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Santo Domingo.- Just one day after the local media reported the Government’s interest in drawing aerial tourism to the Maria Montez International Airport (southwest), PRNewswire reports that aviation buffs are flying their small private planes to the Dominican Republic (DR) more and more “due to new pilot-friendly, no-fee policies at domestic and international airports.”

It reports that hundreds of private airplanes are soaring to the DR airports in the eastern Caribbean to experience the beauty of the country, sophisticated accommodations, amazing adventures, and the famous warm Dominican welcome.

"The DR government has made a concerted effort to ensure that aviation enthusiasts can enjoy our country's magnificent beauty and fascinating culture using their favorite mode of transportation, flying in their own plane. This pilot-friendly approach has DR airports poised and eager to welcome more private pilots each year," said vice minister Magaly Toribio.

It also reports that the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) is partnering with the U.S. National Aviation Safety Foundation to ensure that their 199,000 member U.S. pilots have the latest information on the 13 airports that enthusiastically welcome them in the DR. “The joint effort will help to inform U.S. pilots about all of the unique cultural, adventure, and historic tourism activities available to them when they visit.”

Toribio said her country’s initiative to promote private aviation is logical because of private U.S. and other foreign pilots’ heightened desire to explore her country. “The DR's enviable position in the Caribbean with sophisticated domestic and international airports, amazing accommodations, unique culture and history, and breathtaking scenery are the main draw."

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COMMENTS
9 comment(s)
Written by: Adrian29630, 30 Jul 2009 11:36 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera
Not to mention being able to drop off a few kilos of "coke" on the way of course!
Written by: Ricardolito, 30 Jul 2009 12:11 PM
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
hit it in one Adrian ..just how can all the new anti drugs surveillance equipment work if the air space is full of light planes and what about the new planes to counter the drugs ..will they query each light plane in the sky . Seems crazy to me but I guess the drug guys need to keep all the airports open
Written by: xwill7, 30 Jul 2009 12:30 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
As long as the money continues to flow, the gov does not care what happens
Written by: Botemon, 30 Jul 2009 12:35 PM
From: Dominican Republic, La Isabella
Before they do anything for the aviation community, please pay just a little attention the hundreds of cruisers that come to the DR each year and have for many years. The way the DR treats the cruising community is almost next to ZERO! Each port has different rules and fees and never mind the “welcoming committee’s” that just naturally “shake you down”. There are standard guidelines for fees across the island however each local area will simply make up their own. The cruising community has tried and tried and tried to work with the local tourist and Comandancia’s officials in an attempt to bring some sort of standards and attitude. Every time this happens it just seems the system gets more screwed up. And as you know the rules are “made-up” as you go along (extortion). I can site many, many examples. For the most part, cruisers are treated like crap!

Cont:
Written by: Botemon, 30 Jul 2009 12:35 PM
From: Dominican Republic, La Isabella
The cruising community brings money into areas of the DR from all over the world. I have seen them come and go after the “welcoming” that they have received. I know many of the “ins and outs” of this convoluted system, and after being here over a year, I know which local officials to stroke so my boat is “safe”. Maybe not after today! It would not take a whole lot to change all this and I believe it could be done swiftly with good government and local co-operation. I know I know…That’s to easy…..that’s asking for a lot! I still LOVE this country!
Written by: EDITOR, 30 Jul 2009 1:42 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Great insight Botemon, would you like to write a piece or an op-ed on your experiences in DR, you may use an alias..jorge.pineda@dominicantoday.com
Written by: Ricardolito, 30 Jul 2009 2:59 PM
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
I have used some light planes in several airports here and it is all quite ridiculous because at both there were no fees because there was no one to collect them and on several departures we just ambled onto the tarmac when we were ready and got onto the plane that had been waiting there without concern ..
Written by: ABR23, 30 Jul 2009 10:39 PM
From: Puerto Rico
Well from the perspective of One who owns aircraft and flies there monthly. They guys we have in AEROPUERTOS (vanderhost) and now IDAC ( J.T. Perez). Took on the Pirates we had at each airport. The PR Aeroclub, guided them thru Sun & Fun in Florida. Now to Oshkosh.
The problem was never the Govt it was Swissport/ Aerodom/Avian and other brokers who ran the airports on whatever fee they wanted. Bahamas eliminated all entry fees to have people come.

The sad part is that the DR poeple listen to PR pilots. PR Ports, is now 3rd in the Caribe behind Bahams and DR, they are imposing fees. To account for all their losses based on incompetence.
Like the store that since it was not selling enough it increased the prices of what it was selling.
Written by: pelaut, 31 Jul 2009 8:39 AM
From: United States
Actual turist flights of small planes can't be more than 100 a year, if you don't count the businessmen or criminals. Yacht arrivals, on the other hand are well over a thousand. Little Luperón alone gets 7-800 each year.

Yachts bring respectable, wealthy retired people and a few yuppie runaways, also well-heeled. They aren't big spenders, but a a good hunk of their pensions fall on the streets of the towns near where they anchor. Based on a survey taken in 2002, their money rains on the locals at the rate of $800-1200/month per boat. At that time that meant $72,000/mo for little Luperón.

All-Inclusive Resort tourists, according to a Caribbean-wide study, leave only 3% of their spent money in the coountry, while the boat crowd leaves 100% of what they spend. The Yachties stay and use the town for 2 weeks to several months, while the resort turists stay inside the walls of the resorts for a week to ten days only.

Now they want to talk about "investing" in fly-in tourism?
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