Santo Domingo.– The Dominican Republic has managed to attract tourists year after year,
and with plans from investors and new routes promised by airlines, despite the tourism decline tendency affecting the world.
The first
indication that tourism in the Dominican Republic was going to exceed even current
expectations was when a development group from the Balearic Islands
decided to take advantages of the investing opportunities.
The group intends to invest in a railway connecting Santo Domingo and Santiago, which promises to help the tourism market by
making traveling in the region easier. The two cities and everywhere in between are
expected to grow that way.
With the sound
tourism market, along with the promise of more money coming to the country,
airlines are making changes so they can bring even more tourists in. For the first time, JetBlue Airlines plans to launch an intra-Caribbean
service, to start in the winter, and will have continuous, non stop flights between San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.Also,
Delta Airlines is going to add more flights to this
winter.
The growth in tourism has greatly helped the Dominican economy and it is projected to make it even healthier in the years to come.
Written by: Username, 18 Apr 2009 10:51 AM
From: Dominican Republic
I'm beginning to wonder if this site is owned by Real Estate people? They are reporting everything is on the up and up as far as the tourism goes (and everything else), then you read that Conquest, one of the largest Canadian tour operators who did a large percentage of their business in the DR market went bankrupt?
Written by: walnut, 18 Apr 2009 11:05 AM
From: Bouvet Island, Cayuga lakeside
Is this article using statistics from the year 2008 or is it a misquote?
I know for fact that the tourist business in La Romana is way off.
Where are the arrival statistics to prove out an increase in tourists?
Is this typical "run your mouth with no facts" hype?
In the world that I travel in...NY, Hong Kong, Rome and Bangkok, moneyed people are running for safe cover and most are shell shocked. No risks being taken anywhere....certainly tourist development is not happening and no one is financing these pursuits right now.
Many times I wonder if some of the folks in the DR have a clue what is happening outside in the real world. and they still act like it is 2007.
Time to take off the rose colored glasses.
Written by: belly51, 18 Apr 2009 11:23 AM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
username
Conquest only held about 5 percent of the tourist market around the loop and most were in Mexico 60 percent Cuba 22 percent and DR and others 18 percent. i would not call it a large percentage of their market by any mean. They going bankrupt just mean other investor get a open door for bussiness to start a tour company it doesn't mean Canadians are going to stop travel they don't own the planes or ship that come in DR they just book tickets like other travel agency. Many tour companies have gone bankrupt because of the internet boom and cheaper alternatives to paying twice the price for the same vacation. for you to question DT's integrity because of your pure ignorance to this topic is something i can't figure out. Canada is not the only country that comes to DR the article points out airlines are adding lots of flights to DR and they must have passengers willing to travel before they do that else they wouldn't have done it. so Please post constructively that would help.
From: United States
I see no facts tourism is growing. I do see evidence tourists are not spending nearly as much money as they did a year or so ago. Regardless of whatever numbers people can manipulate for the tourism and real estate markets those of us with actual real life experience know the truth.
Remember people trying to make money on real estate or tourism need to keep the press saying how good things are. Once all there is is bad press the problem will magnify. Eventually the truth will come out regardless of what misinformation is stated.
People are still investing and visiting. Some have no clue whats going on . As they say a sucker born every day. Those who take the time and see the facts locally will notice less money overall is being spent by tourists. More people trying to sell their real estate and with the prices before the US housing bust. This makes the prices of buying a nice beach house in Miami look cheaper in the long run than a DR beach house.
Written by: ny4life, 18 Apr 2009 1:26 PM
From: United States, New York, NY
VernonicaDR,
What proof do you have that DR tourism is not growing other than your hunch???
Written by: belly51, 18 Apr 2009 2:02 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
People need to understand that just because you don't see them at Bavaro beach doesn't mean they are not in punta cana,samana or other tourist place. DR tourism has diversify into more than just the little Beach front. Many dominicans that visit the country are starting to explore other areas thaat are new to them for example on my last trip i was there for 21 days yet didn't go to Bavaro or Punta cana and had a lot of fun and with lot less money.
Written by: BASTA, 18 Apr 2009 2:06 PM
From: Dominican Republic, =Ghetto/Legalize Drugs
My eyes for one. They ain't there.
From: United States, Orange County, California
The news is contradicting because one day they cost declines in tourism while the next day they say is increasing. I know the number of visitors will not be as much as expected.
Written by: Username, 18 Apr 2009 4:05 PM
From: Dominican Republic
From: United States
I take good news any way I can get it. Good for the DR. God know we are due for a break.
From: United States
The news that is being presented is nothing other than BS regarding tourisim being up..
From: United States
JimHarrington,
Do you have any data to dispute what the above report says. If so, care to share it with the forum, please?
Written by: walnut, 18 Apr 2009 5:43 PM
From: Bouvet Island, Cayuga lakeside
This story now has been edited to remove the 2008 reference of the data being used. I am sure that there probably was an increase in 2008 over 2007.
Anyway, do you honestly believe that a few people from Ibiza and/or Mallorca are going to affect the economy here in the DR? I had never heard of the Balaeric Islands until I just Googled it.
And everyone I know associated with the tourist trade, from hotel owners to tour operators to restaurant owners to property managers says the tourist business is off almost 25%.
Maybe the so-called good news is to keep everyone's spirits up.
Written by: Username, 18 Apr 2009 6:04 PM
From: Dominican Republic
dominipapi: "Do you have any data to dispute what the above report says. If so, care to share it with the forum, please?"
Read the links i provided, it is clear this story is BS and paid advertising.
Written by: Trujillo, 18 Apr 2009 7:21 PM
From: Dominican Republic
The arrival of tourists by air is not growing as fast, but investment in the tourism industry and the arrival of tourists by cruiseships is increasing and that's a fact.
Written by: Username, 18 Apr 2009 7:49 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Here comes the spin.
From: United States, MD
im going 2 punta cana...cant wait!!!!!
From: United States
I will not believe any of this until I can get electricity 24 hours a day. And at less than $.25 USD a kilowatt.
From: Dominican Republic
As someone closely tied to the industry, I can say that numbers are off a bit, but not as much as many fear. What is lost off the bottom gets retrieved on the top, as those who would normally vacation at more costly destinations, decide that the DR might fill the bill.
I for one, have started my new business and quite honestly....things could not be going better. But, you cannot sit back and assume that the people will come to you. That seems to be the problem here. For years many companies just waited for the business and due to sheer volumes and the cavalier attitudes of many tourists...thinks sold. Now, with people looking for value, those who do not deliver... are bound to see a decrease in business.
Some resorts have cut services, lights, entertainment, food and drink as well as staff numbers dramatically and it is those who "talk big... and deliver small" who will feel the future pain. Next fall will be the sign of the times.
From: United States, Mobile, Alabama
La Republica Dominicana does not have a statistic in tourism that is regulated by an honest entity. In all the progress the Country has made their is none that has taken place to represent an honest assessment. Unfortunately... It is very unconstructive to say other wise that the Tourism is not flourishing when the entire Country is now under the income imposing system of those that travel from Spain, Canada, Korea....you name it....they are interested en La Republica. Social and Economics continue on the down fall yet these very Institutes which operate don't even return 3% of any profit back to the Country. So who cares about Tourism Statistics. La Patria todavia come si puede no porque algien le da la mano
From: United States
ny4life I have my families personal business inside the tourist market as well as plenty of other people my family and I are friends with businesses. Our proof is in our company records of purchases and our bank accounts.
While of course some people will always keep makign money the majority of us now are making less than we did in the previous few years. Up until last year we saw constant increases in business but now it has gone down a bit.
My families supermarket which caters to almost entirely non tourists is even bringing in less money each week. People have less to spend and have to make that money buy as much as possible.
Written by: xwill7, 20 Apr 2009 10:55 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Las mujeres Dominicana keep the people coming back
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I know for fact that the tourist business in La Romana is way off.
Where are the arrival statistics to prove out an increase in tourists?
Is this typical "run your mouth with no facts" hype?
In the world that I travel in...NY, Hong Kong, Rome and Bangkok, moneyed people are running for safe cover and most are shell shocked. No risks being taken anywhere....certainly tourist development is not happening and no one is financing these pursuits right now.
Many times I wonder if some of the folks in the DR have a clue what is happening outside in the real world. and they still act like it is 2007.
Time to take off the rose colored glasses.
Conquest only held about 5 percent of the tourist market around the loop and most were in Mexico 60 percent Cuba 22 percent and DR and others 18 percent. i would not call it a large percentage of their market by any mean. They going bankrupt just mean other investor get a open door for bussiness to start a tour company it doesn't mean Canadians are going to stop travel they don't own the planes or ship that come in DR they just book tickets like other travel agency. Many tour companies have gone bankrupt because of the internet boom and cheaper alternatives to paying twice the price for the same vacation. for you to question DT's integrity because of your pure ignorance to this topic is something i can't figure out. Canada is not the only country that comes to DR the article points out airlines are adding lots of flights to DR and they must have passengers willing to travel before they do that else they wouldn't have done it. so Please post constructively that would help.
Remember people trying to make money on real estate or tourism need to keep the press saying how good things are. Once all there is is bad press the problem will magnify. Eventually the truth will come out regardless of what misinformation is stated.
People are still investing and visiting. Some have no clue whats going on . As they say a sucker born every day. Those who take the time and see the facts locally will notice less money overall is being spent by tourists. More people trying to sell their real estate and with the prices before the US housing bust. This makes the prices of buying a nice beach house in Miami look cheaper in the long run than a DR beach house.
What proof do you have that DR tourism is not growing other than your hunch???
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/....-decline-58-in-Dominican-Republic
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/....rn-Dominican-tourism-industry-ONG
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/....iers-work-to-halt-falling-numbers
Do you have any data to dispute what the above report says. If so, care to share it with the forum, please?
Anyway, do you honestly believe that a few people from Ibiza and/or Mallorca are going to affect the economy here in the DR? I had never heard of the Balaeric Islands until I just Googled it.
And everyone I know associated with the tourist trade, from hotel owners to tour operators to restaurant owners to property managers says the tourist business is off almost 25%.
Maybe the so-called good news is to keep everyone's spirits up.
Read the links i provided, it is clear this story is BS and paid advertising.
Here comes the spin.
I will not believe any of this until I can get electricity 24 hours a day. And at less than $.25 USD a kilowatt.
I for one, have started my new business and quite honestly....things could not be going better. But, you cannot sit back and assume that the people will come to you. That seems to be the problem here. For years many companies just waited for the business and due to sheer volumes and the cavalier attitudes of many tourists...thinks sold. Now, with people looking for value, those who do not deliver... are bound to see a decrease in business.
Some resorts have cut services, lights, entertainment, food and drink as well as staff numbers dramatically and it is those who "talk big... and deliver small" who will feel the future pain. Next fall will be the sign of the times.
While of course some people will always keep makign money the majority of us now are making less than we did in the previous few years. Up until last year we saw constant increases in business but now it has gone down a bit.
My families supermarket which caters to almost entirely non tourists is even bringing in less money each week. People have less to spend and have to make that money buy as much as possible.