Santo Domingo.- Tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia on Tuesday said he heads a committee that includes all of Puerto Plata’s sectors to relaunch that tourism region, begun in the 1980s, the country’s first.
He said the plan includes an aggressive ad campaign in Spain, France and Canada, including a new promotion he received yesterday, to be shown in the United States. “It’s now possible to say that a true tourism relaunching plan for Puerto Plata has been elaborated.”
Garcia affirmed that the designed plan aims to restore the tourism region’s former splendor to attract the tourists that had visited it previously. “Puerto Plata is not only one of the country’s most complete tourist destinations, it’s one of the Caribbean’s most complete tourist destinations, and the investments that have been done the only thing required is the correct and adequate promotion.”
The official, whose statement comes after newspaper El Caribe published several articles on the closing of several hotels and the zone’s economic crisis, affirmed that Tourism will focus exclusively on promoting the tourism offer of the “Bride of the Atlantic” locally and abroad. “Puerto Plata has the most complete tourist offer and lacks only the joint work of all the clusters and representative sectors.”
Garcia spoke during the launch of the new internal Tourism ad campaign “Dare to know your country,” to spur Dominicans to discover their nation’s wonders.
Written by: juanb, 29 Sep 2010 8:19 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Are they going to waste money, as they now do, advertising locally on billboards and TV?
Written by: BASTA, 29 Sep 2010 8:54 AM
From: Dominican Republic, =Ghetto/Legalize Drugs
Dare to know your country Yep that's why we want out of our failed homeland. It was not like this 15 years ago. Leonelie you're the Man. Yeah right.
From: United States, atlanta GA
they should CUT some of the airport TAX they are so high makes flights cost to much
Written by: Grosero, 29 Sep 2010 9:24 AM
From: United States
Dominican Republic’s icon tourism region.....Nigua
Where ya can buy anything.....that comes into the Port of Hanni
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
There was a thread last week that generated over 100 postings about POP and its woes.
What is this, second time around?
Written by: xwill7, 29 Sep 2010 10:11 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Hope it works... But they will need to offer good flight ticket prices in order to compete with Punta Cana. Lower or eliminate the airport tax might spark more tourists
From: United States
Pto Pta is the best location as a most compete destination, long overdue for redevelopment towards an authentic Dominican vacation. If planned correctly and carried out properly, it would be importantly, beneficial to the native population and the local economy that would allow greater tourist dollars to remain in the country rather then repatriated back to the investor countries.
What must be eliminated is the old business model which orginally worked and launch POP into the spot light but today is outdated, no longer viable in our present day tourism environment. The key is strategic planing and the ability to change and adapt as market demands fluctuates.
Written by: Rainman, 29 Sep 2010 10:28 AM
From: United States
The program started in 1980 and has accomplished what?
Written by: skysail, 29 Sep 2010 10:36 AM
From: Libya
Turning Sosua into Marina ( SECTUR ) plan , won't bring tourism , it's a huge waste of money and will turn this beautiful bay into a huge sewage bay !!
Written by: xwill7, 29 Sep 2010 11:17 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
This area has the nice mountains in the background!!!
Written by: Escott, 29 Sep 2010 11:27 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera and Sosua a 2 days a month for payday
Such intelligent people here who know everything:) What was Punta Cana before they threw all that promotion money into it? It was NOTHING.
Written by: curlando, 29 Sep 2010 11:55 AM
From: United States, Bronx
I would be in DR more often if I didn't get taxed so much money.
Written by: xwill7, 29 Sep 2010 1:15 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Wow, someone does not like Puerto Plata and clicks negetive lol. Please remember that this area has natural beauty!
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
What accommodation do we have to sell in POP? Rundown installations from the 80's where nobody wants to go, for the better part. And the owners won't renovate.
Proposed plan: the Government nationalizes all that's not up to standards in Playa Dorada, and makes a deal with the Spaniards, as they did in Bavaro, so they can have it all to themselves conditional to renovating up to standards.
Without that huge cash infusion, nothing serious can work.
From: United States
I do not believe a word.
It is still "in the 1980s" and will always be.
Written by: danny00, 29 Sep 2010 5:03 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
stop robbing the tourists, stop the killings of the tourists, in the restaurants they have two menus one for the gringos one for the dominicans, taxis drivers that suck every cent they can from the tourists,
clean up the trash in the streets, get rid of the garbage gift shops {which every single one of them sell the same products}.
keep the ladies of the night away from tourists that bring their families with them for a vacation, not every one is looking to get laid.
stop the drug problem in pop,build something in pop that will bring in tourists, not more gambling places,
Written by: danny00, 29 Sep 2010 5:05 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
how much time can the tourists spend in fun city?
and then pizza hut?
theirs nothing in pop... nothing at all.
Written by: danny00, 29 Sep 2010 5:09 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
this area has the nice mountains in the background!!!
yes but many places have nice mountains, and the streets are clean, and they dont have 1,000 of motor-bikes trying to run them down when they try and cross the street, u ever been to califorina? i live their for 3 years look at the mountains over their.
Written by: danny00, 29 Sep 2010 5:11 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
plenty of beautiful beaches all over the place the dr is not only place with beaches. take a look at the beaches in florida and u need not have to leave your own country for a great vacation.
Written by: vonstier, 29 Sep 2010 5:23 PM
From: United States
If they don't do something about the murders of gringos...they won't attract much
Written by: xwill7, 29 Sep 2010 5:43 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
You can not compare California mountains to DR mountains bro
Written by: xwill7, 29 Sep 2010 5:45 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
I always have a great time in Puerto Plata. But I know the area and where to go...
Written by: Tommy, 29 Sep 2010 7:51 PM
From: Canada, Northern Ontario
PP is the best!
About time the Gov't threw a few pesos their way!
PP is looking better every month!
Clean ups & renos going well!
It certainly can be the Jewel of The Atlantic!
It already is!
Nobody noticed.
The citizens are GREAT!
Have a great DR Day!
From: United States
Mayor Walter Musa is trying to do all he can for Puerto Plata..
I have lived in Puerto Plata for six years and I see the changes..
It is true more need to be done regarding renovating areas of downtown...
I understand without the necessary capital to invest in infrastructure progress is slow.
I can tell you since President Fernandez came into office the roads here are much better.
Driving from Gaspar Hernandez to Cabarete thru Puerto Plata to Maimon is not as treacherous as before.
True there need to be much more work done to attract tourist into the city.
But this is a good city with good people.
I don't understand all this negativity directed towards the Dominican Republic.
I have been in a lot worst places, where the people were cold hearted, right there in the "States"..
People do the best they can with what little they have.
Th
From: United States
"taxis drivers that suck every cent they can from the tourists"
Absolutely true. They are out to make their money on two customers.
Written by: xwill7, 30 Sep 2010 9:59 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Not all cab drivers are bad!
Always ask for the price before getting in the taxi, this way you can negotiate and have the upper hand...If you are dumb enough to get in and ask for the price when you get to your destination, then you diserve to get ripped off...
Written by: Tommy, 30 Sep 2010 10:50 AM
From: Canada, Northern Ontario
Well said xwill!
That is so true!
EVERYWHERE!
The DR is really a beautiful country with 99% good people!
Have a great October!
I'm on a plane to the DR tomorrow for a month!
Written by: xwill7, 1 Oct 2010 11:09 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Also, the people on this site that are scared of being ripped off by a simple taxi cab driver should use the taxi reccomended by the hotel. Actually if you are scared of a taxi driver than you should just stay in your hotel room...
Lucky Tommy is escaping part of Canada's fall... Hey when you come back the cold winds will feel even colder on your sun burn. lol
Make sure that you stop at Maimon and have some good seafood
Written by: Atabey, 1 Oct 2010 11:57 AM
From: United States, NYC
They should consider the Medical Center cum Tourist option some of us suggested last week. Combine talented medical staffs, foreigners included, and offer prospective clients a combo face lift with some pleasant scenery, for example. General exams with a beach/pool hotel. And so forth. It'll pull in more clients than the recent promotional strategies. There are a lot of doctors and nurses in the US, Europe(Spain just cut the salaries of many doctors and staff by 25% due to the economic implosion) So professionals can be enticed to come, if the conditions are acceptable. At least try it in an experimental format to see if it has promise.
From: United States
drinfo-Well I am not quite sure if the yellow pages is the best resource for a recemtly arrived tourist in the DR. Like I am not there looking for a handy man, electrician or a plumber. The directory might be OK for a more seasoned travelor who has already made numberous trips to the country but not good for the average tourist. The book basically just provides cold facts, such as names, numbers and addresses and not much else. You don't really get deep insight into what you are getting into. So I believe your suggestion is not exactly very practical. If I missed something please elaborate further because your point completely went over my head. Unless of course you are a marketer or promoter of a product by which you have a self-interest
Written by: DRmaker, 13 Oct 2010 10:11 PM
From: Canada
Clean out the tigueres would be a big step.
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Are they going to waste money, as they now do, advertising locally on billboards and TV?
Where ya can buy anything.....that comes into the Port of Hanni
What is this, second time around?
What must be eliminated is the old business model which orginally worked and launch POP into the spot light but today is outdated, no longer viable in our present day tourism environment. The key is strategic planing and the ability to change and adapt as market demands fluctuates.
Proposed plan: the Government nationalizes all that's not up to standards in Playa Dorada, and makes a deal with the Spaniards, as they did in Bavaro, so they can have it all to themselves conditional to renovating up to standards.
Without that huge cash infusion, nothing serious can work.
I do not believe a word.
It is still "in the 1980s" and will always be.
clean up the trash in the streets, get rid of the garbage gift shops {which every single one of them sell the same products}.
keep the ladies of the night away from tourists that bring their families with them for a vacation, not every one is looking to get laid.
stop the drug problem in pop,build something in pop that will bring in tourists, not more gambling places,
and then pizza hut?
theirs nothing in pop... nothing at all.
yes but many places have nice mountains, and the streets are clean, and they dont have 1,000 of motor-bikes trying to run them down when they try and cross the street, u ever been to califorina? i live their for 3 years look at the mountains over their.
About time the Gov't threw a few pesos their way!
PP is looking better every month!
Clean ups & renos going well!
It certainly can be the Jewel of The Atlantic!
It already is!
Nobody noticed.
The citizens are GREAT!
Have a great DR Day!
I have lived in Puerto Plata for six years and I see the changes..
It is true more need to be done regarding renovating areas of downtown...
I understand without the necessary capital to invest in infrastructure progress is slow.
I can tell you since President Fernandez came into office the roads here are much better.
Driving from Gaspar Hernandez to Cabarete thru Puerto Plata to Maimon is not as treacherous as before.
True there need to be much more work done to attract tourist into the city.
But this is a good city with good people.
I don't understand all this negativity directed towards the Dominican Republic.
I have been in a lot worst places, where the people were cold hearted, right there in the "States"..
People do the best they can with what little they have.
Th
Absolutely true. They are out to make their money on two customers.
Always ask for the price before getting in the taxi, this way you can negotiate and have the upper hand...If you are dumb enough to get in and ask for the price when you get to your destination, then you diserve to get ripped off...
That is so true!
EVERYWHERE!
The DR is really a beautiful country with 99% good people!
Have a great October!
I'm on a plane to the DR tomorrow for a month!
Lucky Tommy is escaping part of Canada's fall... Hey when you come back the cold winds will feel even colder on your sun burn. lol
Make sure that you stop at Maimon and have some good seafood