Carnival milestone: brings world’s most modern cruise ship to Puerto Plata

MARDI GRAS ARRIVED AT AMBER COVE TERMINAL WITH 4,127 CRUISE PASSENGERS ON BOARD

 This operation is part of the maiden voyage of the striking cruise ship

 Carnival continues to drive North Coast economy

The Mardi Gras, considered in the industry as the most modern cruise in the world, has arrived in Puerto Plata, specifically at the Amber Cove terminal, with 4,127 cruise passengers onboard and a total of 1,764 crew members, generating great dynamism on the North Coast and signifying a new milestone for Carnival.

The vessel docked Wednesday morning in Puerto Plata, making Amber Cove the ship’s second port on its seven-day maiden voyage.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise, expressed herself positively and said she was optimistic about reopening the industry for this vessel.

“We are thrilled to begin our journeys and offer guests the opportunity to experience all the beauty of Amber Cove, while providing a much-needed boost to the local economy,” he added.

On her side, the regional tourism manager in Puerto Plata, Stephanie Kfouri, highlighted the boat’s presence that impacts the economy of “La Novia del Atlántico,” (Bride of the Atlantic).

“Today we are visited by MARDI GRAS, Carnival Cruise Lines’ largest cruise ship on its maiden voyage from July 31 to August 7. On the morning of today (Wednesday) it entered Amber Cove with 4,127 passengers on board and a total of 1,764 crew members,” he said.

The Mardi Gras has a capacity of 6,500 passengers, with 180,000 gross tons, powered by liquid natural gas (LNG), belonging to the world’s largest cruise operator, Carnival Cruise Line.

Dominican Republic exports jump a record 28.4% to US$5.8B

Santo Domingo.- Exports reached US$5.8 billion in the first half of 2021, for a growth of 28.4% compared to the first semester of 2020.

Odile Miniño, executive vice president of the Dominican Association of Exporters (Adoexpo), said that since 2019, in March, Dominican exports achieved record figures, exceeding US$1.0 billion in exports, reaching US$1.1 billion, a growth of 36.5% compared to March 2020 and 28.64% in 2019.

She said the Free Zones sector, which comprises 60% of exports, has grown 34.7% in the first half of 2021, with US$3.5 billion.

The national sector has increased by 22.5% compared to January-June 2020, exporting US$2.1 billion, while the industrial sector leads with 47.03% of exports.

Three tourism origin countries with highest growth in Dominican Republic as of June

The United States, Puerto Rico, and Colombia top the list of countries of origin of tourists to the Dominican Republic that have registered the highest growth in the first half of 2021, according to data from the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores).

The top ten issuers include Ukraine, Spain, Germany, France, Argentina, Canada, and Russia.

In the first six months of the year, according to Asonahores figures, 750,763 tourists arrived from the United States, traditionally the Dominican Republic’s primary source of tourism, of which 206,650 came through Santo Domingo, 2,002 through La Romana and 391,160 through Punta Cana.

Meanwhile, 51,703 visitors arrived by air from Puerto Rico and 47,476 from Colombia.

According to Resumen Turismo, 43,549 visitors came from Ukraine in the January-June period, 31,644 from Spain, 20,730 from Germany, and 18,259 from France.

It should be noted that the largest number of Ukrainians arrived through La Romana airport, 26,449, and through Punta Cana, 16,041. Meanwhile, some 14,975 Argentines used the country for vacations during the first semester of the year, in addition to 9,205 Canadians and 8,341 Russians.

Airlines face serious problems due to crew shortages

Santo Domingo, DR

More than a year after the indemnity and many countries worldwide decided to close their airports to slow the spread of Covid-19, the airline industry is unable to recover.

The low availability of pilots and crew members affects the sector’s recovery, creating delays and cancellations of hundreds of scheduled flights, which keeps thousands of travelers irritated.

Unofficially, it is known that the cancellation of a considerable number of flights in airlines recognized and in high demand for their economical prices. There are also serious delays in the arrival and departure of flights to and from the Dominican Republic.

The secretary-general of the National Association of Pilots (ANP), the lawyer-pilot Cristian Alba, told Listín Diario that as a result of the pandemic, airlines were affected by the ban on international flights, leading directly to the suspension of thousands of full crews so that currently it has not been possible to return those flights that were suspended.

He added that a portion of those pilots of retirement age took advantage and requested their final retirement, which he said has complicated the situation.

He pointed out that the production of new pilots was affected worldwide and that delays in airlines create a domino effect where crews who must not fly more than 14 hours a day are forced to leave the planes in ports and wait for another crew to take over.

He explained that most of the time, air operators must pay up to double the salary to pilots who are on rest to fulfill the commitments made.

“We must add that we are in the summer which is the high season of flights,so it is also an additional ingredient to the problem of delays. In our case as the Dominican Republic, a large number of people prefer to fly with certain airlines that have been involved in conflicts with users and this is also because they are the most used by our fellow citizens, “said Alba.

Cristian Alba explained that a significant lack of crew was predicted for several years, but the Covid accelerated the situation.

JAC not accurate
The president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), José Marte Piantini, told this newspaper that he could not specify the information that airlines are being affected by a lack of pilots available to meet current demand.

Complaints
In recent weeks, the media have echoed the complaints of many travelers who have suffered flight delays of up to five and six hours without a satisfactory explanation from the airline.

situation
According to the airlines, the increase in demand resulting from the summer holidays is met with announcements of strikes, reduced staff, and even difficulties in the supply of fuel.

An article published Monday by The San Diego Union-Tribune, under the signature of Associated Press’s David Koenig, reports that U.S. flights are setting new records in the pandemic era, and airlines are struggling to keep up with crowds over the summer holidays.

It notes that on Monday afternoon, Florida-based low-cost airline Spirit Airlines had canceled 270 flights– about a third of those scheduled, citing weather and operational problems.

The article notes that at least 5,000 delayed flights have been recorded almost every day since the beginning of July. According to figures from FlightAware, American, Southwest, and Spirit are among the airlines with the most significant problems.

It notes that at least 40% of Southwest and Spirit flights were delayed, and 19% of Spirit flights were canceled on Sunday.

Arrival of 2.4M+ tourists shows recovery

Santo Domingo. – Dominican tourism improved many of its indicators during the last eleven months, placing itself very close to the performance achieved in 2019, before the pandemic forced the closure of activities.

The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, together with President Luis Abinader, reported on the increase in the number of flights, aircraft occupancy, arrival of cruise ships, reservation of air tickets, days of stay, number of visitors, construction of projects and investment, hotel occupancy, tax collections, industry purchases, and job creation and recovery.

The most important data that evidenced the recovery of this sector was the arrival of 2,470,282 tourists from January to July 2021, a figure that exceeds the number of visitors for the entire year 2020 and is equivalent to 97% of those who came to the Dominican Republic until July in 2019.

Dominican Republic has its 1st woman Olympic medalist

Tokyio. – Dominican weightlifter Crismery Santana made history early Monday morning by winning a bronze medal in the 87 kg weightlifting category at the Tokyo Olympic Games, to become the first Dominican woman to get on the podium in an individual sport.

Santana totaled 256 kilos in her lifts, divided between 116 kg in the snatch and 140 kg in the clean and jerk to secure the medal and a RD$6 million prize announced by the Dominican government.

She thus joins Zacarías Bonnat (silver in weightlifting) and the 4 x 400 mixed relay (silver in track and field) as the Dominican medalists, with Verónica Saladín pending in weights, baseball and women’s volleyball.

Restaurant and hotel chain will generate US$50 million for Dominican economy

The company will be installed in the Dominican Republic.

Santo Domingo, DR

The entrepreneur Juan Manuel Barrientos, creator, and founder of El Cielo Hospitality Group chain of restaurants, bars, and hotels, announced that he would invest in the Dominican Republic with a project covering everything he has and other cooking concepts.

He said that the Dominican Republic has all the characteristics for its industrial line, which is hospitality, and also, it is very conducive to allying with local investors.

He reported that he had visited Las Terrenas, Punta Cana, Casa de Campo, and Greater Santo Domingo because they are the drinking places for his future investments by the flow of European, American, and Latin tourism.

He considers the Riviera Malla and the Dominican Republic to be among the most substantial destinations in the Caribbean for tourism. And he chooses it for its beauty, the warmth of its inhabitants, the closeness and similarity with his native country, Colombia.

He said that they are in the stage of meetings with Dominican investors and looking at the grounds and spaces where they will build boutique hotels, adapted to the gastronomic and cultural traditions of the Dominican, without losing their essence, as in the countries where their chain of 12 restaurants is, such as El Cielo de Medellín, Bogotá, Miami and Washington, D.C., in addition to La Serenissima, a chain of pizzerias, Cuon, Asian, Kai, vegan, Elcielo Classic, AO, Asian Bogotá, Shibari bar, Aguafresca, Mexican and Cerdología.

Colombian chef Juan Manuel Barrientos has not finished celebrating the opening of his luxury hotel in Medellin, which is an extension of his Elcielo brand in tourism. He has now been notified of his entry into the Michelin Guide 2021.

This gives him momentum to reach the country, under the umbrella of the Montaner family of artists and Dominican investors, to settle here with a second hotel.

Barrientos has been recognized as the youngest chef in the 50 best in Latin America for three consecutive times, and in 2016 he was part of the exclusive list of The World’s Best Chef.

His most recent project is that El Cielo opens its doors in Washington, D.C. in September 2020 with two menus; tasting as is a tradition in a la carte, betting on more active service.

Construction of Elcielo hotel in Medellín, in El Poblado, began in March 2019 and started operations in March 2021. It is the first experience of Juanma and the Elcielo Organization within the hotel sector with a project that seeks to bring the sensory and memorable experience of Elcielo Restaurant to a unique boutique hotel in Colombia.

“We have been studying local consumption in the almost four years that I have visited the country, and I have seen how the restaurants have been sophisticated and with them the Dominican who wants new things, who travels the world and wants in his country what he sees outside. There is a stream of European, Latin American, and American tourists and Miami and Colombia.”

Germany no longer considers the Dominican Republic a coronavirus risk zone

The Minister of Tourism released the information through his Twitter account.

Germany excluded the Dominican Republic from its coronavirus risk zone, tourism minister David Collado announced Friday via his Twitter account.

“Great news for RD (Dominican Republic). The tourist corners of our country open their doors to nationals and foreigners safely,” said Collado when releasing the information.

A post from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Santo Domingo reads, “Dominican Republic is no longer categorized as a coronavirus risk zone.”

Puerto Plata reaches hotel occupancy of 80% on weekends

The provincial director of the Ministry of Tourism in Puerto Plata, Stephanie Kfouri, reported that hotel occupancy in that town had experienced a growth of 40.1% in the last five months.

“Hotel occupancy on weekends in the area is 80%,” he said.

He explained that in 15 days, more than 8,100 cruise ship tourists have visited and enjoyed the multiple attractions of the tourist pole, located on the Atlantic coast of the Dominican Republic.

He said that he is constantly working with all the actors in the tourism field to continue reactivating tourism activity in Puerto Plata.

He highlighted the increase in operations at the General Gregorio Luperón International Airport with direct weekly flights from Switzerland to Puerto Plata by the airline Edelweiss Air based in Zurich.

He added that from next July 30, a flight of the Canadian commercial airline Air Transat would be arriving every Friday covering the direct route from Montreal to Puerto Plata.

Azur Air to open flight between Ukraine and Punta Cana

 Ukraine ranked fourth in the top 10 tourist issuers to RD in the first half of 2021

 New flights boost the recovery of tourism in the country

The Civil Aviation Board(JAC) has learned of Azur Air Ukraine’s application for an operating permit to include the new Ukraine-Punta Cana-Kievflight, which will increase the arrival of tourists from Ukraine to the Dominican Republic.

Ukraine became the fourth country on the list of 10 tourist issuers to the Dominican Republic in the first half of 2021, with the arrival of 43,549 visitors.

And the European market, which in the first half of the year represented 5% of total visitors, was the leading source country. This was followed by Spain, a country from which 31,644 tourists arrived, and Poland, from where 24,285 came.

Azur Air Ukraine belongs to the tourist group Annex Tour, whose owner and founder is the Turkish tycoon Neset Kockar, who has just announced his interest in resurrecting the Neckermann Reisenbrand, a German tour operator who was part of the bankrupt Thomas Cook Group, one of the world’s great companies in the field.

It is recalled that last June, the air operator Azur Air Ukraine applied to the JAC for a Special Permit to operate 110 flights from Russia to the DR that would provide about 39,000 seats.

The airline ordered the Novosibirsk/La Romana/Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk/Punta Cana/Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg/Punta Cana/Yekaterinburg routes in the period from 23 June to 29 October 2021.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s failure to have its migratory border open with the Dominican Republic, Azur Air Ukraine began operations at La Romana Airport in October last year.

The airline operates flights from Ukraine to Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Bulgaria, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates with three Boeing B737-800s.

Dominican economy accumulates 13.3% growth in first half of 2021

Santo Domingo, DR

The governor of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD), Héctor Valdez Albizu, reported that the Dominican economy accumulated growth of 13.3% in the period January-June of 2021.

During a press conference to present the Monthly Indicator of Economic Activity (IMAE) results, corresponding to the first half of this year, the Governor highlighted that last June, economic activity recorded an expansion of 12.7%.

Valdez Albizu said that these data show that the Dominican economy is reacting positively and that “we are on the right path” towards recovery after the recession experienced last year due to the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Governor referred that these results allow for updating upwards the projections that had been made for the end of the year, for when the growth of between 8% and 9% had been forecast. Valdez Albizu said that as a result of the current behavior, economic activity is expected to grow by the double digits.

Among the sectors that recorded the most positive variation,s Valdez Albizu cited construction (42.2%), free zones (31.7%), local manufacturing (14.3%), transport, and storage (13.7%), mining (11.4%,) and trade (10.7%).

CABEI to provide US$550,000 in non-reimbursable cooperation for Amber Highway Project

Santo Domingo, DR

The Director for the Dominican Republic of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), Hostos Rizik, paid a visit to the Executive Director of the DGAPP, Sigmund Freund, where the non-reimbursable technical collaboration of US$550,000 for the structuring of the Amber Highway project was formalized.

At the end of the visit, Sigmund Freund thanked CABEI for its support. He pointed out that this technical cooperation will be used to hire the technical staff that will accompany the DGAPP in structuring the road project that will benefit the northern part of the country, reducing the transit time to less than 30 minutes from Santiago to Puerto Plata.

“This contribution is the first collaboration that the DGAPP receives from a multilateral organization, which we are grateful for the trust it places in our institution,” said Freund, who stressed that this is a project of utmost importance for the management of President Luis Abinader’s government because of the impact it will have on the productive sectors and for the tourism development of that area.

Freund explained that this technical staff would focus on the review of the feasibility studies to launch the tender for the Amber Highway, which he said is a priority objective for the DGAPP.

CABEI’s Director for the Dominican Republic, Hostos Rizik, said that PPPs represent a commitment to boost job creation and encourage private investment in the country.

He noted that CABEI supports the economic reactivation and will accompany the Dominican Government to formulate successful projects that contribute to the development of the Dominican Republic.

“In the case of the Amber Highway, we will support and be attentive to this project generating all the results expected by the Dominican Government and society as a whole,” said Rizik and indicated that CABEI is ready to collaborate support, and finance projects of interest, which generate development, employment, productivity and improve the economy of the Dominican Republic.

Approval of cooperation

At the end of June, CABEI announced the approval of non-reimbursable technical cooperation for US$550,000 to the General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP) to accompany the structuring of the first project under the modality of public-private partnership (PPP), under Law 47-20.

Through this cooperation, an international consulting firm specialized in the technical and financial structuring of this type of project will be hired, carrying out, in turn, a transfer of knowledge to the DGAPP for the development of future infrastructure initiatives under this scheme.

Dominican tourism sector, with “attractive opportunities” for investment

Dominican industrialists reacted to statements by the U.S. State Department on its foreign investment report on the Dominican Republic, which collects complaints from investors who pointed to the country as a destination that has accusations of widespread corruption with requests for bribes.

The president of the Association of Industries (AIRD), Celso Juan Marranzini, said that the investment climate in the country is favorable with a very positive outlook, especially when compared with countries in the region and even with nations of the world.

He said that the Dominican Republic is a country with a geographical position and an enviable climate and one of the most diversified economies, with very attractive investment opportunities in industry, agribusiness, agriculture, tourism, and free zones, according to Listín Diario.

“The current Government has made a great effort to boost economic growth and strengthen the climate of confidence. It has also taken important steps in the fight against corruption and impunity and must continue to move firmly in that direction, and carry out the institutional reforms that are pending,” he said.

The U.S. report also notes that investors face delays in government payments, poor enforcement of intellectual property rights, bureaucratic hurdles, slow, sometimes biased judicial and administrative processes, atypical customs valuation procedures, and import classification.

However, according to Marranzini, the government announced that it would make substantial reductions in administrative and bureaucratic obstacles. It also believes it is urgent and, once achieved, will strengthen competitiveness, transparency, and the business climate.

He explained that the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Judiciary have a fundamental challenge in the fight against corruption and impunity because cases are well implemented and processed concerning due process and ruled following the law.

“We must emphasize that our country has shown sustained economic growth for more than 15 years prior to the pandemic and that there is already evidence that this year that growth will recover. It has also been one of the countries that has best managed the health crisis as shown by the figures and in terms of vaccination is one of the most advanced in the world with already more than 40% of the population vaccinated with two doses,” he added.

Asonahores: “Opening of Canada is imminent and we are working on that process”

TRADITIONALLY THE MARKET CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 10% OF VISITORS IN DR

 De-escalation in The Dominican Republic generates confidence in foreign tourists.

The president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism(Asonahores), Rafael Blanco Tejera, said that the entity sees a steady and sustained recovery of the arrival of foreign visitors to the Dominican Republic “obviously to the United States to be the market that has remained open in the course of the pandemic, we are basically receiving 75% of the tourists of the aforementioned nation.”

“Which is very good, because the U.S. normally accounts for just over 40% of arrivals and now, as other markets are not open, it has become 75%,” he added.

He explained that as most visitors are from the U.S., Punta Cana and Santo Domingo are the destinations with an occupancy rate higher than the others, so he considers it very important that the opening of Canada and Europe is made and strengthened so that Samana, Puerto Plata, and others… they can also feel the recovery of tourism.

He told arecoa.com that markets such as Canada and Europe are starting to open. “In Canada the opening is imminent and we are working and waiting for the guidelines of what the process of opening such an important market for us that traditionally contributed more than 10% of visitors to our industry will be like.”

He said that in the case of Europe, it is beginning its integration into Dominican tourism.” We see how new flights are being promoted.”

“We understand that summer 2021 will mark a much more forceful opening process for the DR,” he said.

Blanco Tejera explained that the de-escalation of the curfew, implemented by the government to destinations that have the highest rate of people vaccinated, is a strategy that generates confidence of foreigners in the country when choosing it for their vacation.

“That trust is only achieved with a control of the pandemic, so we trust, as a tourism guild, fully in the work that the Health Cabinet has been developing and we support the strategy that they have implemented and this has made the country recognized as one of the best in the management of the pandemic,” he emphasized.

As for the projections of diversifying the offer of lodging with new hotels in Miches and later in Pedernales, the executive indicated that it reflects the privileged position of confidence that Dominican tourism has generated.

“In the case of Miches we already see how new hotels are starting, in the midst of the pandemic and economic uncertainty, to promote their development with new investments. It is already a reality because it has a guaranteed future with a first shovel and with projections of starting two more hotel projects in the future. In the case of Pedernales the government’s goal was to place 3,000 rooms and yet there are intentions and interest to build twice as much,” he said.

No less critical, Blanco Tejera said that in Santo Domingo, there are also large-scale projects that will add rooms to the destination. “We see how the country maintains an interest in investing in tourism.”

Average hotel occupancy in the Dominican Republic is close to 50%

IN JUNE 2021, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS FROM ASONAHORES

The average hotel occupancy rate in January-June 2021 was 39.9% which compared to the same period last year, which reached 68.1%, recorded a variation of – 41.4%.

According to the statistics of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic(Asonahores), in June of this year 2021, the average hotel occupancy rate was 49.7%, while in May, it was 44.1%, an increase of 12.2%.

Asonahores highlights that the decrease in the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused the closure of tourism activity in mid-March 2020, is evident, according to the local press.

In January-June 2021, in Santo Domingo was 43.1%, while in the same period of 2020, it was 55.4%, for a decrease of -22.2%.

Romana-Bayahibe recorded an average hotel occupancy of 42.9% and at the same time in 2020 64.5%, which produces a decrease of -33.5%.

In Punta Cana-Bávaro during January-June of the year 2020 recorded an average hotel occupancy rate of 67.0%, which compared to 40.2% calculated in 2021, presents a variation of -40.0%.

The average hotel occupancy rate in Puerto Plata was 36.6% and in% Sosúa-Cabarete 34.8%.

In the province of Samana in January-June of 2021, hotel occupancy was 42.4%, while in the same period of 2020, it was 76.4%, a decrease of -44.5%.

In Santiago de los Caballeros, the average hotel occupancy rate in the January-June period of 2021 was 51.3%, and in the same period of 2020, it was 51.4%, for a decrease of -0.3%.

Santiago-Puerto Plata scenic road project advances

Santo Domingo.- The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) formalized the non-reimbursable technical collaboration of US$550,000 for the structuring of the Amber Highway construction project under a public-private alliance (PPP)  .

The head of the General Directorate of Public Private Partnership (DGAPP), Sigmund Freund, thanked CABEI for its support.

He said that the resources will be used to hire the technical staff that will accompany that institution in structuring the road project that will benefit the Northern part of the country reducing transit time to less than 30 minutes from Santiago to Puerto Plata.

Balance of hotel reopening: SD at 100%, the East rises to 85%

ON THE NORTH COAST, THE FIGURE IS MUCH LOWER BECAUSE IT DEPENDS MORE ON CANADA AND EUROPE

 Asonahores trusts vaccination and de-escalation increase tourist flow

 Strong momentum from the U.S. stands out, with 75% of arrivals

The president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic(Asonahores), Rafael Blanco Tejera, reported that in Santo Domingo 100% of the hotels are open, in the Eastern region 85%, because they depend on the tourist of the United States.

As for the Northern region, which receives more tourists from Europe and Canada, the figure is much lower, as they still have travel limitations.

Blanco Tejera said that as the vaccination process progresses in the countries that emit tourists, visits to the country will increase.

He said that it also adds the de-escalation of the curfew in the DR and the excellent strategy developed by the government to face the pandemic, including the vaccination campaign and economic support programs for the productive sectors.

He said that until June of this year, two million tourists had been received, while in 2020, there were 1.9 million, and in 2019 7.5 million arrived. It forecasts that this year it will reach 60 percent of the 2019 figures.

The head of Asonahores explained that despite the crisis, the sector has been recovering in a sustained, proactive, and aggressive way since every month, there is an increase in the arrival of tourists.

He said that in January, 205 thousand tourists visited the country. However, the figure rose to 460 thousand in June, even though it operates under unfavorable conditions since many of the issuing countries are still closed.

He said 75% of the tourists being received come from the United States. The rest come from Eastern Europe and South America.

He explained that the Dominican Republic is also monitoring the situation of all the countries that emit tourists. When any is considered a risk, a decision is made in this regard, and this serves to give the people peace of mind that tourism is being managed proactively, responsibly, and avoiding risks.

Tourism project to relaunch Puerto Plata

Contemplates the construction of hotels, cinema and technology cities

• José Ignacio Paliza reveals that investors have been brought in to develop land in Brig.

• The grounds range from Playa Dorada to Gregorio Luperón Airport

The administrative minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, announced on Wednesday that the government would develop a tourism project to relaunch Puerto Plata, including the construction of hotels and cities of cinema and technologies.

Paliza, who did not specify the date on which the tourism project would begin, said that investors are being brought to the country who can develop the Brig land to implement it.

“It is also in the process of structuring to make another project of a condition similar to the Amber road of a public-private partnership, investors are being brought in so that they can develop the Brig land that is owned by the Central Bank, about 9 million square meters of land that it has on beaches ranging from Playa Dorada to gregorio Luperón airport” Indicated.

The official said that it is also planned to include real estate projects and cities to develop cinema and technologies.

“It is a mixture of the projection that has to make a tourism project of high magnitude both of hotels and real estate, at the same time in which a city of the cinema is also established, as well as a city linked to the development of technologies,” explained Paliza in an interview in the program Hoy Mismo, of Color Visión, channel 9.

The administrative minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza. ( Diario Libre/ARCHIVE)

He considered that the project would serve to relaunch Puerto Plata as a tourist pole.

“Those dynamics are going to put Puerto Plata on the right track again. Imagine what the Amber Road, a new tourist terminal, as well as the development of Brig, would mean for the province in a short period of time,” he said.

Connectivity improvement in Puerto Plata for the more demanding traveler

Mileyka Brugal, president of the Puerto Plata Chamber of Commerce and Production, considered that it is “necessary to take into account the current reality to improve the destination’s connectivity, since the current traveler is more technological, more demanding and hopes that everything will be resolved with a click.”

She highlighted the benefits of the Puerto Plata destination, expanded with those of nearby destinations by participating as an exhibitor at the Puerto Plata We Are All Conservatory, organized by Nice Dominicana on connectivity.

Brugal explained that today’s tourists are more demanding, have shorter stays, and demand faster responses.

In addition, she indicated the importance of the Nice Dominicana initiative to create a space for dialogue on initiatives to promote the destination; he also weighed the proposal of Joel Santos, tourism advisor to the executive branch, that the North region be considered as a macro destination, integrating more the different recommendations of the region.

JetBlue attributes flight delays in Dominican Republic to Covid-19 restrictions

And weather conditions in the United States.

JetBlue said that the weather conditions in the United States and the restrictions established to prevent people infected with Covid-19 from entering the territory have been among the main reasons why in recent days, there have been delays in their flights to and from the Dominican Republic.

The company said they are addressing the situation as best they can and are working with Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI(Aerodom)to improve their physical space.

“Along with the weather impacts, every customer leaving the Dominican Republic requires verification of additional Covid documents due to the U.S. mandate. Our crew members are responsible for verifying each client’s documents, which has extended the time of our check-in process,” they say.

The company said it is working “hard” to address the situation and improve the customer experience in the Caribbean country by actively hiring new crew members, adding staff to help our customers.

They said they are working with Aerodom to improve their lobbying, creating a more straightforward check-in process; working to secure additional kiosks to speed up the check-in process; creating a cash-free payment system for services to expedite transactions, and working with the security business partner to implement technology to speed up the process of Covid documents and certification during check-in.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Board(JAC)asked the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation(IDAC)to initiate an investigation into JetBlue’s operations to and from the Dominican Republic, with the aim of “knowing the constant delays and discrimination against Dominicans.”

José Marte Piantini, director of the JAC, explained that with the report sent to them by the IDAC, they would proceed to contact JetBlue International in the United States and even the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO)to reach the last consequences because “the JetBlue thing is something that must be stopped.”