Already 303,490 people have received the first dose of the vaccine

Santo Domingo, DR

Since February 17, when the National Vaccination Plan against the coronavirus began, up to yesterday, 303,490 people have received the first dose, among them medical personnel, teachers, and adults over 70 years of age, who have been classified as “priority population.”

Out of a total of 7.5 million people who will receive the anti-virus vaccine, the Ministry of Public Health reported yesterday that 4% of the adult population has already been inoculated against the virus.

According to the count carried out by the Ministry, last Thursday 4, 72,680 people over 70 years of age were vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine brought from China.

The Vice President of the Republic and Director of the Health Cabinet, Raquel Peña, announced that so far, 20% of the population corresponding to the first phase of the vaccination plan has been inoculated, thus meeting the target 18 days ahead of schedule.

Geriatric centers

In the senior centers, 2,058 people over 60 years of age and the personnel working in these centers have been vaccinated.

Public Health data indicate that the goal is to vaccinate 2,064 people in these centers so that those inoculated in one week represent 99.7 percent.

Dominican Republic is Lat-Am’s 2nd most vaccinated

Santo Domingo.- While COVID-19 indicators in the country reflect a downward trend, President Abinader affirmed Sun. that the Dominican Republic ranks second in the advancement of vaccination in Latin America, only behind Chile.

“In this week that we are already placing ourselves at number two in Latin America, after Chile, in terms of vaccinated,” he said.

During the supervision of a vaccination drive at a school in the National District, Abinader assured that with the vaccines that will arrive between now and April, the second dose will be guaranteed for all those immunized.

In the school, about 500 people, including teaching and administrative personnel, were inoculated, in order to prepare teachers for the present and semi-present start of classes.

Hoteliers expect 100,000 American tourists at Easter.

Santo Domingo, DR

For this Easter Week, the Dominican hotel sector maintains high expectations with the arrival of 100,000 tourists from the U.S. outbound market, which poses a recovery in tourism activity in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Association of Hotels and Tourism (Asonahores) is coordinating the protocols of tourism and health via the Cabinet of Tourism and has scheduled a meeting next week with all the hotel managers and the Minister of Tourism to hold a coordination meeting, said the executive vice-president of Asonahores, Andrés Marranzini.

The meeting will be held in Punta Cana.

Marranzini informed that in addition to the 100,000 U.S. tourists expected to arrive this Easter, there is also a projected arrival of tourists from Ukraine, a new market for Dominican tourism booming, as 3,000 Ukrainian visitors have already come to Dominican hotels and beaches.

Marranzini also indicated that the sector also expects an important movement in the tourist poles, independently of the East zone, due to the ecotourism boom.

He said that in non-traditional poles, the ecotourism component is registering a significant occupation, behavior that defines as very positive that points such as Barahina, Constanza, Arroyo Frío; Las Terrenas, Samaná and others, “are having an important rebound.”

Restaurants
Internally, the tourist activity has also been recovering. With the change of schedules, the restaurants have greater availability for diners, which is observed with the recovery of the collaborators already close to workers.

The night shifts, the protocols, and the extension of schedules will allow attending to many clients, which will also grow during the Holy Week, affirmed Marranzini.

Coordination
Andrés Marranzini, executive vice president of Asonahores, informed that the sector would meet with Mitur next week.

Measures
Marranzini said that they are preparing the gauges, areas, and essential activities to be presented at the meeting with Tourism in Punta Cana.

Launching of platforms to streamline tourism processes

President Luis Abinader, accompanied by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, yesterday led the launching ceremony of several platforms, with new tools for digitalizing tourism procedures, as an integral part of the Government’s transparency strategy.

During the event, the CONFOTUR Online and Licenses Online platforms were launched, with which tourism companies will be able to apply for their CONFOTUR classifications and their operating licenses directly on the institution’s website from the comfort of their offices and homes.

Collado announced that he had signed resolutions to eliminate documents in the license application process as part of the Zero Bureaucracy strategy. For example, in hotel licenses, the number of requirements was reduced from 16 to 11.

Temporary license

Also, the ministry introduced the concept of temporary license to provide flexibility to the user that during the year 2021 and after the effects of COVID-19, they can strengthen their files without having to be in the informality. Also, during the period, dispensations will be made on arrears and arrears of expired licenses. The minister also announced the reduction of the fee by 50%.

“All this to give flexibility, in a year of crisis, to all establishments to start their formalization processes and access to all the initiatives that the ministry makes for the formal ones. But at the same time, we will be reinforcing measures against informality. We want equity for all,” were the words of Minister Collado.

President Abinader expressed that today marks six months since he announced the Zero Bureaucracy program’s launching, which aims to promote the efficiency of public administration through clear and transparent regulatory frameworks that allow the simplification of procedures and services the improvement of the reality of regulations.

“Today, we are beginning to see the first fruits in this direction. The platform presented today by the Ministry of Tourism shows that vision of innovation that we always seek as a commitment to transparency and a focus on improving public services,” stated President Abinader, at the activity that took place at the Ambassador Hotel, where the implementation of the Single Tourism Registry was announced in parallel.

App for hotel occupancy information

In the activity, a complete platform of solutions and intelligence was shown. As part of these, the APP Occupancy was unveiled, a platform where hotels throughout the country daily inform Tourism of their hotel availability and occupancy levels. At the same time, they can be compared with their region. “This tool allows us to measure the effectiveness of initiatives and the timely performance of the sector,” said Collado.

Dominican Republic eyes a 90% vaccination rate

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Medical College (CMD) president Waldo Ariel Suero, estimated Wednesday that due to the acceptance of the National Vaccination Plan, at least 90 percent of the population would get inoculated voluntarily.

“I predict that more than 90% of Dominicans will be vaccinated, contrary to the expectations,” said the doctor who was vaccinated on Tuesday.

Suero pointed out that Dominicans have realized that the secondary effects that can be recorded from the vaccine are minimal, which in his view has led to a higher degree of acceptance among citizens.

On Tuesday, the Dominican Republic reached 161,827 immunized people by vaccinating 55,843 Dominicans. The government’s goal is to inoculate at least 40,000 people per day.

Zero red tape in Dominican Tourism

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader o Wed. presented together with Tourism Minister David Collado, on Wed. unveiled the institution’s new digital platform with which the services it offers will be made more efficient for citizens.

OneMITUR, as the platform is called, will be focused on simplifying the processes of processing permits, licenses, hotel occupancy reports, among other services, guaranteeing transparency in the actions carried out by the ministry in all sectors.

“Those who know me know that this has been a vision for a long time, whose purpose is to promote the efficiency of the public administration through clear, transparent regulatory frameworks that allow the simplification of procedures and services and the improvement of the quality of the regulations,” Abinader said at the launch ceremony.

Red tape

Collado announced that he has issued resolutions to eliminate documents in the license application processes, as part of the “Zero Bureaucracy” strategy.

What is happening with tourism in the Dominican Republic and the world?

The vice president of Institutional Relations of Puntarena Baní, Simón Suárez, affirmed this afternoon that the Dominican Republic has never had such a privileged position as it is now in terms of tourism.

“If one analyzes the statistics of reservations and flight schedules for the last month, it began and is being sustained, the Dominican Republic begins to seem one of the most attractive destinations in the world in those reservation systems,” he pointed out when interviewed at the Lunch Weekly of the Corripio Communications Group.

He emphasized that this positioning is not marketingsince, in his opinion, little has been invested in promotion, but it is due to the handling of the pandemic, which has given it credibility.

Suárez explained that although the issuing countries have problems with their economies, they are beginning to show a willingness to travel. He also explained that in the United States, the funds destined for economic support for citizens are producing the expected multiplier effect.

He referred to the phenomenon of “retained demand,” which will begin to reactivate tourism in the country in the third quarter of this year and reflected in massive reservations, according to the vice president of Institutional Relations of Puntarena Baní.

Positive cases of coronavirus show decrease in Dominican Republic

Positive cases of coronavirus continue to decline in the Dominican Republic. The Ministry of Health reports 12 new diffusions, which add to 3,118 deaths, and 203 new infections that place the cases at 240,201 since the pandemic began.

This is the lowest number of infections recorded since October 26 of last year, when the authorities notified 165 new positive cases, just months after the change in management.

Today, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) detailed that 2,059 were processed and that the daily positivity stands at 18.44 percent and that of the last four weeks, at 12.48 percent.

 The information was through Epidemiological Bulletin 348. It indicates that to date, 240,201 positive cases for the disease have been reported and that the assets are 44,432, while the recovered total 192,651. 1,211,817 have been processed, while 971,616 have been discarded.

Hospital occupancy also continues to decline, with the index of beds destined for COVID-19 at 21 percent in its occupancy (563 out of 2,669); In the Intensive Care Units (ICU), the occupancy is 35 percent in the entire health system (191 out of 547), while the percentage of occupied ventilators is 29 percent (117 out of 407).

The country has registered 3,118 deaths due to COVID-19, so the fatality is located at 1.30% and the mortality per million people at 298.42.

Public Health to expand mass vaccination sites

Santo Domingo.- Public Health Minister Daniel Rivera sees it favorable to expand and place fixed vaccination sites against Covid-19 in specialized health establishments and private institutions where a large number of patients with comorbidities attend and other institutions to cover as many people as possible.

He also reported that Covid vaccination teams will be in charge of taking the inoculation to the homes of older adults or people who have mobility problems and cannot move to the more than 600 fixed positions established.

“It is contemplated to take them to these centers, even in several private health institutions there are currently posts installed, because it is even easier for the population to attend,” the official told local media yesterday.

Dominican Republic hosts PGA TOUR Event March 22-28

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. – With a US$3 million purse valid for 300 FedexCup points and the participation of 132 players from 20 countries and 5 continents, Puntacana Resort & Club announces the 4thedition of the Corales Championship PGA TOUR Event 2021, to be held at the Corales golf course, from March 22 to 28.

With the event, the Dominican Republic and Punta Cana are promoted worldwide as the leading golf tourism destination in the Caribbean, reaching 1 billion television viewers in 200 countries and more than 5.5 million impressions in digital media worldwide, national and international.

This sporting event will feature the participation of five Dominican players, who are currently competing for their classification in the Canita Tour, which will conclude in the first week of March.

This invitational event will allow limited access to Puntacana Resort & Club owners, main sponsors and special partners, following the sanitary hygiene and safety protocols implemented by the resort and endorsed by the Public Health Ministry, the Tourism Ministry and the Dominican Republic Hotels and Tourism Association (ASONAHORES) to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the tourism sector.

As Covid weakens Dominican Gov. eases curfew

Santo Domingo.- With a positivity of 12.5% in the last four weeks, according to the statistics for Covid. the Dominican Gov. relaxed the curfew.

Decree 133-21 states that the curfew will be from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday, it will begin at 7:00 p.m. until 5:00 in the morning. In both schedules there are three hours of unrestricted transit.

However, article 7 establishes that in spaces intended for sports practices, such as gyms, it must operate with 60% of its capacity and with previously established hygiene and physical distance measures.

Article 9 indicates that the places of consumption of food and beverages must also allow 60% of their capacity and the tables must not exceed six people.

Meliá anticipates a summer of certain normality in reservations to the DR

It registers a positive evolution in the Caribbean reserves in the first quarter

 The hotelier defines 2020 as the worst year in its history

The Meliá International hotel chain recorded a positive evolution of reservations in the Caribbean in the first quarter, which could anticipate a somewhat normal summer in destinations such as the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

In this regard, the effective vaccination campaign and the reopening of the United Kingdom as of next May reactivate the reserves for the second semester, evidencing the significant contained demand, Meliá informed the CNMV.

Covid-19 has had a strong impact on the results of the hotel chain, which loses 425.9 million (excluding impairments) and maintains its liquidity and resilience in the face of a drop in income of -70.7%, betting on its digital capacity and its vacation leadership “as levers for a vigorous recovery.”

Likewise, the company managed to mitigate the drop in Ebitda through “an effective contingency plan, achieving a 50.6% reduction in its operating expenses, excluding impairments.”

The digital leadership in the period (with more than 51% of the sales made via melia.com since the start of the pandemic) allowed it to emerge “competitive advantages in occupations and rates, commercial flexibility, health security, loyalty and relationship with the client.”

For Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Meliá, “2020 is unlike anything we have known in our 65-year history; there is no comparison possible. After achieving positive results in 2019 and maintaining the same trend during the first two months of 2020, the appearance of the pandemic as of last March 2020 left tourism in a state of practical hibernation.”

American Airlines will link Philadelphia with Santiago starting in April

AIRLINE WILL LAUNCH THREE FLIGHTS A WEEK ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY

The Cibao International Airport ( AIC ) announced that a direct American Airlines flight would operate from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Santiago de los Caballeros starting next April through said terminal.

“We are pleased to announce that starting next April, the American airline will operate a direct flight from the Philadelphia International Airport, Pennsylvania, to Santiago,” the airport terminal said on its Instagram account. ⠀

The said route would begin on April 2, which will fly three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. ⠀

“With the start of this new route, we reaffirm our commitment to offering greater and better services to our users,” they added.

It is recalled that the Civil Aviation Board ( JAC ) learned on February 24 in a public hearing of the request of American Airlines to fly to  Punta Cana and  Samaná, respectively.

Likewise, it was anticipated that the airlines are being flexible with the date changes to passengers who, with their reservation to travel, come out positive in the tests against Covid-19, allowing them to postpone their departure date without incurring any penalty.

Abinader announces renewable energy projects

He considered that the electricity pact is not perfect, but it is the only one possible for the moment.

Santo Domingo, DR
President Luis Abinader announced Thursday that in the next few days the bidding process for 800 megas of natural gas with its deposit will begin in order to start a project for the production of this type of energy in Manzanillo, Montecristi.

Abinader spoke during the signing of the Electricity Pact between various sectors, in which the Minister of Energy and Mines, Antonio Almonte, added that some ten contracts for the purchase and sale of renewable energy (solar and wind) will also begin soon.

He said that the companies to which these contracts will be awarded have definitive concessions, some of them for seven, six and five years. This is the direct step to the contract to sell the energy to the distribution companies.

Regarding the Electric Pact, Abinader considered that this agreement (the Electric Pact) is not perfect, but it is possible.

“This pact is not perfect, I am in disagreement even with some parts that I would like us to advance more, but it is the possible one and, as Minister Almonte (Antonio Almonte) explained, the points that we had objected to we are already applying them as a government to have the necessary coherence and comply with what we think should be done and improve the electric sector,” said the president during the signing of the pact.

He added that the government was not opposed to what had been proposed, but requested that it be extended with actions such as the liquidation of the CDEEE, the case of eliminating the councils, audits of the Edes and the Punta Catalina project.

The head of state also assured that the deficit of the electricity sector is responsible for half of the country’s non-financial public sector debt, as well as highlighting the lack of competitiveness and confidence in the energy sector in the Dominican Republic.

Meanwhile, Rafael Toribio, president of the Economic and Social Council, indicated that the signing of this agreement does not mean that the pending issues will not be addressed at a later date, but that there is a political decision to continue the dialogue with the sectors involved.

According to Antonio Almonte, the energy supply could be of lower cost if “we clean the electric system of distortions”, which require the application of the law and changes in some regulations, which are being achieved in the electric pact.

“We could provide Dominican society with a more stable electric service, with abundant energy and at a lower cost,” said Almonte.

The pact covers issues such as cost reduction and service improvement, environmental aspects, tariffs, among others, which will contribute to the development of a more competitive and transparent service, at a lower cost and with greater energy production for all sectors.

Today we celebrate the 177th Anniversary of Dominican National Independence

The Dominican Republic is currently observing 177 years as an independent nation.  On February 27, 1844, a group of patriots carried out the liberation feat after almost three centuries of Spanish, French, and Haitian rule.

Before this date, the eastern part of the island of Santo Domingo achieved ephemeral independence in 1821 that barely lasted about 2 months, from December 1 to February 9, 1822, when Haiti occupied the territory. This liberating feat was inspired by José Núñez de Cáceres.

The Dominican Republic and Haiti are independent states that share an island of 77,000 square kilometers; 48,442 kilometers correspond to the Dominican nation.

The revolutionary process to achieve separation from Haiti began with the founding of the clandestine movement La Trinitaria on July 16, 1838, led by Juan Pablo Duarte, with the company of Juan Isidro Pérez, Pedro Alejandro Pina, Jacinto de la Concha, Félix María Ruiz, José María Serra, Benito González, Felipe Alfáu and Juan Nepomuceno Ravelo.

Later, Matías Ramón Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez would join them.

After an intense local and international campaign, on the night of February 27, 1844, small groups of patriots from different areas of Santo Domingo gathered.

The beginning of the radical separatist action was signaled by a “trabucazo” fired by Mella at the Puerta de La Misericordia, which was heard throughout the city. But the independence of the Dominican Republic did not culminate that day. It was achieved in later struggles.

“Our homeland must be free and independent of all foreign powers, or the island will sink,” said Duarte.

Dreams Dominicus resort, luxury for couples and families

Bayahibe, Dominican Republic.-The Covid-19 pandemic changed the way of vacationing and all hotel complexes have had to rethink their offer, spaces and services to convince foreigners and Dominicans that they can “throw off stress” in an environment that provides them safety, as well as beauty and comfort.

For vacationers, a beautiful beach, entertainment and comfortable facilities are no longer enough, because now the main concern is how “safe” they can feel when they leave the protection of their homes to travel as a couple, family and friends.

Taking care of guests goes beyond cleaning and disinfecting the environment or limiting and controlling the capacity in the spaces, responding to a comprehensive program and a complete restructuring of the service and structure offer.

According to Amando Pozo Martínez, general director of Dreams Dominicus La Romana, of the AMResorts hotel chain, the adaptation was a very interesting process and “although we already knew about the issue of sanitation and distancing, our chain, like the great company that is, it has a quality department, which developed a hygiene protocol for all its hotels, in order to protect both guests and employees.”

Abinader to deliver his first state of the country speech

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader will deliver his first state of the country speech, on Saturday, February 27, before the National Assembly.

On the 196 days of his administration, he has focused on recovering health, the economy and the independence of justice in the Dominican Republic.

His first measures were announced on August 16, when he was sworn in, when he pledged to dedicate himself “body and soul” to placing the health system among the best in Latin America and to properly managing public spending.

Abinader immediately jumped on the train of change and tried to reactivate the economy by announcing large-scale works. For the first 100 days, the panorama already presented measures of fiscal corrections, austerity, productive relaunch of strategic sectors, as well as a billion-dollar emergency debt to meet the financial needs derived from the coronavirus.

Make your vacation villa pay for itself!

So you purchased the vacation home of your dreams. Now it’s time to rent it in a temporary basis.

How can you make your listing stand out & maximize your income?

1.    Promote it.

List them online, or use a local property manager & get the word out.

People are looking for a vacation home. Post photos that are relevant & showcase the assets of your villa: ocean views, private pool, Caribbean lifestyle, etc.

2. Offer single night rentals.

Renters are not necessarily looking for long term stays. Plus, one-night stays can help fill in holes in your booking schedule.

3. Make it available during peak season.

It may come as a bit of a personal sacrifice, but you can up your income by allowing vacationers to rent your property during coveted times.

4. Maintain it.

Keeping up on maintenance will save you in the long run.

A lack of modern amenities can’t command as high a rental rate as a similar property offering them.

5. Invest in a few strategic splurges.

Make your rental standout. Add a few perks such as paddleboards or beach activities, just like amenities offered at a hotel, these details can increase your booking frequency.

Today Dominican Republic will receive vaccines arriving from China

Santo Domingo, DR

With the arrival of 768,000 doses of Coronavirus vaccines from China, expected to arrive today on Dominican soil, the country will have received 818,000 injections in eight days.

The vaccines, produced by the Sinovac laboratory, will arrive at 6:50 p.m. at the Las Americas International Airport, said the Vice President and Coordinator of the Health Cabinet, Raquel Peña.

At the end of the inaugural ceremony of the Vuelta Ciclista Independencia, Peña has approached journalists who asked her about the specific date of the arrival of the vaccines.

“It will be tomorrow (today) that the vaccines will arrive in the country through the Las Americas airport, God willing at 6:50 in the afternoon.”

After being consulted by the press on the scandal over the Public Health tender to acquire 25,000 syringes at a higher cost, Peña refused to comment on the subject.

Vaccines The first 20,000 vaccines to arrive in the country were the “Covishield,” developed by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca together with the University of Oxford in India. They arrived via a flight from Madrid, Spain, which had previously landed in London after leaving India.

The last 30,000 doses of vaccines to arrive were donated by India to the Dominican Republic and arrived in the country last Saturday on a flight from Madrid.

The vaccines donated by China to the Dominican Republic will arrive on an Air France flight through Las Americas International Airport from Paris, France.

According to the details, the vaccines will be received by the Ministry of Public Health and the Operations of the company Aeropuertos Dominicanos XXI (Aerodom) at the terminal of Las Americas.

‘All’ Dominicans vaccinated by Dec.

Santo Domingo.-  With the arrival of the third batch of 768,000 vaccines against the coronavirus, the Dominican Republic has 818,000 doses that, based on the VacúnateRD plan, prepared by the Health Cabinet, 409,000 people would be covered with its two doses.

The Vaccination Plan consists of three phases and plans to inoculate all Dominicans between February and December 2021.

With the 818,000 doses, the Government completes stages 1A of the first vaccination phase, which includes first-line health personnel against COVID-19.

Moreover, the 1B that covers all medical personnel is enough to start the 1C, which includes adults over 60 with existing conditions, the Health Cabinet reported on Tuesday.