Santo Domingo.- A total of 141,510 Dominicans who live overseas visited the country during the month of December. The total is 8,000 down compared to last year’s figures, when about 150,000 Dominicans visited their home country.

This reduction of visitors from the United States, Puerto Rico and Europe is attributed to the current global economic crisis.

Most of the visiting Dominicans came from the US, Puerto Rico, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Venezuela, Panama, Curacao, St Martin and Guadalupe.

Although some airlines serving the DR had to put on some extra flights, this was not on the same scale as in 2006 or 2007, according to information provided by the country’s airports. As usual, American Airlines provided the largest number of flights, followed by Jet Blue, Copa, Spirit and Continental.

Passenger complaints were down compared to previous years, registering fewer losses, damage to luggage and delays in receiving their luggage, thanks to a series of measures introduced by the airlines and airport management authorities.

There was also a reduction in robberies as a result of new security and supervision measures implemented by AMET, the National Police and the Tourism Police in the car parking areas and on the Las Americas Highway.