics are the same; only the players vary. the Dominican government has to take an intellectual approach to tourism. it is a product with a life cycle, the final stages of which are degradation and stagnation, and , in certain cases, complete collapse. Hotel Management, as taught at places like Cornell, only address the hospitality aspects of the exercise. Tourism Management also has to be studied in an interdisciplinary fashion, if we are to rid ourselves of these issues. there are competing dynamics at play; the economic considerations, the social and cultural conditions, and the ecological ramifications. when juxtaposed, these issues create a perfect storm, which , if not properly diagnosed and analysed, accelerate the degradation of the offering, and ruins the tourist product.

actually, GC, in my halcyon days, i often considered trading places with the aforementioned Rufus.

I think he was your alter ego.....coat hangars and all

i am a little more legit than the coat hanger crowd, thank you!

mrios you are right we don't know each, because if we were facing each other you wouldn't be able to handle this chick in front of you

F.Y.I
This forum as I believe was formed for people to make comments and opinions about the news / issues, now having said that we should consider every now in then there is a difference of beliefs, Religions and opinions. I just hope it's in constructive exchange, heck we might even learn from it...I have in the past on issues I didn't now enough on ....Although I will be honest I have not meet a CHICK I could not handle or MAN HANDLE for that matter...I'll leave it at that.

mrios, by and large, the posters in the forum strive to deliver an educative product. we might have diverse viewpoints, but the bulk of the conversation is worthwhile, and we all learn something new every day. the contaminants to the quality of the exchanges are usually the musings of the misguided malcontents, who see it as an opportunity to vent their spleen against haitians. nobody said anything is perfect.

Deadlocks,
THANKS....I NEEDED THAT....I'LL REMEMBER NEXT TIME NOT TO TAKE EVERYTHING SO DARN PERSONAL......Haitians are people too, with the same wants and needs which are no different then anybody else's.... You can always tell people whats in their Hearts, by what comes out of there mouths [computers] I'll leave on a good note, I love arros con pollo.

mrios. as a coincidence, that is what i am dining on, as we speak. stay with us awhile, and don't be a stranger. and, thank you for your observations on haitians. i only wish your words meant something to some of our misguided denizens of this forum.

wwoooffff, wwwooofff.......who let the dogs out........wwwooofff, wwwoofff

""Sittin tall, shiny coat, trimmed nails, no takers""

PPPPUUUUURRRRR

Took the 20 minute walk to Cortecito yesterday morning.....um......just as many vendors.....my friend....my friend....where you from.....my friend......why....you no like me....you wan chica....is berry gud....I have special today....you wanna coca....all of this at 9:30AM.

The news here is just writing on a screen. There IS NO VISIBLE CRACKDOWN in Bavaro.

PuntaCanaMike, they said they would impose a crackdown. they just did not say when. manana, mike, manana.

Dreadlocks,
Next time your on the South West Coast of California the let me know in advance. Take care Brother.

I am all for regulation and control of vendors in tourist areas. And yes, though It may appear as an elitist move by the authorities, in the long run it will protect everyone and help retain high quality standards. Otherwise if left alone, to allow local market forces to self-regulate will most likely be detrimental and not the most fair and efficient arbitrator of resources. A perfect example, as a child I grew up going to Sosua Beach on the North Coast near Puerto Plata. I remember it was a beautiful and pristine coastal area. Today, as a native Dominican I consider it a disaster. All along the outer perimeter area of the beach is a long line of shoddy looking kiosks permanently stationed with sleazy people trying to push products and services. Plus all the other vendors that directly walk to approach you every other minute to sell their wares. Then you see all kinds of garbage and gas residue floating in the water. They have turned our beach into a slum and it hurts to see it

thanks for your kind words, mrios. and Guillermone, if the tourist ministry had organised things properly, probably along the crafts market line outlined above, this anarchy would not prevail. it is not the fault of the vendor, who is just a desperate creature, out of control. mankind has to be reigned in, on all levels. self control is not the forte of most people. people come on the forum and pontificate about these pestilent tourists. yes, it is government's role to control the situation. left to their own devices, the vendors are going to be a nuisance. they are no different than the owners of Corvettes and Lamborghinis, who have to be controlled forcibly by state troopers and extortionate fines for speeding!

Oh..... by the way OZONE1 from Poland, I agree, we should also just as well get rid of the "Molesters" in addition to the peddlers. Who the hell wants molestors on the beach. LOL

Dreadlocks,
Very well said Brother like always common since will always prevail. Today is a day set aside / apply the brakes and reflect on life in general, kindness goes a long way. TO ALL in the U.S and overseas may GOD Bless you all and HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

mrios, the very same to you and your family. be safe, and be happy.

dreadlocks,
Many thanks, I did not want to say this but....On a rainy late Saturday afternoon 11-01-08 while in route to my 2nd job in Encino, California on the 14 Freeway I lost control of my Toyota P/U truck and flipped it 3 times and was left for dead, trapped alone and unable to get out, it took 1 hour to be rescued with the jaws of life...3 days later I woke-up in Henry Mayo Memorial Hospital in Valencia, Calif. with terrible neck, left shoulder and lower back injuries and unable to remember 3 days. [thank god my neck was not broken] . I just reached the conclusion that I may never recover, but, thats O.K so what, I have my life Wife and 3 boys that's what matters know. Let this be a lesson to ALL no one is guaranteed tomorrow, so treat every today like its your last day... Just ask your self the most basic Human question HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED once your gone to eternity ????

mrios, let me say that i am positively delighted to know that you are still with us, and i wish you a speedy recovery. at least i hope the turkey went down well. when i go off into the great blue beyond, i want to be remembered for my personal crusade to leave the planet a better place than i found it. i might not be able to improve it single handedly, but i sure as heck will not consciously do anything to devalue it! i also have sons, and i would never like to think that an action of mine brings shame and disrepute upon them. that is my homily for thanksgiving.

mrios
Very sorry to hear about your mishap, just to put it mildly. And yes you still have your life and family two of the most precious treasures that you have. My best wish is that you have a prompt recovery and as always something positve will come out of this negative experience; I'm sure and I truly believe that. With the proper care and treatment, the human body is resilient an incredible machine, you will be amazed.

Anyway hope that everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend, because I know you mrios, had a great one and you will have many more to come. My prayers are with you and your family to your good health and continued safety.-AMEN

Guillermone, Dreadlocks,
Many thanks for those encouraging words SOME OF THE BEST WORDS COME FROM TOTAL STRANGERS.
Guillermone last March I went to Sosua it was my 2nd visit. my first visit I was on a mission. An old friend of mine Zolten Friedmann who survived Auschwitz Death Camp settled near Sosua in 1951 he passed in "2000" at the age of 81, he would tell me of the beauty that was once Sosua. I also visited the Sosua Jewish Museum and yeah what a disaster for a minute I thought I was in Santo Domingo, it was total Kaos. Sosua is beautiful I can only imagine Sasua 20, 30 even 40 years ago, with rapid growth and the promise of big, fast bucks comes all the problems that are associated with out some sort of Gov. control. I was looking for a lot to build a home not an investment instead I bought on the South / West part of the Island. But being the Dom. Rep. it would only be a matter of time........Take Care.

you are most welcome, mrios. and continue to recuperate , with God speed. when you get here, we want you in perfect shape.

Dreadlocks, Guillermone
God willing I'm planning a trip to the Dom. Rep. late spring next year "2009" part biz / vacation for a week I'll let you know and I'll keep you guys posted. Take Care.

let's do it, mrios!

Mrios, Your welcome! And I am happy to know that at least someone has an idea of what has happened in Sosua. Tourism and progress is a double edge sword, with the positives comes along many negatives. Then again if it wasn't for progress we would be still be living in caves and writing on stone and not have the internet. Nevertheless, I do yearn for they days when DR was a simple country, you could be a complete stranger and knock on someones door and they would invite you in for coffeee and if they liked you enough even stay over for lunch. Today everyone is in a mad rush for the fast buck. I have nothing against making money, it only bothers me when the human aspects of everyday life are substituted for the material. Though DR still has much of those human qualities left and probably the main reason why we are a top tourist destination, I do see it gradually disappearing. I did not have the chance to meet Zolten F but was friendly with a few of the Jewish families.

By the way mrios, I will seriously consider that trip to the DR in 2009. If I make it, most likely it would be for a 4 day week end. I am however, going to be spending the Christmas holidays in the DR during the last two weeks in December/08. Nevertheless, keep me posted

guillermone, you can still knock on your neighbors door and be invited in for coffee in places like San Jose De Ocoa. Mao, etc. the decline in human quality is to be seen in the areas where tourism and foreign settlements are more prevalent, like Sosua, Boca Chica, Cabarete, Puerto Plata. but the DR people, removed from the fast life ecosystem, occasioned by tourism and its trappings, is still a wonderful soul.

Dreadlocks, Guillermone
THAT'S A 10-4 Guys, G be careful in the DR during the Holidays last year I was there until the last 2 weeks of X-Mas with my Cousin Francisco in Santo Domingo and it was real crazy. I just hope and pray you'll have a safe return with lots of pictures and good memories.

that goes double for you, mrios. fear not; i will stay in the rural areas during the crazy season.

Yes, dreadlocks, I have visited other parts of the world, and I don't care what they say but overall and taking everything into consideration, compared to "DR people", you are obsolutely right as you say, "is still a wonderful soul."

mrios, thanks for your concern, I plan to spend most of my time in the Cibao region Santiago, Moca and la Vega area with only a few days in the Capital of Santo Domingo. My US born teen-age daughter has not had the chance to tour the city, museums and the colonial zone and would like to take this time to have her absorb more of our culture. BEST WISHES AND HAPPY HOLLIDAYS TO EVERYONE !!!!!

Dreadlocks, Guillermone,
One looks at the History of Sosua and one can't help but stop to think that even during the Dark Era of Trujillo and for possible Political reasons the Dominican Republic was the only Country in the World to fulfill it's promise by taking in fleeing Jews from Europe and the Nazi Death Machine. My friend Zolten was the only one in his whole Family to survive and would tell me of the kindness the Dominican people showed them which gave him hope to keep on living, he would say it's like coming from "The pits of hell, to a Heavenly Beautiful Paradise Island" one week before his passing Zolten told me he wish he had a way to thank the Dominican People. If ever in Sosua near the Jewish Museum and see a Olive tree planted....It could be from the Memorial tree planted in front of my School H.H.S in Honor of Zolten, seeds were donated to the Museum Curator.
TAKE CARE.

mrios, other caribbean islands did their part in taking in Jewish refugees. Trujillo is celebrated for his part, because of his purported motivation, to "whiten" the population. but, in all the caribbean islands there is a vibrant Jewish sector, and all the capital cities have synagogues.

Dreadlocks,
Thank you for the information and educating me.

dreadlocks, though it is true that other caribbean islands and countries in Latin America did their part taking in Jewish refugees, it is however, not true during this particular time in history. It was around WW II that for some reason, I don't recall, no one wanted them. In fact, I personally know and I am friendly with Joe Benjamin and his family, I believe it is his wife who is or was the curator of the Jewish museum in Sosua. His parents excaped Nazi persecution, left on a ship that for months wondered the oceans looking for a country that would take them in. In this case Joe was actually born in the port of Shanghi, China until a country was found which happens to be the DR. Joe arrived in Sosua as a newly born infant, lived and grew up in the area until they later relocated to the capital city. He was part owner and one of the executives of Sosua products, the milk and chesse processor, until it was sold to a Mexican conglomerate a few years ago. That is why Trujillo got credit

Thinking about Joe and what happened to him. Think about it, he is Chinese by birth, European by race, German by ancestry, Jewish by religion and culturally Dominican. Is there such a thing as a Kosher
"la bandera" --Arroz, habicuela y carne ? Amusing, I might add, but very interesting, I must say.

read the book " Ship of Fools " k a porter

Thanks GC, will find and read it. If not mistaken, I believe there is also an old movie out with that same name, possibly a sequel to the book. I will research it.

TO ALL,
Sorry but I'm over come with emotion. Who would think that such a conversation and a exchange of information on the Jews of Sosua would bring out such Humanity for all to reflect. I truly believe that's what this forum was created for in the first place. No insults, no in your face, just exchange of knowledge. I've always molded my life around Zolten, for if anybody deserves to hate it was Zolten he lost his Mother, Father, Brothers and Sister who was pregnant and her whole Family who were Murdered by the Nazi's NEVER DID I EVER HEAR OR DETECT HATE FROM THIS MAN who had the right to hate. I was a pall bearer and a guest speaker at his Funeral at Mount Sinai Hollywood Hills, California his name is forever carved on the entrance of the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, California. He is survived by his Widow who resides in North Hollywood, California. Please contact Joe Benjarmin for me I would love to meet him on next visit to the DR.

mrios, I am a very close friend to Joe's brother in law. I will contact and let them know that you wish to meet him. Maybe during the Spring of 2009 it would be possible. In the mean time I will see what I can do start some communication in the mean time.

Guillermone, Dreadlocks,
Yes, I will contact Dominican Today .com to authorize and forward my personal home email address for you and Dreadlocks to email me direct.....I would of put on this personal information on this Forum but something told me not too.

excellent

I hear you Mike, last week I was in Punta Cana and as a tourist was a bit taken back by the aggressiveness by vendors waiting on the edge of the resort as I jogged the beach. I admire the passive agressive approach, buying from the silent vendor. cheers!

jessilee, i understand your anguish. that is why i advocate a dedicated area for vendors; a crafts market. the rest of the area should be a "no buy zone".

I agree. What goes into making a change like that?
Regaurdless, I cant wait to return.

it would entail designating a specific plot of land for the construction of stalls for the vendors, sort of like a flea market, then declaring the sale of goods outside the stalls to be a violation of the town ordnances. that way, you go to them, not the other way around

Dreadlocks,
Great Idea, and if those vendors were charged a very small monthly rental fee, that money generated in tern can then go towards Security and daily clean up. If any employee, vendor or associate caught in violation of any Laws their property would then be confiscated. They would be banned for life with fines and possible jail time. this is a all win situation I'm sure all would benefit with good results.

absolutely, mrios. nothing chaotic functions properly. i have no doubt in my mind that an orderly environment would generate more sales. prospective buyers could peruse each stall at their leisure, checking the offerings at their own pace. with the current state of anarchy, the atmosphere is too frenetic to promote shopping. people just want to flee, and not risk themselves being exposed to pickpockets and chainsnatchers while fending off overly aggressive hawkers and peddlers.

Dreadlocks,
Your right, it always sounds to good to true in the DR, how sad everybody loses.

Wouldn't that take some political involvement? And is there a willingness for this kind of activity in the D.R?