New roads add to Smana's unequalled beauty.
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic. - Samaná has become the powerhouse in the reception of tourists by air in the first two months, according to figures disclosed Tuesday by the hoteliers and tourism business grouped in Asonahores.
The arrival of foreigners to the northeastern tourism region jumped 22% in January and February, leading the resort towns of Puerto Plata and La Romana, while the entire country’s figure grew 7.8%.
Catey (Juan Bosch) Airport, which serves the zone of Samaná, received 19,869 tourists of various nationalities, or 5,621 more than the same period last year, while hotel occupancy climbed 2.1% higher than in 2011.
Samana’s position has improved with the completion of the road grid dubbed the Tourist Boulevard of the Atlantic (BTA), which links the entire Samaná province with Santo Domingo and the Las Americas Airport.
Asonahores said the arrival of tourists to Puerto Plata climbed 6.6 % during that period while the region of La Romana also improved its position with the start of America Airlines’ regular flights from New York and Miami, Jet Blue from New York and American Eagle from San Juan.
The organization headed the inaugural of its international fair, the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange - DATE - in the Bavaro Barceló Beach Resort, with the support the Tourism Ministry.
From: Netherlands
Samana was the hotspot since years. Now that the new highway is ready from Santo Domingo and also the new Boulevard Turistico on the peninsula more and more people can come and as we see they do. Samana is the place to be and to enjoy the fabulous Samana peninsula.
Written by: bernies, 18 Apr 2012 11:19 AM
From: United States, key west fl
I have to agreed with this report base on the information from the samana hotels and residence alike in the area. I was just there last weekend and they place was packed with tourists both national and foreigners.
From: Dominican Republic, NEVER FORGOTTEN, NEVER FORSAKEN!
I'll be there in 2 weeks.
From: Dominican Republic
Samana is today what Puoerto Plata and Boca Chica used to be 20 years ago. the problem is that these numbers are not going to hold for a long time. Samana is already highly contaminated with prostitues and criminals. I am not so optimistic as we can see what the government did to the Puerto Plata destination from 1994 to today. Basically the government is only intersetd in regions where they have their own investments and that is Punta Cana. All other regions will live a short life unless there is a government change to PRD.
Written by: xwill7, 18 Apr 2012 12:18 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
I use to like it when it was still a "hidden" area from most tourists.
Written by: RoyStone, 18 Apr 2012 1:29 PM
From: Australia
I can attest the road is very good, the beaches good, get rid of the locals and their crime, noise an rubbish and it will be perfect.
Written by: Perez, 18 Apr 2012 2:00 PM
From: Dominican Republic
@RoyStone, By Locals do you mean those that lives there or the ones selling and bothering visitors?
Written by: RoyStone, 18 Apr 2012 2:19 PM
From: Australia
Perez,
In an ideal world, the whole peninsula would be a national park, with tourism and tourist facilities, as well and environmental research facilities, only in strictly controlled designated areas, and enforced and protected by rangers.
I don't know if the "ones selling and bothering visitors" are locals of commute from Haiti every day, but it is reasonable to assume they are local. The swarms of local mosquitobikes, billowing smoke and drowning the sounds of the ocean and the birds, pay nothing for the expensive roads as they pass free through the tolls, and the local cars doing likewise, don't need to go beyond the tolls. Parts of Las Terrenas are strewn with rubbish, as are some of the little villages scattered without any planning or zoning, through-out the peninsula.
This would be an ideal location for eco-tourism, including hiking and camping, were it not for the risk of being robbed or killed. Such a tragic waste.
Written by: RoyStone, 18 Apr 2012 2:29 PM
From: Australia
Cabareteguru, informs
"All other regions will live a short life unless there is a government change to PRD."
I can't vote so what I think doesn't matter, but if you have details of the PRD's policies on the environment and tourism, then perhaps the other on DT would be interested to read them? I was under the impression that either their policies are closely-guarded secrets, or they don't have any. I have the same impression of the PLD.
Written by: xwill7, 18 Apr 2012 3:02 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
roypiedra,
The locals are what make this area great It would really be boring if only Euro people would live there!
Written by: xwill7, 18 Apr 2012 3:03 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Did they kick abc200 out of Samana??? Blutarsky said that they would
From: Dominican Republic
it was a precious hidden gem and went largely untainted for a long time . theyll end up destroying the very thing that made it so special having lived there for 6 yrs i can say for a fact that now it feels like its no longer the peaceful chunk of paradise it was. now every other day its invaded by overweight waddling gringos being herded off the cruise ships like cattle. more money ? yes and more drugs prostitutes robbery etc samana will never be the same neither will the ecology
From: Dominican Republic, Las Terrenas
Samana is without any problem large enough for everybody... For foreigners and for locals. I am living here now since more than 7 years and enjoying every days work and life here!!!
We still have hidden locations like for example Playa el Valle or Moron or Ermitano. And just 2 minutes out of center Las Terrenas, for example direction El Portillo, you are on a deserted beach.
And Samana is protected by building density and decrets which are respected.
Written by: xwill7, 18 Apr 2012 3:46 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Coming from Nagua to LT steel barriers are needed on many of the turns.
From: Dominican Republic, Las Terrenas
We need a lot more in this country... Its is already great that the roads are top now. And take the new road. its full of steel barriers!
Written by: xwill7, 18 Apr 2012 3:59 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Too much cigar smoke in that town now...
Written by: Escott, 18 Apr 2012 4:10 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera and Sosua a 2 days a month for payday
Samana is UGLY
From: Dominican Republic, calle A.Portes
Tonydomrep...I would give you three or more pluses if I could but I only have one identity so that is not possible and it is so good to read the comments from a person living there for so many years ....and someone who can write positively ..There are still only a relatively small number of big hotels there compared to the Puerta Plata or Bavaro areas and the villages and the country side are relatively unchanged even with the new roads . There has been an increase of Haitians living in the las Terrenas area for the obvious reason that many people speak french there .,,The main hotels look very pleasant and in reality , there are not many cruise ships that stop there .,
So I am very happy for every one who is going to be better off now that Samana is more popular and there are still many many places in this small country that are quiet and peaceful and have no tourists .
Written by: danny00, 18 Apr 2012 5:24 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
Samana is today what Puoerto Plata and Boca Chica used to be 20 years ago. the problem is that these numbers are not going to hold for a long time. Samana is already highly contaminated with prostitues and criminals
THEY GO WHERE THE PEOPLE AND THE MONEY ARE.
WITH IT THEY BRING CRIME AND TRASH., THEY DID KILL PUERTO PLATA AND BOCA CHICA, ITS GOING TO TAKE LONG FOR THE SAME TO HAPPEN IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF LAND THAT IS LEFT IN THE DR.
Written by: danny00, 18 Apr 2012 5:31 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
186 million tourists went to florida last year and this year is even better.
lots of tourists this year from south america, russia, china, india, and so one
the travel people have put out numbers of ober one and half billion people will travel this year. the dr is not getting much from this hugh market even though the government's tourists people tell the folks in the dr how well the tourists business is doing in the dr.
well its not doing so well and can do much more {take away the all u can eat and drink gang} not big numbers after u do this.}
Written by: danny00, 18 Apr 2012 5:35 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
hola mr. ricky, if that indeed is your real stage name.
but its all good.
again nice to see your comments again.
Written by: danny00, 18 Apr 2012 5:35 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
where the hell is abc?
Written by: danny00, 18 Apr 2012 5:39 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
australia? its only a matter of time when ca, and australia are rubbing up together. the plate moves at about 3'' each year
since i love flying but hate very long flights like 28 hours
hope iam around when the two great countries are connected.
lol....
From: Dominican Republic
youre right danny ive been in samana since 99 and have property samana is headed in the same dcirection as a puerto plata. while its good that more money is flowing in much of it is goin to foreigner run operations the average samanense doesnt benefit much if at all. rent prices have tripled i guess if ppl view paying 18000 a month for a place is progress then more power to ya. not to mention how theyve chopped down thousands of trees that once made up the samana landscape. its starting to resemble las terrenas with the amount of low life extranjero types pirates
Written by: RoyStone, 18 Apr 2012 5:54 PM
From: Australia
Ricardolito, delights,
"So I am very happy for every one who is going to be better off now that Samana is more popular and there are still many many places in this small country that are quiet and peaceful and have no tourists."
How come, then, that the quietest, most peaceful places (and with the least rubbish) are those with the highest proportion of foreign tourists? I have never seen gringos throwing rubbish out of car windows, or blasting noise at 95 dB from SUV's, or billowing smoke from noisy mosquitobikes, or killing the native fauna. Compare Cabarete Beach with Nigua Beach.
Ricky, are you aware that foreign tourists provide more GDP than anything else?
From: Dominican Republic
in samana the cruise ships threatened to stop coming if they didnt start cleaning the town theyd go literally 3 weeks or more without trash pickup all the trucks donado por hipolito were broken down windows smashed and full of rubbish. the sindico wasnt using the money to cleasn up town but they finally changed their ways because of the threat by the cruise companies.
Written by: jhcl2012, 18 Apr 2012 6:12 PM
From: United States, PA - Mas pa'lante, ¡Manos a la obra!
Just wait for the Autopista del Coral to open in August 2012...
Punta Cana galore!
Complot de Muerte contra Vargas Maldonado "Ese MMG"
youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wh_WJrGv5BQ
Hipolito "El Jefe" y Pepe "El Travieso"
foxnews.com/world/2012/04/13/dominican-officials-say-ex-official-in-haiti-plot/
Donde 'ta Pepe?
youtube.com/watch?v=mr_yePaF41A
Hipólito insulta a Obama (* Existe otro VÍDEO que llama a Obama, "El Negrito ese..." *)
youtube.com/watch?v=o68Rd28HvL0&feature=relmfu
REEEEEECOJAN, que esto se acabo!
RESULTADOS - MAYO 20 DEL 2012
Danilo Medina PLD 55.9% (ya se esta calculando que sera mas)
Hipolito Mejía PRD 37.7% (y aun en picada meteórica)
;-)
**** EL CAMBIO SEGURO ****
DANILO PRESIDENTE 2012-2016
From: Dominican Republic, calle A.Portes
RoyStone ..of course I am totally aware that the tourist industry contributes about 55 to 57% of GDP and it employs directly more than 55 % of the work force...if memory serves me right the tourism income is around the $4.5 billion mark ..that is why the opening upof Samana is great for the economy and those residents living there ..not to mention all the producers of food etc .
If you were to go to El Seibo or to Hato Mayor or around Miches you may find a more tranquil life that you could enjoy .. I have also found that la Vega and Bonoa are nice places ..and if you want th water then you must go to the SW area to find a more peacful environment ...Or better still just accept the fact that Dominicans are not like Australians and enjoy making a noise
Written by: RoyStone, 24 Apr 2012 1:15 AM
From: Australia
xwill7, advises
"roypiedra,
The locals are what make this area great It would really be boring if only Euro people would live there!"
No.
It's nature "what make this area great" - the fewer living there, Euro or Dominican, the better. There are more than enough locals "living" in the rest of the Dominican Republic, to make it "great". No need to populate the entire island. Then that would be even more "booring" I suggest.
From: Dominican Republic
right on roystone the nature is what makes it special humans are like a virus that destoys it
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In an ideal world, the whole peninsula would be a national park, with tourism and tourist facilities, as well and environmental research facilities, only in strictly controlled designated areas, and enforced and protected by rangers.
I don't know if the "ones selling and bothering visitors" are locals of commute from Haiti every day, but it is reasonable to assume they are local. The swarms of local mosquitobikes, billowing smoke and drowning the sounds of the ocean and the birds, pay nothing for the expensive roads as they pass free through the tolls, and the local cars doing likewise, don't need to go beyond the tolls. Parts of Las Terrenas are strewn with rubbish, as are some of the little villages scattered without any planning or zoning, through-out the peninsula.
This would be an ideal location for eco-tourism, including hiking and camping, were it not for the risk of being robbed or killed. Such a tragic waste.
"All other regions will live a short life unless there is a government change to PRD."
I can't vote so what I think doesn't matter, but if you have details of the PRD's policies on the environment and tourism, then perhaps the other on DT would be interested to read them? I was under the impression that either their policies are closely-guarded secrets, or they don't have any. I have the same impression of the PLD.
The locals are what make this area great It would really be boring if only Euro people would live there!
We still have hidden locations like for example Playa el Valle or Moron or Ermitano. And just 2 minutes out of center Las Terrenas, for example direction El Portillo, you are on a deserted beach.
And Samana is protected by building density and decrets which are respected.
So I am very happy for every one who is going to be better off now that Samana is more popular and there are still many many places in this small country that are quiet and peaceful and have no tourists .
THEY GO WHERE THE PEOPLE AND THE MONEY ARE.
WITH IT THEY BRING CRIME AND TRASH., THEY DID KILL PUERTO PLATA AND BOCA CHICA, ITS GOING TO TAKE LONG FOR THE SAME TO HAPPEN IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF LAND THAT IS LEFT IN THE DR.
lots of tourists this year from south america, russia, china, india, and so one
the travel people have put out numbers of ober one and half billion people will travel this year. the dr is not getting much from this hugh market even though the government's tourists people tell the folks in the dr how well the tourists business is doing in the dr.
well its not doing so well and can do much more {take away the all u can eat and drink gang} not big numbers after u do this.}
but its all good.
again nice to see your comments again.
australia? its only a matter of time when ca, and australia are rubbing up together. the plate moves at about 3'' each year
since i love flying but hate very long flights like 28 hours
hope iam around when the two great countries are connected.
lol....
"So I am very happy for every one who is going to be better off now that Samana is more popular and there are still many many places in this small country that are quiet and peaceful and have no tourists."
How come, then, that the quietest, most peaceful places (and with the least rubbish) are those with the highest proportion of foreign tourists? I have never seen gringos throwing rubbish out of car windows, or blasting noise at 95 dB from SUV's, or billowing smoke from noisy mosquitobikes, or killing the native fauna. Compare Cabarete Beach with Nigua Beach.
Ricky, are you aware that foreign tourists provide more GDP than anything else?
Punta Cana galore!
Complot de Muerte contra Vargas Maldonado "Ese MMG"
youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wh_WJrGv5BQ
Hipolito "El Jefe" y Pepe "El Travieso"
foxnews.com/world/2012/04/13/dominican-officials-say-ex-official-in-haiti-plot/
Donde 'ta Pepe?
youtube.com/watch?v=mr_yePaF41A
Hipólito insulta a Obama (* Existe otro VÍDEO que llama a Obama, "El Negrito ese..." *)
youtube.com/watch?v=o68Rd28HvL0&feature=relmfu
REEEEEECOJAN, que esto se acabo!
RESULTADOS - MAYO 20 DEL 2012
Danilo Medina PLD 55.9% (ya se esta calculando que sera mas)
Hipolito Mejía PRD 37.7% (y aun en picada meteórica)
;-)
**** EL CAMBIO SEGURO ****
DANILO PRESIDENTE 2012-2016
If you were to go to El Seibo or to Hato Mayor or around Miches you may find a more tranquil life that you could enjoy .. I have also found that la Vega and Bonoa are nice places ..and if you want th water then you must go to the SW area to find a more peacful environment ...Or better still just accept the fact that Dominicans are not like Australians and enjoy making a noise
"roypiedra,
The locals are what make this area great It would really be boring if only Euro people would live there!"
No.
It's nature "what make this area great" - the fewer living there, Euro or Dominican, the better. There are more than enough locals "living" in the rest of the Dominican Republic, to make it "great". No need to populate the entire island. Then that would be even more "booring" I suggest.