San Juan.- On a day that was to mark the significant reduction of air access from the U.S.
mainland to Puerto Rico, and other destinations in the Caribbean, the region is
celebrating the addition of new flights and the preservation of routes that
were slated for cancellation.
Through a series of negotiations and the implementation of
an airline incentive program by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), the airline
industry is once again looking to the Caribbean as a region with tremendous
potential for revenue.
For local businesses, especially those connected with the
tourism industry, this is a much-needed vote of confidence.
"The cancellation of these flights was not just an
issue for Puerto Rico, but for the entire the Caribbean," Terestella
Gonzalez-Denton, Executive Director of PRTC said.
"As the gateway to the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is a conduit
for travelers visiting other islands. Air access to the region is especially
important to our hotel and cruise industries and the consequences of limited
air access would have had devastating results," she added.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
How in the world do they make do with one airport the "Crossroads of the Caribbean " and we only need 12 DUH !
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Lets build some more airports then we can make the taxes even more.....and dont forget to expand Maria Montez
From: United States
I think for one, that PR's Luis Mu~oz Marin International is a major HUB for AA = a hell of a lot of passengers and it was a major HUB for arlines like Pan Am and Eastern. This meant a lot of air travel to PR. It also is the largest airport in the caribbean receiving over 10 million travelers per year. Given its two operating runaways it can receive many flights all year around. I think that very soon within the next couple of years Las Americas and Punta Cana will be able to haul in alot more passengers and attract more airlines as well, due to their respective expansion projects and additional operating runways. Both irports will each have two fully equipped and operating runways which will definately result in a lot more daily flights to both airports and more passengers arriving atthose terminals.
Written by: abc200, 4 Sep 2008 2:31 PM
From: United Kingdom
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Let us hope so ...But remember when was the last time you were transiting San Juan and an airport official tried to solicit a bribe...then remember it happens at Las Americas about one out of three.times...as a transit airport it has a long long long llooooooonnnngg way to go.....also the DR is not very central to the British West Indies....barbados ,antigua st kitts etc
Written by: juanb, 4 Sep 2008 3:07 PM
From: Dominican Republic
All you tourism boosters better hope and pray that the US never normalizes relations with Cuba. You will see a huge diversion of traffic.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
juanb you may be correct but it will take them 10 years to bring it up to speed ....so the DR had better get ready....the Commies have to go ....no quality chains will go their
From: United States
Well the Cuba thing I don't see happening for a long time to come. If it ever happens. But I don't think much will change anyway should Cuba open it's doors to "full floodgate tourism". Given that the tourism in DR is very different to the tourism in Cuba. Even though both islands are similar, it's not the same. Each island nation offers something different to the tourist. It's just like tourism in PR is very different to that in DR. The DR just needs to make sure that our tourism continues to be very diverse. For example promote more our Eco-turism amongst other things. There are so many ownderful and spectacular places in DR yet to be full promote and explored for tourism. You'd be so surprised. Also make safety of tourists a priority, as well as making those needed expansions on our international airports that will help attract more tourist markets and airlines to the country.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
The only thing that can save Castro now is the Obamanable snowjob and every day his chances are less and less
Written by: HowardC, 6 Sep 2008 11:53 PM
From: United States
Someone needs to give American Airlines some competiton from San Juan to Santo Domingo...those fares are outrageous. I am glad to see Jet Blue move into that market. Perhaps that will make the fares more affordable.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Amen Howie
Written by: abc200, 7 Sep 2008 5:26 PM
From: United Kingdom
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
In the Europe fast ferries are popular and cheaper than flying.....not that there is anything wrong with that
From: United States
GC, why is it that every single, solitary time that cuba is mentioned as a tourist destination, you invariably and reflexively remind the reader that no reputable chain will go there? is that the only possible business model? you know much more about the subject than i do, but are there no places in the world which function without McHotels? just askin. as far as i can tell, numerous people will rather see it the way it is today, before the plastic and styrofoam become the order of the day. yes, not everbody wants a starbucks on every corner. if they do, they can stay in houston.
Written by: abc200, 8 Sep 2008 8:49 PM
From: United Kingdom
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Dread Ritz and Four seasons and Banyan Tree are top shelf hotels 600 a night and up.....Ritz is part of the Marriot group and the only one that could be considered American....But no one that is none will do business in Cuba.....Sofitel is the only lower tier high quality chain with one contract in Havana....Cuba is for cheapie cheeseballs and curious back packers...ABC you wanker the hotels you mention hardly approach the first Tier of quality and are considered mass market tourist aka cheeseball......The Neocommies have to learn that quality and class will not touch Cuba until the Castros and their Lackeys and running dogs are gone.....Try to imagine golf caddies making more money than brain surgeons...I dont think so....the taxidrivers are bad enough
From: United States
there you go again GC, with the 4 seasons and Ritz Carlton. 600 dollars per night. with the golf quiz. what about the folks who cannot afford 600 per night? you mean they do not travel? or is it that they should not be allowed to travel? there is such a concept as niche markets. as far as i know, a study is yet to be done to establish how much money is LEFT in the country by each income group. not because the rich have more money means they spend it. some of the cheapest bastards that travel are the people with the most money. the backpackers would rather dole the money out all over the country. so, some austrian guy buys a dozen beers from a colmado in esperanza, while trump buys a mojito in casa de campo. what is the difference. apart from the cost of the hotel? and , since we know that some foreign consortium owns the chain, anyway, what does the DR gain?
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Yes Dread you betray your knowledge of the importance of tourism and the importance of the Luxe brands in tourism .....It is Coney Island versus Monaco get it ....more money and nicer people...why nicer...because they are not drunks and druggies punching out their wives and defecating between the buildings and they have more money punto ....Dread I know in your neocommie world vacations are paid by the state and everyone is given the same amount of spending money....no thanks not for me I will take the Loews Hotel in Monte Carlo and steal a towel for you as a souvinier at 700 bucks a night they can afford the loss
Written by: abc200, 9 Sep 2008 9:22 AM
From: United Kingdom
GC - if you had said there is little five star de-luxe tourism in Cuba I might have agreed. But Ford, Toyota etc. do produce a quality car as does Rolls Royce. And of the agents that sell and service them many have a reputation for quality service. I hope there are good first class connections to the Burj El Arab and lots of people in Texas find a gusher in their back yard or win in Vagas so they can afford it! And there are plenty of tourists that frequent quality hotels in Cuba that are not anti-social.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15936989/S
From: United States
GC, you have not answered my question. it is nice to regale us with stories of the rich and famous, but, please, tell me what percentage of tourists who visit the caribbean are regular joe sixpacks, and what percentage are Donald Golfclub. then, tell me how much money does the beer crowd actually leave, as compared to Mr Nine Iron. i do not want potential. i know the rich can spend more. i want facts to show that they actually do. forget about the cost of the room. how much money does Dona Maria, who operates the neighborhood seafood restaurant rake in from Mr Lamborghini, as opposed to Toyota Joe?
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
It boils down to everybody in St Barts is relatively rich and I mean the residents and it is a rock with beautiful beaches and everybody in the DR is poor relatively I mean Residents......The people of St Barts do not know what an all inclusive resort is and have never heard of it ...unless you mean a 700 dollar a day AmericanPlan or mofified American Plan...which is quite different than than eat and drink till you puke like Cuba specializes in for 70 bucks a day
From: United States
is that your answer? i still want to know how much the country benefits when trump comes for a weekend, as opposed to when some guys from iraq land for a little r and r. trump can buy yachts, planes and trains; we know that. but he is not going to, because he is on vacation. i want to know how much they spend. do they eat local steaks, or imported stuff from japan? do they buy agua azul, or do they bring a case of PERRIER? just asking.
Written by: abc200, 9 Sep 2008 2:56 PM
From: United Kingdom
From: United States
yes, abc200. how many of those guys are going to come here? we do not have the infrastructure to attract those types. they want everything just so. we cannot ever hope to provide their level of expectations, not in the short run. people believe that because we can build a structure which looks like something they saw in a picture of monte carlo, we can attract the lords and ladies of monaco. not so. these guys are accustomed to levels of service and accoutrement that we will need 20 years to emulate.
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
Wrong Dready all we need are nice golf courses and nice weather....that is why the big shooters go to Casa and Cap Cana
From: United States
GC, that is like saying all we need to do to get a Formula One Grand Prix is to build a great track. nothing else. no preparation. no logistics. no service. just the track. i spoke to a member of the USGA, and he told me that the DR has some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world, with limitless potential. but there were very few that they placed on their list of tournament quality courses, because they did not have the necessary amenities. and please do not give me the usual " you are wrong" stuff. i did not say it. a member of the USGA, who was here on a fact finding mission, told that to me. actually, i have no dog in the golf fight. to me, golf is a waste of a perfectly good walk.(plagiarised).
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
"golf is a good walk ruined" Mark Twain.....dread that is why the Four Seasons is under construction at Casa to go, with the Ritz being built at Cap Cana
Written by: abc200, 10 Sep 2008 8:41 AM
From: United Kingdom
From: United States, California, San Francisco, Treasure Island
that is correct those hotel chains of quality know that is the direction to go....High quality cost more but is worth it ...".La buena vida es caro ,hay mas barato, pero no es vida " Dread is going to put that on his tombstone
Written by: abc200, 10 Sep 2008 9:53 PM
From: United Kingdom
Written by: abc200, 6 Oct 2008 8:44 AM
From: United Kingdom
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http://www.chooseclimate.org/
In the Europe fast ferries are popular and cheaper than flying.
S.
Virgin holidays would like to see themselves a quality operator and go to Cuba. Sandels, Paradisus, Barcelo hotels are used. They run direct scheduled flights. The US situation is distorted by the government.
S
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15936989/
S
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUs....3125-The_Ritz-London_England.html Afternoon tea charged at approx 90 US dollars.
http://www.theritzlondon.com/tea/index.asp
This is a difficult market and not everyone makes money. Hopefully Ritz - Carlton play their part in persuading people to take better care of the planet.
http://www.reuters.com/article/pr....idUS176190+28-Apr-2008+MW20080428
Four Seasons is owned by Gates and Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal.
http://www.hotelsmag.com/article/CA6589396.html
S
http://www.gleneagles.com/home/going-green/responsible-visitor-charter
http://www.gleneagles.com/home/go....uirky-going-greens-at-gleneagles.
http://www.graigfarm.co.uk/additive_free_wild_boar_rearing.html
http://www.graigfarm.co.uk/
The sky is not the imlit!
http://www.space.com/news/060828_spaceshiptwo_next.html
Of couse some oak forests should be planted for truffle hunting!
http://members.tripod.com/~BayGourmet/trufflebas.html
Maybe Dominican gold can have the same premium as Welsh gold.
S
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-h....wnside-of-Cheap-Fares-Flight-Cuts
27 percent cut in seats at Puerto Rico November compared with 1 year ago.
Must be the surge ........ in the homeless who have been foreclosed on their MacMansions are not coming down this way.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081006/ap_on_re_us/massachusetts_homeless
Now USA is investment capital:
http://realestate.meetup.com/1562/
S.