Central Bank: tourist activity will return to normal in 2023

Santo Domingo.– Tourism activity in the Dominican Republic is beginning to recover after the impact suffered by the coronavirus pandemic, and one million more visitors are expected to arrive in the country this year, compared to 2020.

However, it will not be until 2023 when the sector recovers the level prior to COVID-19 when more than 6 million non-resident foreigners arrived in the country, according to data published by the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic.

According to the governor of the entity, Héctor Valdez Albizu, this year national tourist destinations will receive between 3.4 million and 3.5 million non-resident visitors, although he clarified that, if the situation caused by the pandemic is not normalized abroad, it will be more difficult for the country to recover the previous level.

“Nobody stops our tourism, neither the good nor the bad. This is the country that has the best organized tourism in all of Latin America. I have faith that tourism will regain the position lost by the pandemic,” he said.

When presenting preliminary data on the behavior of economic activity in February, he highlighted that tourism activity, in times of stability, generates 7.4 billion dollars in income for the country.

1.1% growth in February
Valdez Albizu reported on Tuesday that economic activity in the country registered a growth of 1.1% last February, placing economic performance in positive territory for the first time since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

The sectors that contributed the most to the recovery of the economy in February were construction, which showed a growth of 10.3%; mining, with 8.1%; local manufacturing, 6.5%; health, with an expansion of 6.4%; real estate activities, 2.2%; commerce, 4.1%; and agriculture, 1.4%.

“The economic performance of February continues to be influenced by the monetary stimuli carried out by the Central Bank, granting 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (RD$215,814 million that have been made available to the public through banks), placing RD$184,180.4 million”, he highlighted.

2021 will close with growth of 5.5%
The estimates of the monetary and financial institution indicate that the economic growth of the country will be between 5% and 5.5% by the end of this year.

“We have come out of the negative ballast. We are riding a train that is moving forward with great vigor. The product will continue to grow in the remainder of the year. We had said that after the first quarter it was that we were going to start to have momentum, but we are surprised that this has started in February. This already changes the whole panorama in terms of what is expected”, said the governor.

The dollar rate
Valdez Albizu highlighted the downward behavior that the dollar rate is registering; However, he said that the institution will prevent it from “going too low”, because the situation may mean a brake on exports, mainly from the free zones.

The US currency is in a process of decline that has led it to lose more than RD$1.34 for every dollar. He explained that the exchange rate has had an impact on the entry of foreign currency into the country.

He argued that the monetary institution would apply some of the mechanisms to prevent the peso from continuing to appreciate against the dollar, specifying that one of them would be “buying the currency, and giving the pesos.”

Valdez Albizu announced that this month US$900 million would arrive in the country in remittances. In addition, he said that the Dominican economy will benefit from the economic aid that the US Government is granting to its citizens, because part of these resources will be reflected in investments and remittances in the country.

Dominican economy registers its first month of growth in times of Covid-19

Santo Domingo.– The Dominican economy registered its first month of positive growth in February, after almost a year of “red” numbers due to the crisis generated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last month’s growth was 1.1%, a very positive number compared to -29.8% in April 2020, the worst month for productive activities in the country.

“These statistics show that the effort we have made has been great”, said Dominican Central Banker, Héctor Valdez Albizu, when offering these statements at a press conference.

Albizu explained that if the results of the hotels, bars and restaurants sector are left out of these calculations, the growth experienced by the GDP would have been 3.3% in February, instead of 1.1%.

The improvement in the economy is in line with the projections of the Central Bank, which estimates that the year will close with a 6% rise in the performance of productive activities.

This is due to the flexible monetary policies implemented by the Central Bank to boost the productive sectors through credit. In fact, to date 82,246 loans have been granted to households and companies for the facilities granted by that entity.

United Airlines’ Big Caribbean Expansion

As optimism grows in the travel industry, United Airlines is continuing to expand its Caribbean network.

In fact, United Airlines will soon be flying more flights to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America than it did in 2019 — before the pandemic.

“We are proud of United’s deep roots and history throughout Latin America,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s vice president of International Network and Alliances.  “In May, we will greatly expand our Latin America schedule, offering even more options than we did in 2019.  This will include numerous opportunities for travelers reuniting with friends and family and those seeking a warm-weather, beach destination.”

United will be operating nonstop service in May to 13 destinations across the Caribbean from its hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, and Washington, DC.

That will include flights to Aruba, The Bahamas Bermuda, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, St Maarten, St Thomas and Turks, and Caicos.

That will include a number of Caribbean routes with more than one flight per day, including two daily flights from Newark to St Thomas and Aruba and five flights each day from Houston to Cancun, among others.

Among other notable routes, United will be flying daily flights from Chicago to both Punta Cana and San Juan; daily flights from Houston to St Thomas; and at least one flight every day from Newark to Nassau, Turk sand Caicos, Santo Domingo, San Juan, Santiago, and St Maarten.

You can find the full list of United flights to the Caribbean and Mexico below.

Chicago O’Hare to the CaribbeanAruba (AUA)WeeklyMontego Bay (MBJ)WeeklyNassau (NAS)2x weeklyPunta Cana (PUJ)DailySan Juan (SJU)DailySt. Thomas (STT)2x weeklyCancun2x dailyCozumelWeekly

Denver to the CaribbeanNassauWeeklyCancun3x Daily

Houston to the CaribbeanArubaWeeklyMontego Bay4x WeeklyNassau10x WeeklyTurks and CaicosWeeklyPunta Cana2x WeeklySan Juan18x WeeklySt ThomasDailyBelize2x DailyRoatan5x WeeklyCancun5x DailyCozumelDaily

Newark to the CaribbeanAruba2x dailyBermudaDailyAguadillaDailyMontego Bay10x WeeklyNassauDailyTurks and CaicosDailyPuerto Plata3x WeeklyPunta Cana11x WeeklySanto Domingo3x dailySantiago3x dailySt Thomas2x dailySt MaartenDailyCancun3x dailyBelize

Large film studio to be built in Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata, DR

President Luis Abinader headed the signing of an agreement yesterday with actor and producer Vin Diesel and the company Blue Mangos Studios, for the construction of a first-class film studio, with the support of the experience and contacts of the famous character in the film industry.

“The time has come from Bergantín to fulfill our dreams,” said the president, when he announced the news that he defined as transcendental for the entire north coast and the country, highlighting the importance of the film industry to boost the reactivation of the tourism industry.

Film tourism has grown and has become an essential strategy for the promotion of the tourist destinations where the movies are filmed because many travelers want to visit the place they saw in the film, said the president who was accompanied by his wife, Raquel Arbaje; the ministers of Tourism, David Collado, and the Administrative of the presidency, Jose Paliza; the director of DGCINE, Mariana Vargas and the wife of Vin Diesel, Paloma Jimenez Diesel, and local and national officials. The agreement was signed on the beach, in the unique setting of Bergantin, just a few minutes from Playa Dorada.

My brother
Both President Abinader and the popular actor identified each other as “My brother,” highlighting the coincidence that both were born in 1967 a few days apart, but above all, the actor’s love for the Dominican Republic.

During the signing of the agreement, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, affirmed that the Dominican Republic is the destination with the best-managed tourism in the region, taking it from 40,000 tourists at the beginning of the administration 250,000 tourists.

Collado indicated that thanks to work carried out by the present administration, in the specialized pages and search engines, the country is already the most searched for as the Dominican Republic, rather than a particular destination within the country.

Extensive day
During an intense day in the Atlantic bride, the president began his activities with the Sandra Ivelisse Corniel school’s inauguration of 14 classrooms in Montellano.

The school, built at 70 million pesos, also has two science laboratories, a computer laboratory, and two classrooms for children with special conditions.

During this inauguration, the head of state emphasized that today the country could have 60 or 70 more schools inaugurated but that a legal knot affecting more than 400 contracted schools and that more than 25 percent of the work has been executed has delayed them, but that in the next few days a solution to this situation will be announced.

Vaccination Center
The head of state later went to the vaccination center that operates in the Padre Las Casas sector club, where he supervised the progress of the vaccination campaigns.

Pumping stations
Together with the Minister of Tourism, the President, David Collado, inaugurated in the municipality of San Felipe the rehabilitation project of the pumping stations: Long Beach, Padre Granero I, Bello Costero, and Manolo Tavárez Justo, with an investment of more than 79 million pesos.

The work, built by the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) through the Executing Committee for Infrastructure in Tourist Zones (CEIZTUR), will directly benefit a population of 69,823 inhabitants and indirectly 58,417 for a total of 128,240 inhabitants in the entire municipality.

At midday, together with the Minister of Sports, the President led the Fabio Rafael González Sports Center’s remodeling. The new administration also delivered the remodeling of 3 multi-purpose centers and ten sports courts in different sectors.

During the ceremony, the Minister of Sports Francisco Camacho said that the first visit he made was to Puerto Plata when he was appointed in charge and that he realized that what they received was a shell while proclaiming that today the change in the sport of Puerto Plata and the country has begun.

The rehabilitated multipurpose centers correspond to the municipalities of Sosúa, Imbert, and Luperon and courts in these municipalities and the capital municipality.

The President emphasized that he will be announcing the solution to these difficulties in the next few days, which he indicated are not due to corruption but of a legal nature, which has prevented him from having 60 or 70 schools inaugurated at present.

Abinader reiterated his government’s commitment to guarantee the best possible education in the best possible facilities for the Dominican people, understanding that education guarantees empowered and free citizens and is the path to a better life.

Roberto Fulcar
For his part, the Minister of Education Roberto Fulcar emphasized that the government currently has some 1,940 schools intervened to guarantee the best conditions for teaching in the country.

He indicated that simultaneously, work is being done in distance education and in the conditioning of schools for the gradual beginning of on-site education, which starts on April 6 with 2000 schools in 48 municipalities to guarantee the robust progress of Education.

Bergantín.
This area comprises a large plot of land in two large portions of 7 and 2 million square meters received by the Central Bank in payment of the debt of the State Sugar Council, CEA, with that entity years ago. It is being promoted as being for sale. The parcel comprises a strip of beach adjacent to other private properties in the area and close to Playa Dorada.

Coco de Agua
On the beach, the President and the popular actor Vin Diesel enjoyed coconut water and local fruits arranged in stations near the table where they signed the agreement.

Moody’s rates the Dominican Republic stable as a debt issuing country

The entity indicates that the government debt should increase only moderately compared to 2020

The Dominican Republic projects a stable outlook as a long-term debt issuer, according to the risk rating agency Moody’s Investors Service, which places the country in the Ba3 range in the context of its credit profile and risk balance.

In a report, the entity attributes this rating to the fact that the government’s liquidity risks are held back because current account deficits are financed, there are more significant foreign exchange reserves to cover future debt maturities, and there is a proven track record of access to the market, in times of turbulence.

In addition to the fact that, despite the impact of the coronavirus and the consequences left in the tourism sector, the main engine of the economy, the country projects solid growth prospects. The banking sector also appears among the firm’s stability indicators, qualifying it as resilient despite an anticipated deterioration in asset quality.

Moody’s points out, however, that the country has a weak fiscal solidity, “which reflects long-standing credit challenges, given a high exposure to currency risks and a very high relationship between interest and government income compared to its peers.”

The expectations.

In its report, the risk rating firm also looks to the future in the context of debt and tax revenues. In this regard, it suggests that the government’s debt levels should increase moderately after the significant increase in 2020.

Last year the authorities issued bonds of 3.8 billion dollars to face the health and economic challenges left by the impact of the covid-19 virus on the productive apparatus.

In its economic analysis, the agency also indicates that the government “will seek reforms to improve revenues that will ease fiscal restrictions derived from a limited tax base.”

The agency expects the liquidity risks of the balance of payments and the government to be controlled.

Economy growth would increase. Moody’s presumes that the Dominican economy will grow around 6% this year, so it will return to the levels it had before the appearance of covid-19. This deadly viral disease negatively impacted all economies.

“The rapid pace of the launch of the vaccine will support a faster reopening of national activity, including construction, commerce, and other services, and will support a faster recovery in the tourism sector,” says the entity.

The rapid recovery of Moody’s tourism is attributed to the strength of the sector, to the fact that it has not been exposed to cruises, as has happened with other destinations in the Caribbean region, and to the prospect of an increase in tourists from the United States, which it is the leading issuing country.

Tourist arrivals to the DR rebound in March: it will close with 230 visitors

THIS WAS STATED BY THE MINISTER OF TOURISM, DAVID COLLADO

March will end with some 230,000 tourists, the most significant number of visits the Dominican Republic will have received after the start of the pandemic, said Tourism Minister David Collado.

He pointed out that said increase in the arrival of non-resident passengers is due to how the country has handled the pandemic in the sector, which according to international organizations, he indicated, has served as an example to the world.

“We have been effective without putting our citizens at risk and without putting tourists visiting the DR at risk. The positivity at the airport has waned. We have been successful in the sanitary protocols,” he indicated.

According to El Hoy, Collado explained that 185,000 non-residents have entered the country and that the island nation is number five in reservations on the Expedia reservation portal.

“The projections that DR tourism has is of frank growth, sales and reservations put the country with numbers equal to those of January 2018, which was the best tourism month in the history of our country,” he said.

Iberostar projects a Holy Week at the maximum occupancy level allowed in the DR

 With the main markets of the United States, Argentina, Germany

The Iberostar Hotels & Resorts accommodation establishments in the Dominican Republic, which are operating in the destination, will be at the maximum allowed occupancy for the Easter date, complying with the Ministry of Tourism regulations ( Mitur ).

This was reported to arecoa.com by Yoanki Nieves, Iberostar Marketing Director for DR and Latin America, who highlighted that in the accumulated year 2021, the main markets for Iberostar DR are the United States, Argentina, Germany, and the local Dominican market.

“The growth of other Eastern European markets such as  Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria also stands out. Also, important markets such as France, the United Kingdom, and Russia are still closed, and flights are forecast to resume in the summer,” he added.

He stressed that other novelties of the chain are that considering how essential repeat customers are for Iberostar, from April 2021 Horizons will be launched, the new loyalty program, which is based on the customer experience and According to the number of nights enjoyed, it is classified into the different levels such as  Sand, Ocean, Sky, and Infinity.

The executive explained that from the moment the client joins the Horizons community, they access special discounts on hotel services, priority check-in, and late check-out, personalized welcome gifts, as well as premium and exclusive services during their stay, among many more surprises.

“Regular customers have a great advantage because Horizons will calculate their level, based on previous stays, as long as their last stay has been in the last three years. All Iberostar hotels participate in Horizons, and with this new initiative, Iberostar continues to meet the needs of its customers and further strengthen the relationship with them,” said Nieves.

Iberostar specializes in offering responsible experiences; it develops in hotels more than 300 hygiene and health safety measures that it provides, How We Care, with a Medical Advisory Council’s support. Iberostar operates with the highest quality standards and now continues to strengthen and enrich procedures and protocols with a holistic vision, scientific rigor, and without taking a step back in caring for the environment.

Following the recommendations of public authorities and health institutions, it has developed measures to take care of employees and guarantee the customer experience, implement new procedures in restaurants or at check-ins, use reusable masks, or apply measures that favor frequent hand washing. Some of these measures are the limitation of hotel occupancy, greater distance between hammocks and furniture, and a touch-less experience with the App.

American will join Santiago with Philadelphia with three weekly routes starting in April

A BOEING 737 OPERATED MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY WITH CAPACITY FOR 172 PEOPLE

The Cibao International Airport administration announced that starting next April, American Airlines will increase operations in the said terminal, offering a new route from the Philadelphia International Airport ( PHL ).

From April 2, the US company will launch the new operation with three weekly frequencies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, operated with a Boeing 737with 172 people.

The flight will provide flight options to the thousands of Dominicans who reside in Pennsylvania and nearby areas.

Cibao Airport reaffirms its commitment to offer more significant and better aerial connectivity opportunities to its users, always betting on good customer service and the human quality characterizing the terminal.

Currently, American Airlines has four direct flights to Miami International Airport with daily routes from Cibao International Airport.

First Fly-In is launched with the support of Puerto Plata hoteliers

The Dominican Republic received  17 aircraft at the Gregorio Luperón International Airport in Puerto Plata that participated in the first Fly-In organized by Aeroclub Dominicano 74 with the Association of Hotels, Restaurants, and Tourism Companies of the North (Ashonorte) and the Airport Department.

After they visited the destination, the aircraft owners and pilots, together with their friends and family, checked out everything that Puerto Plata has to offer, discovering the main attractions of the area. This was reported from Dominican Airports Siglo XXI ( Aerodom).

“From Aerodom, we are committed to continuing supporting the country’s private tourism and sports aviation, convinced of the potential that air tourism has from private planes, which strengthen the destination and generate a greater demand for tourism throughout the area,” they added.

Abinader highlights the dynamism of tourism as a permanent source of job creation

“THE SECTOR IS EMPLOYMENT; IT IS THAT SMALL AND MEDIUM MERCHANTS CAN EARN A LIVING”

 He indicated that the tourism industry is the one that has suffered the most in this crisis.

The President of the Republic,  Luis Abinader, guaranteed that the Government he presides over would decisively support tourism as a fundamental basis for economic development and as a permanent source of job creation.

 “Tourism is employment, from which small and medium merchants throughout the country can earn a decent living. There is a relationship of 1.5 direct jobs for each room and more than three indirect jobs for each direct job, and it is the sector that has suffered the most in this crisis, ”he said.

Abinader highlighted that with the essential infrastructure works, they seek to directly impact the lives of each of the communities with tourism potential in the Dominican Republic.

The president referred to these terms in the opening ceremony of the reconstruction and beautification of 900 meters of the main avenue “Bulevar Turístico de la Salud” and the construction of the pedestrian street of Playa Caleta, in La Romana.

Asonahores: hotel occupancy goes from 32% to 42% nationwide

Rafael Blanco Tejera, president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism ( Asonahores ), explained that the occupancy of hotel rooms went from 32% in February to expect 42% nationwide for Easter.

“The recovery that the United States is experiencing due to its vaccination campaign against the coronavirus is helping the tourism sector to the point that for this Easter the reservations have a strong upward rhythm,” he added.

He indicated that “This month culminates the high season and winter in the main tourist-origin countries, but businessmen in the sector pin their hopes on a more solid and sustained recovery in summer.”

Blanco Tejera also said that the Covid-19 prevention protocol would continue to apply.

In this context, David Collado, Minister of Tourism, announced that 128,000 tourists have arrived in the country and that travel agencies have reported record sales to the Dominican Republic.

New York Times highlights Dominican Republic will vaccinate its population in 2021

ONLY THREE OTHER LATIN COUNTRIES WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO, ACCORDING TO THE US NEWSPAPER

 Certified by the World Health Organization

The New York Times newspaper designated the Dominican Republic as one of the four countries in America that will vaccinate its population against Covid-19 in 2021.

The North American newspaper indicated that the other three countries that have advanced in the vaccination journey against the coronavirus had been Chile, which has grown the fastest in the process according to data from the World Health Organization ( WHO); the United States and Uruguay, according to a statement.

The Dominican Republic began its national vaccination plan on February 16, with the first stage of the cycle focused on health personnel, adults over 68 years of age, and teachers.

Until March 15, it was reported that to date, a total of 675,000 people had been inoculated.

The Dominican government recently announced that one million fifty thousand doses of vaccines against Covid-19 join the National Vaccination Plan launched by President Luis Abinader, being the largest batch.

The China Cargo plane, which arrived in the country from Beijing at 5:07 in the afternoon, was received by the Vice President of the Republic, Raquel Peña, at the Las Américas International Airport, Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez ( AILA ).

Before unloading the batch, the vice president and coordinator of the Health Cabinet greeted the captain of the aircraft, and all the crew followed and offered statements to the press.

“DR is once again pleased and sees the hope and the light at the end of the tunnel with the arrival of this batch again, to continue vaccinating the population and win the battle against Covid-19,” said Peña.

Likewise, the vice president thanked the ROC government, in the ambassador Zhang Run, and highlighted the gesture as a show of solidarity.

“Starting tomorrow, we continue with the plan so that as soon as possible, we can vaccinate the entire population, as instructed by President Luis Abinader,” said the vice president.

Peña affirmed that the unit cost of the vaccine is $ 19 and assured that the next shipment awaits the export permit from China to the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic manages to reactivate 40 thousand tourism jobs and create new jobs

 Government highlights the value of tourism for generating foreign exchange

 Hotel occupancy ranges between 60 and 70% in the third month of the year

President Luis Abinader assured that more than 40 thousand jobs have already been recovered in the tourism sector after the closure of hotels due to the pandemic.

He indicated that at present, the main objective of the government is the creation of employment, for which it is projected to recover some 10,000 direct and indirect jobs as of March.

“Apart from that recovery, 18 thousand new jobs have been created for people who did not work before in this area and the announcements of projects in the cruise tourism sector, in thematic areas and new mega-projects such as that of the province Pedernales and others yet to be announced,” said the president.

He explained, during a press conference where he referred to the projection of tourism in the country and the strategies that the government is implementing for its recovery, that “this is the first economic sector in the country in terms of the generation of foreign exchange and what it has to do with employment and foreign investment.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, appreciated the president’s efforts in favor of tourism.

He argued that the projection for March is to end with 230,000 or 260,000 tourists and that the occupancy for this third month of the year is between 60 and 70%.

Vaccination of hotel staff in process; protocol to be followed during Easter Week

Santo Domingo, DR

The president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of Dominican Republic (Asonahores), Rafi Blanco, said that the vaccination of the hotel personnel would be a process. Meanwhile, the implementation of the protocols of the tourist sector for Holy Week continues.

When consulted by Listin Diario, Blanco commented that for Easter Week, a national occupancy rate is projected to be around 43% of the total number of rooms, with an increase of 32.3% of what it was in February.

“This indicates a clear upward trend, corroborating the information we have from the issuing markets that we should start to feel an increase in demand as a result of the successful vaccination processes, mainly in the United States, as well as in the Dominican Republic,” expressed the hoteliers’ representative.

Meanwhile, the president of the Association of Hotels and Tourist Projects of the East (Asoleste), Ernesto Veloz, assured that according to information from the Health Cabinet, there is the expectation to start the vaccination of hotel personnel. This process has already been coordinated to begin when the facilities are provided.

“We are not going to provide the vaccines. We are going to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to provide them. That is the commitment we have assumed,” said Veloz.

He argued that they are still waiting for the logistics to be implemented for the vaccination. Still, the hotels will be ready for Easter Week thanks to the reinforcement of the sanitary protocol, which is expected to be fulfilled with an increase of the room capacity to 80%.

“The fact of not violating the protocols gives you a guarantee that things have been done in a very rigid way and the Ministry of Tourism is very demanding in complying with them. We intend to have all our employees vaccinated by that date, but if not, the protocols will continue to be implemented even if they are vaccinated. It is doubtful that we will generate a chain of contagion, although it is best to have the vaccine already applied,” the hotelier pointed out.

Guarantee to visitors

The president of the Association of Hotels and the Tourist Cluster La Romana Bayahibe, Andrés Fernández, considered that including tourism in the National Plan of Vaccination against the COVID is a guarantee for the tourists. However, they respect that it was started with the elderly and with comorbidities.

Regarding the expectations that the country would receive around 100,000 tourists from the United States during Easter Week, Fernandez indicated that the protocols applied not only by the hotels but by all the actors of the tourism value chain in La Romana are maintained to ensure the complete sanitary safety of tourists to the destination.

“The vaccination plan which was formed by the Cabinet of Health of the government initially had not designated the tourism sector as a priority for the vaccination, but it started, and it seems to us very logical, with the sanitary and military personnel and then by destinations,” commented Fernandez after being consulted by Listin Diario.

The representative of the hoteliers of this destination added that La Romana had a vaccination plan. Still, it only included those over 60 years old, and that there has not been a specific plan for tourism, “at least in La Romana.”

He pointed out that only hotel workers who the vaccination plan has covered have been vaccinated, that is to say, those within the age range allowed.

He added that the rest must wait for us to enter that vaccination plan that is already designed.

“I understand that all sectors should have been vaccinated and especially tourism which is very much in contact with the people who visit us and the more health guarantees we can offer, the better, but we also understand that the government has a limited number of vaccines; therefore, it is applying its criteria when applying them to the population,” opined Fernandez.

For the coming Holy Week, the Dominican hotel sector maintains high expectations with the arrival of 100,000 tourists from the U.S. tourist market, suggesting a recovery in the Dominican Republic’s tourism activity.

Abinader foresees a total recovery of the country

He maintained that the country has great challenges but also “problems that have been dragging on for years.”

Punta Cana, La Altagracia, DR

President Luis Abinader affirmed yesterday that the government is working to improve the quality of life of all Dominicans, reduce absolute poverty and recover the country from the effects of the global pandemic caused by Covid-19.

The head of state said that anyone who generates jobs would have the support of the government he heads. He added, “You will have an ally with transparency and security, making the bureaucratic processes easier and more agile.”

In assessing the results achieved by the country so far, the President projected that they would be better in the second half of the year “in all areas we will recover, not only in tourism and industry,” he said.

Great challenges
He said that the country has significant challenges, of which Covid-19 is the main one, but also “problems that we have been dragging for years, but we are determined that starting next year, we will be able to overcome them.”

The president said that he is working tirelessly for this purpose after thanking the Delfino family for their confidence in the Il Lago Beach & Golf Cap Cana hotel’s inauguration in the Cap Cana resort complex.

Optimism
Abinader indicated that Dominicans should feel optimistic about the future due to the record achieved in this recovery period and the work being done to overcome the obstacles created by the pandemic of the new coronavirus.

The Head of State’s words were preceded by those of the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, who asked for a standing ovation, for the accelerated recovery of the country’s tourism, amid the pandemic and the efforts made by the President of the Republic.

“President Abinader calls me daily at 1:30 in the morning. He is nocturnal. He asks me how are the hotels, the reservations, and the occupancies, following the day today to get the country going,” indicated Collado.

Tourism
Abinader acknowledged that the country has been dragging its feet on problems for decades that must be faced with responsibility and gave as an example the results achieved in the tourism sector, which maintains a rhythm only in the first three months of the year praised by international organizations.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President of the Republic praised the Delfino family, in the person of its president, Alfredo Delfino; his daughter Rafaelina, the other members as well as Fernando Hazoury, president of Cap Cana, for their confidence in the investment and new projects during the difficulties caused by the pandemic.

“Thank you for believing in our country, for bringing technology, and for investing in the country. Many congratulations to this great project of Cap Cana, since in the difficult moments of tourism, it was growing and continues to grow,” he said.

He wished many congratulations to the Cap Cana project because it was growing in the real estate and hotel sector, and they have been able to recover in the most challenging moments.

Congratulations
He recalled the relationship he has with the Hazoury’s and anecdotally said: “My mother told me. Don’t get together with Fernando, he is a bad influence” because of the youthful antics when highlighting the good relations.

David Collado: “President Abinader calls me daily in the early hours of the morning to know how the reservations are going”

Collado presented the Head of State as a “tireless night worker” who makes every effort to recover the country’s most productive sector.

Punta Cana, DR

The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, related that President Luis Abinader, calls him daily to know the behavior of the tourism sector and the recovery process he is leading.

“He calls me at 1:30 in the morning. He is nocturnal and asks me: Tell me how are the numbers going, how are the tourists, how are the reservations going, and comparisons, as well as the actions to follow,” he expressed.

Collado, who participated in a ceremony with President Abinader of the first stage of the reorganization of Macao beach and later inaugurated the Il Capo hotel, presented the Head of State as a “tireless night worker” who makes every effort to recover the most productive sector of the country.

“The president loves the sector, he respects it…we are attentive to the small details. We can assure you that tourism is in good hands. The good mutuality of the public and private sectors, and the best proof is the results achieved,” said the official.

He also valued the fact that President Abinader knows and respects the sector in a way that restores confidence and facilitates the acceleration of the process to return to normality amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

“DR tourism is in good hands. Where they are investing, what airline they are betting on. The travel agencies in Miami had record sales, a single agency informed us that it sold $150,000 another $200,000, and every time these vaccines arrive, the security of the Dominican Republic is strengthened,” he emphasized.

The Minister of Tourism announced that the country has received 128 thousand tourists so far this year and that it is showing record sales figures in markets such as Miami and various cities in the United States and that it has been recognized as the country that has achieved the best performance in Central America.

He gave as an example the request made by the United States for PCR tests in the airports, for which the country has been congratulated due to the best performance it achieved in just 24 hours in all Latin America, by succeeding in this test, in addition to the recovery that has been achieved.

He cited the excellent relations and the joint work carried out between the ministry and Rafael Blanco, president of Asonahores, which has been a milestone in history, which is and will continue to provide favorable results, thanks to the vision of the President.

Collado manifested the company Expedia regarding room reservations in hotels in the country, which show an 18% increase over the same period of 2018, which is held as one with the most progress in that sector.

The internet franchise with a presence in 31 countries dedicated to booking travel, airline tickets, hotel, car rental, and vacation packages lists the Dominican Republic as a preferred destination in recent weeks due to its handling of the pandemic and tourism.

Asonahores: tour operators show signs of reactivation in tourist demand

Rafael Blanco Tejera, president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic ( Asonahores ), informed arecoa.com that the industry has been increasing its pace since it is perceived in the coming months, the flow of visitors will be greater and continue to advance.

“There is still uncertainty about the situation in the United States, Canada, and Europe, which are the most prominent tourist origins in the country, but tour operators indicate that the demand is active; we have to wait for the issue of vaccination to be clarified, but the DR remains well-positioned in the international market,” he said.

He explained that both tourism associations and the Dominican Government are working on solutions. The DR has a corporate structure and safe protocols for receiving tourists from arrival at airports to transfer to hotels, especially ensuring that the accommodation meets the protocol requirements to avoid contagion.

Blanco Tejera said that Asonahores is doing hard work so that the sector continues to strengthen.

“A few weeks ago, the president of the World Tourism Organization ( UNWTO ) visited us and said that the DR is a model country in the way it has handled the reactivation of the tourism industry, we can only hope that the issuing countries become more flexible as progress is made concerning the issue of vaccination in each of them. We continue working to receive tourists in an orderly and safe way,” he recalled.

Avianca will link with direct flight to Medellín and Punta Cana

 The new route is part of Avianca’s expansion plan in the region

 It will implement a “light” model with the low-cost profile

The Avianca airline will open a direct link between Medellín (Colombia) and Punta Cana as part of the new routes they plan to launch from now on, thus further expanding its presence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“From Colombia, we can now announce that we will open direct flights from Medellín to Punta Cana and Cancun, with Medellín being an important destination for Avianca,” said Anko van der Werff, president of Avianca.

The airline hopes to get out of Chapter 11 before the end of this year, implementing a new “light” model, which has the full profile of the “low cost” model, and they plan to put into operation 50 new routes in 3 years.

“Avianca announces a proposal for a model with a lighter product for everyone to travel,” Van der Werff told Semana. It is a model that aims at low rates, with a wide offer for the passenger and low costs for its operation.

However, the executive assures that the airline will not be low-cost as it will maintain its loyalty strategy,” as well as the first-class seats that include Wi-Fi on board,” commented the CEO.

The new operating model would be part of its strategy to exit the United States’ bankruptcy law since it must demonstrate that it is a solid, sustainable, and credible model to cover its obligations and competitiveness in the market. Also, the airline wants to follow the 50% of the domestic market, it had in 2019.

On the other hand, the airline that recently suspended 24 international routes due to restrictions in some countries will expand its route offer, integrating another 50 in the next three years, “We are not only going to resume those routes in the coming days. Our 3-year plan is to launch about 50 new routes so that travelers have all the travel possibilities,” said Van der Werff.

By the end of 2021, the airline will have 448,000 weekly seats on offer, thus doubling its current capacity. They will have low prices that already offer rates of 50 thousand pesos or less, including fees and taxes, which indicates their readiness to enter the low-cost market to compete with Wingo and Viva Air.

Other routes that Avianca has planned are: Barranquilla-Cali and Medellín-Montería, starting on March 28 and will resume this month Barranquilla-Miami, Bogotá-Curaçao, Bogotá-Guatemala City and Bogotá-Orlando, reported Semana.

Foreign filming has brought 152 million dollars to the country.

The head of the DGCINE, Marianna Vargas, talks about her plans and gives her opinion on the Cinema Law’s possible modification.

Marianna Vargas, the new head of the General Directorate of Cinema (DGCINE), revealed to Diario Libre that her administration would continue to work to consolidate the film industry in the Dominican Republic.

Vargas, who succeeded Yvette Marichal, is a lawyer and has been involved in the film industry since 2008.

Commenting on her steps, from the legal field in film and the Dominican Republic’s Export and Investment Center, together with its then director, Eddy Martinez, she says: “At that time, we identified the three pillars for film to develop, which are human capital, infrastructure and a regime of incentives; and that, to this day, is maintained,” she commented.

And she recalls that they explored international scenarios and the benefits that other countries had for local development and attracting investors.

Perspective
The pandemic had a significant impact on cinema. However, with the sanitary protocols established, national and foreign film productions have been shot.

In outlining what her administration will be like, she recalls that in the first years of implementing the film promotion legislation, work has been done to promote the country.

“Now it is up to us to consolidate and demonstrate that, as a result of this work, we have to make film a business so that these incentives continue to have a positive impact on our country. We will work on training because we must be aware of what the other realities of human capital are and make sure that we have an academic offer that responds to those demands. Today, our management is very focused on data, on numbers. We are constantly monitoring with line producers and directors to know what these needs are, and thus determine the areas where improvements need to be made.”

Vargas clarifies that the General Directorate of Cinema is not a training entity. They will implement public policies to have educational institutions work together with them for staff training from that agency.

“We must make sure we have the right human capital to be able to bring in those $180 million of foreign productions. For example, right now, Samaná is full of productions, and we give them the necessary assistance so that they can work with peace of mind, guaranteeing that we have the adequate personnel,” she indicated.

Foreign productions
Yvette Marichal, who was relieved by Vargas, told Diario Libre that the pandemic, caused by the coronavirus, did not prevent the country from closing with RD$7,483,109,745.53 for the issuance of the Single Filming Permit (PUR).

“The pandemic has been a learning experience for us. Right now, we are receiving many foreign requests to come and shoot films in the country. We are expecting double what had been foreseen, which was 80 million dollars for the Single Filming Permit (PUR), today, a single production will bring 80 million dollars for this concept.”

Vargas revealed that, since the beginning of the pandemic, the country had received 152 million dollars for article 39 (incentive to foreign productions).

“That is an important figure, and I must tell you that we are capturing other markets. We must recognize the efforts of the private sector and the productions that have established COVID protocols.”

Modification of Law 108-10
Sectors linked to the film industry are working on modifying articles 34 (incentive to local production) and 39 (incentive to the foreign film industry). Likewise, the possibility of eliminating the Intersectoral Council for the Promotion of the Cinematographic Activity (CIPAC) and the CCINE has been raised.

On the subject, Vargas declared she had no knowledge and highlighted the role of CIPAC. “CIPAC is a body that has its purpose with public and private representation. I think that, over the years, it has shown that it fulfills its purpose, is quite dynamic, and is the one who approves the incentive; I don’t know what the logic would be in pushing that. In the case of the CCINE, this is a consultative body for the creation of policies. I see no harm for it to exist.”

In response to the comments on possible changes to Articles 34 and 39, Vargas said that she had held conversations with the Ministry of Culture on the matter.

“What I have tried is that any improvement that can be implemented would be made. The modification to the Law would be to make improvements in favor of the country,” she commented.

Hoteliers agree preclearance must be approved immediately

 “It would mark a before and after in the history of tourism in the DR.”

 The initiative would boost US tourist flow in the country

The approval of the preclearance agreement or air pre-check for travelers leaving the Dominican Republic for the United States, at a time of the sector’s recovery due to the incidence of Covid-19, will be the ‘spearhead’ that will reinforce the safety of traveling to the Caribbean destination.

Both the public and private sectors have addressed the issue due to the degree of importance of having the facility through the Punta Cana airport for different hoteliers consulted separately by this digital; the conclusion is only one: “it is important, and its approval should not take another day.”

Hoteliers are clear about it, and for this reason,  Ernesto Veloz, president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Projects of the East ( Asoleste ), reconfirmed to arecoa.com that having the pre-check-up would launch the Dominican destination as the most important in the Caribbean area for the “most important market for us, which is the American market.”

“For the hotel sector, it is almost a shame to have a possibility as important as preclearance and not have the fortune of its functionality because it is pending approval by the corresponding institutions,” he emphasized.

He added that “After being finalized, there is a time that is lost due to other procedures, and for us, it is a valuable time at the tourist level.”

“There is no possible way to give more thought to a need like that. I understand that President Luis Abinader, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, and we hoteliers are committed to supporting the approval of the preclearance at the Punta Cana airport; that is why it is rather incredible that we still do not have the facility,” said Veloz.

On his side, Santiago Rivera, Managing Area director of  Meliá Hotels International in the country, told this digital source that he considers the approval of the preclearance as a historical alliance and as a before and after in the history of tourism in the Dominican Republic, and in particular from the Punta Cana-Bávaro area.

“I think it is a very great competitive advantage over our area of ​​competitors, especially in the Latin Caribbean,” he added.

He explained that with its approval, tourism would very potentially be activated because it would be talking about more than a million arrivals “from the all-important American market, and would mean a 25% increase in pre-Covid-19 numbers.”

He stressed that the facility is only available in six countries, and none of them is in his area of ​​influence, for which he considers that the approval of the pre-check should be insisted upon.

“We should insist on this issue because it would give us a significant position in the face of our competitors. Obviously, national sovereignty must be preserved, and the judges would already work on it to avoid any friction,” Rivera emphasized.

Meanwhile, Juan Tuñón, regional director of Blue Diamond in the Dominican Republic, explained that the approval of the pre-check would give the country a significant advantage over competitors.

“It would be an excellent thing for the Dominican destination and especially in the East. Our strongest competitors such as Cancun and Jamaica would not have that advantage, so it is very positive that it is launched,” he added.

He indicated that its approval would also serve to have much more business with the United States, so Tuñón regretted that the issue is still being discussed for several years when it has been expressed from the different governments that “there is a political will to solve the issue.”

It should be noted that the benefits implied by the favorable ruling of the project that rests in the Constitutional Court (TC) would translate into more visits to the DR and the East (an increase of one million passengers per year from the US approximately), which would be a contribution to the economy of US 1.2 billion dollars annually.