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Santo Domingo.– The Dominican Republic is quite possibly the perfect embodiment of a Caribbean paradise nation, with its palm-fringed, white sandy beaches which are lapped by warm azure seas and caressed by almost endless summer days, this holiday hotspot is booming on the back of intelligent government policy designed to maintain macroeconomic balance and enable and encourage investment.

The government and private sector are united in nurturing the tourism and real estate industries in the Dominican Republic as these are fundamental drivers of the overall economy, which is why the destination is becoming a more and more enticing place for a holiday or even a holiday home investment.

With consistent effort and policy planning in place to promote the delights and undeniable appeal of the nation, combined with significant investment into everything from road infrastructure to the enhancement of amenities and facilities for lifestyle tourism, the overall attraction of the Dominican Republic is improving annually.

This level of sustained and focused investment has already led to a significant rise in tourism numbers and it is also supporting far greater investment interest in the Dominican Republic’s affordable yet high-end property market.

According to the nation’s Tourism Minister there has been an 8% increase in tourism arrivals in 2008 already, this is backed up by statistics from the Central Bank released earlier this year suggesting that in the first four months of 2008 alone, 1.6 million visitors arrived to soak up the Dominican Republic’s stunning sunshine, an increase of almost 6% year on year from 2007.

To further enhance the appeal of the nation, its accessibility and economic success, Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez has just announced the details of the Dominican Republic’s 2008-2012 Tourism Plan.

The plan is an outline for investment and it is designed to enable an increase in international arrivals of around 170,000 visitors per year, generating 200 million dollars in annual revenue and reaching 5 million annual arrivals by 2012.

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COMMENTS
23 comment(s)
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Written by: CarlosFranco, 21 Jun 2008 6:53 AM
From: United States
Not all is rotten in DR... Very proud
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 21 Jun 2008 7:59 AM
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
carlos please qualify your pride....are these people coming for sex and drugs and cheap accomodations or......High quality and excellent service interesting surroundings and friendly citizens and an ecologically correct enviroment at a fair price
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 21 Jun 2008 8:02 AM
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
we must be careful not to be known as a" Charge them double and give them nothing destination "
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Written by: Euromax, 21 Jun 2008 9:38 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Region Cibao
CarlosFranco, your ride! this is pride!, you people spececulater to much, my country is well organize in this case, we have things that no other poor latin country has, and we are one of the most non violent countries in this continent, so im proud!
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 21 Jun 2008 10:50 AM
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
"Pride Cometh Before the Fall " be careful and pay attention to your product
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Written by: Rainman, 21 Jun 2008 11:08 AM
From: United States
The Dominican Republic as any other latin american country has a lot to offer the toursit visiting with the right intentions of spending some relaxation and resting time. As any other latin american country they still have to polish their service and accomodations in many places. I agree is safe and the people are usually friendly.

I think the worst enemy to the tourist industry are the dominicans residing abroad most are quick to tell a will be visitor how bad things are there and how unsafe it is. The gov. has to make an effort to change that view of the country. I am spending more time there than in the states these days and I find it to be safer than most countries such as venezuela, costa rica, mexico etc.
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 21 Jun 2008 11:20 AM
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Thank you rainman for your insights and thanks for telling the expats to stop knocking their country when they are living abroad
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 21 Jun 2008 11:21 AM
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
and dont forget ! judge wapner at 4 oclock
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Written by: DONOTFLYAMERICANAIRLINESDR, 21 Jun 2008 11:39 AM
From: United States
This is the result of the Great job and effort between the government and the minister of tourism.
I love this type of news from DR, it just make's me more proud to be a dominican citizen. DR definitely will be the next BOOM in south america.
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Written by: skysail, 21 Jun 2008 12:07 PM
From: Dominican Republic
LOL . Those numbers are bulls...t . Arrivals went down over the last 3 years , Felucho and wish full thinking, goes together.
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Written by: JRRubirosa, 21 Jun 2008 1:51 PM
From: United States
Skysail:

Get me Your statistics and numbers and then you can call Bull.....
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Written by: pappabowie, 21 Jun 2008 2:28 PM
From: Afghanistan, BAF
Glory Glory the evil gringo is coming to drink your cheap rum and exploit your women WEEEeee!!! All while staying in low rent hotels blistered out of our minds on fresh columbian marching powder ! No wonder I love this place so much, Viva La Empire ;)
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 21 Jun 2008 2:34 PM
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Pappy this is for you... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CUw1Km35Gg
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Written by: CarlosFranco, 21 Jun 2008 5:07 PM
From: United States

Gouletcolonial

"carlos please qualify your pride....are these people coming for sex and drugs and cheap accomodations or......High quality and excellent service interesting surroundings and friendly citizens and an ecologically correct enviroment at a fair price"

I myself have been to resorts in DR and most tourist come as family... So forgive me for being an eyewitness to the fact that people do come to relax and enjoy my country.... Can you say the same?
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 21 Jun 2008 6:11 PM
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Carlos I live in your beautiful country...all I was saying was "do not become complacent with numbers and strive for quality" sorry if you thought I meant something else
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 21 Jun 2008 6:36 PM
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
SKYSAIL for you http://www.easier.com/view/Intern....ican_Republic/article-186355.html
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Written by: santanar, 21 Jun 2008 6:47 PM
From: United States
I believe that this surge is cost by two thing: A) the strong Euro is forcing Americans away from Europe and European are looking a the Americas as an affordable choice for vacationing B) the price of fuel and the strong Euro is forcing the Americas to seek affordable destination.
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Written by: Edward, 21 Jun 2008 10:10 PM
From: United States, Leominster, Massachusetts
and by 2020 DR will get more tourists than its population!
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Written by: Escott, 22 Jun 2008 4:00 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Sosua/Cabrera
Oh all is rotten in the DR. Not all is rotten that comes to the DR!

Can you imagine what this place would be like if the politicians didn't steal all the money and put it into infrastructure? Tourists wouldn't want to travel anywhere else in the world for nice weather, employment would be 100%, wages would rise because of competition for labor.

BTW, I just got back from Bavaro, Punta Cana, La Romana and Miches where I was for 12 days vacation and there weren't many Americans in any of these places. Mostly Europeans! Americans have higher expectations than this country offers other than sex of course where we are TOPS!

Back to your BS abstractions, don't let me bother you with the truth~!
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 22 Jun 2008 8:18 PM
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
escott north americans except the less affluent dont take Caribbean vacations in the summer.....who needs to get warm in July ? Europeans love good beaches and they really dont have very many ....So they do take long vacations in the summer....Try to do business in europe in August forget it ...they are all on vacation...After 35 years in different parts of Caribbean things are changing a little bit ....Now when December is here and it is cold for the next four or five months they will be begging for those hotel rooms in Punta Cana etc..... that is traditional North American it is called season and high season and we will have to beat them away with sticks
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Written by: gouletcolonial, 22 Jun 2008 8:20 PM
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
But remember they to will be armed ....with golf clubs.. and cash
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Written by: DONOTFLYAMERICANAIRLINESDR, 22 Jun 2008 10:02 PM
From: United States
gouletcolonial

You're right!!
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Written by: batguano101, 23 Jun 2008 8:38 PM
From: United States
No matter the negative remarks, those figures are good.
I cannot help wondering if part of the influx are people looking for a hideaway investment in case of troubled economic times in their own countries, e.g. USA.
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