Puerto Plata, from cable car. Photo Martin Wesoly.
Santo Domingo.- An overwhelming majority of Dominican Today readers who took part in the weekly poll say that Puerto Plata –Dominican Republic’s icon tourism region- will not recover its past tourism splendor, even with the RD$ billions in government works and private resort investments.
When asked “Will Puerto Plata recover its past glory?” 64.8% of those polled answered, “No, too much disorder still,” with 208 votes of a total of 321.
In second place was the response “Yes, but only part of its punch,” with 49 votes, or 15.2%, and “Yes, things are being done right,” in third place with 45 votes, or 14.0%.
Rounding out the field in 4th place with 19 votes (5.9%) was the answer “Maybe, watch out for nasty drivers,” in reference to one of the reasons for Puerto Plata’s demise in the past, stemming from the violence and chaos sparked by taxi and bus drivers against each other, competing for air and cruise ship tourists.
Written by: xwill7, 21 Nov 2011 4:15 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Most DT users on this site want this area to fail... Of course the poll will show these results lol
The question is why? Why do so many on this site want this area to fail? Is it because some consider it to be part of El Cibao?
Written by: juanb, 21 Nov 2011 6:08 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Will they invest the money well?
Drivers going or coming from Constanza are being diverted through Jarabacoa due to landslides on the new, refurbished highway between Casabito and Constanza. Cleanup brigades have been working since Saturday to clear away the rocks and earth that slid down the mountainside after the recent rains. Only a year and five months since the highway was re-opened, the roadway continues to be blocked from time to time according to Hoy newspaper. Workers from Norberto Odebrecht, the construction company that rebuilt the highway, said that the landslide occurred at kilometer 4.5 of the highway. They said that they expect to stabilize the mountainside with some concrete and steel-mesh screening, as they have done at other points of the mountain road. Hoy reporters traveled along the 51 kilometers of the highway and found it to be in good condition, but they also found rocks and other debris along some stretches.
WELL?
Written by: xwill7, 21 Nov 2011 6:27 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
juanb,
Roads from Constanza are not important to POP... It has its own airport and need tourist that will come in and spend on the local vendors, not Dominicans that bring their own food and drink from home and go to the public beach.
Santiago to POP road was in great shape a few months ago
From: United States
The whole country could do a lot more for tourism starting with fixing our corruption problems. Then how about lowering the taxes on tickets to a more reasonable amount. Fix our big crime problems so people arent scared to walk the streets. Then start advertising.
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
POP's main problem is it does not have a massive tourism offer anywhere near Bavaro Punta Cana or even La Romana.
How will foreign tour operators sell a destination that doesn't have 10 good hotels?
From: Dominican Republic, calle A.Portes
I hope POP does find its feet again in a different way than the east ..because it is so much more beautiful than the east and the beaches to the north east between Sosua and Cabrera are wonderful
I do not know what is the master plan ...there never seems to be one here but I think there is an urgent need to clean up the city and make it a safe and attractive middle income destination ..I think Sosua has cleaned up its reputaion already and POP could do the same ..it does not have to be another Punta Cana
From: Dominican Republic
I too would like to see it happen, but truth be known, as long as government is at the helm...expect more of the same. There have been some wonderful ideas volleyed about but in the end, red tape, excessive "changes", everyone with their hands out and substandard commitment to doing it right the first time, will mean that although photo ops will grace the papers, little will get done. Hope I am 100% wrong...really I do.
From: United States
You are not %100 WRONG. Only %99. PP is a dump and as long as you have police harassing tourist or visitors. Tourist will not return. And they shouldn't. Perhaps DR should be boycotted as a tourist destination. Let the tourist economy come to a halt and maybe that will get government and the local stakeholders involved.
Written by: xwill7, 21 Nov 2011 11:39 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
The mountain views are great in the north coast
Written by: xwill7, 22 Nov 2011 11:38 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
How is Cabarete AC? I had a great time there a few months ago!
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Cabarete is a dump. Only one hotel worth calling that (Velero), thrives mostly on kite surf clientele, that stay in cheap outfits and don't spend much in bars.
Other than that, the same old kilometer of road with condos being built like there is no tomorrow.
There is a resident crowd, mostly old-timers, that keep some bars alive, but no big momentum there.
Lots of motocoños, cheap hos, streets are on the unsafe side.
Sad but true.
Written by: anthonyC, 22 Nov 2011 3:50 PM
From: United States
PP is a dump. Even in its heyday the beaches sucked. Including the over hyped Playa Dorada. PP was the 1st tourist zone. A test in a way. Now the world has moved on to bigger and BETTER places.
Written by: lovingit, 22 Nov 2011 4:09 PM
From: United States, Delaware
I still love POP, Sosua, and Cabarete. Yes, the older hotels there do not compare with the amenities found in Punta Cana or La Romana, but the keyword here is "OLD" I still pick the North Coast anytime over the South East if what I am into is nightlife! Whenever I go to Punta Cana, for other than adventure trips, I never leave the hotel because I have no idea where to go or what to do, (and I am Dominican) while in POP, everything feeds off route 5 for the party goer no matter what type of music are into
The cycle of life will eventually have all of these POP hotels bull dozed/remodeled with new hotels, and it will be Punta Cana that will have the older hotels. The cycle will continue and continue as generations come and go. What helps Punta Cana is the mass available beach front land, so even if a whole section becomes outdated with obsolete hotels, the other sections pickup the slack until the outdated sections are updated.
Should the cycle be completed faster? yes it should!
Written by: anthonyC, 22 Nov 2011 5:37 PM
From: United States
Sosua was great back in the 80's before the Trash arrived.
From: United States, New York City
I remember going to Puerto Plata and its environs all the time as a child..had alot of great times there as a kid..I hope the area finds its way back.
Written by: xwill7, 22 Nov 2011 11:00 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Lots to do in POP and it is close to the greatest city in DR...Santiago!
Written by: Yucahu, 23 Nov 2011 3:28 AM
From: United States, Miami
I heard from the vp of the hotel I work at that Hard roak Punta Cana sucked, I was so embarrassed to say I was dominican.
Written by: lovingit, 28 Nov 2011 5:18 PM
From: United States, Delaware
@Yucahu
Maybe your boss was looking for what I described about POP that PUJ lacks.
Not sure about Hard Rock in Punta Cana since I have not been there, but I as well as other people I know, whether Dominicans or not that been in PUJ, have loved their hotel of stay.. now if what they were expecting was Cuero-Landia, then yes, I could see how PUJ may have not met expectations.
Written by: Escott, 5 Dec 2011 1:06 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera and Sosua a 2 days a month for payday
Sosua has regained it's legs and is packed these days. Businesses are doing much better. Cabarete is DEAD DEAD. I never liked Cabarete except for a few restaurants. If Cabarete lowered prices to the level of Sosua and even gave the same rate of change on dollars it would be a help. People don't like being ripped off in Cabarete. You pay more for water in Cabarete than a beer in Sosua and about 1 peso less changing a dollar which is only 15 minutes west on the same ocean.
I just don't get the mentality of these business owners. I was playing poker with a fellow who owned the Irish Pub in Cabarete and the otherrs were Razing him about his prices. He started saying how much they pay for the generator and I said, stop the bs, we all pay for that and your prices are double of any place in Sosua. He invited me for a free meal but It wasn't worth the gas!
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The question is why? Why do so many on this site want this area to fail? Is it because some consider it to be part of El Cibao?
Drivers going or coming from Constanza are being diverted through Jarabacoa due to landslides on the new, refurbished highway between Casabito and Constanza. Cleanup brigades have been working since Saturday to clear away the rocks and earth that slid down the mountainside after the recent rains. Only a year and five months since the highway was re-opened, the roadway continues to be blocked from time to time according to Hoy newspaper. Workers from Norberto Odebrecht, the construction company that rebuilt the highway, said that the landslide occurred at kilometer 4.5 of the highway. They said that they expect to stabilize the mountainside with some concrete and steel-mesh screening, as they have done at other points of the mountain road. Hoy reporters traveled along the 51 kilometers of the highway and found it to be in good condition, but they also found rocks and other debris along some stretches.
WELL?
Roads from Constanza are not important to POP... It has its own airport and need tourist that will come in and spend on the local vendors, not Dominicans that bring their own food and drink from home and go to the public beach.
Santiago to POP road was in great shape a few months ago
How will foreign tour operators sell a destination that doesn't have 10 good hotels?
I do not know what is the master plan ...there never seems to be one here but I think there is an urgent need to clean up the city and make it a safe and attractive middle income destination ..I think Sosua has cleaned up its reputaion already and POP could do the same ..it does not have to be another Punta Cana
Other than that, the same old kilometer of road with condos being built like there is no tomorrow.
There is a resident crowd, mostly old-timers, that keep some bars alive, but no big momentum there.
Lots of motocoños, cheap hos, streets are on the unsafe side.
Sad but true.
The cycle of life will eventually have all of these POP hotels bull dozed/remodeled with new hotels, and it will be Punta Cana that will have the older hotels. The cycle will continue and continue as generations come and go. What helps Punta Cana is the mass available beach front land, so even if a whole section becomes outdated with obsolete hotels, the other sections pickup the slack until the outdated sections are updated.
Should the cycle be completed faster? yes it should!
Maybe your boss was looking for what I described about POP that PUJ lacks.
Not sure about Hard Rock in Punta Cana since I have not been there, but I as well as other people I know, whether Dominicans or not that been in PUJ, have loved their hotel of stay.. now if what they were expecting was Cuero-Landia, then yes, I could see how PUJ may have not met expectations.
I just don't get the mentality of these business owners. I was playing poker with a fellow who owned the Irish Pub in Cabarete and the otherrs were Razing him about his prices. He started saying how much they pay for the generator and I said, stop the bs, we all pay for that and your prices are double of any place in Sosua. He invited me for a free meal but It wasn't worth the gas!