Protecting economy now more important than fighting covid-19, international survey says

Paris, France

Preserving the economy, even if it leads to a deterioration of the health situation, is now more important for a part of public opinion, especially in the United Kingdom and Germany, according to an international study published on Monday.

Conducted by the Kekst CNC cabinet in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and Japan, the study, conducted between September 28 and October 5 with 6,000 people, reflects the evolution of public opinion since a previous survey in May.

“The main information is the change of priorities of the public, which is now more concerned about the protection of the economy,” summarizes James Johnson, director of the survey department.

In Germany, 49% of respondents in May considered limiting the epidemic a priority and 33% the protection of the economy, now 40% and 39%. In the UK, where there are still many daily cases of COVID-19, the gap between the two priorities has also narrowed.

People interviewed are also reluctant to new restrictions and lockdown measures, even if most predict a brutal winter: more than 50% in Japan, the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom think there will be a new epidemic wave.

“Large majorities reject restrictive measures, also in the event that hospitals are saturated in winter,” according to the study.

However, “the proportion of people prone to vaccination is on the rise in each country,” he adds. In France and Japan, an average of 80% of people says they are vaccinated or in favor of it, though they do not support a vaccine or “green” pass, as the public views these as gateways to further freedoms and rights abuses by governments. The United States has become the least likely country, five points behind France.

The report also indicates an increase in the “gap” between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. 34% of Germans and 33% of Swedes say they are willing to break off relations with unvaccinated friends.

Overall, pessimism about the future is planned among the six countries in the study, with a population that thinks there will be an increase in rates and living costs in the coming years.

Air Canada to connect Toronto with Santo Domingo twice a week

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY FROM DECEMBER 16

The airline highlights historical and cultural attractions of SD

They maintain strict sanitary protocols on their flights

Air Canada announced it would launch a new seasonal service between Toronto and Santo Domingo as the airline rebuilds its North American network.

The airline’s new flights to Santo Domingo will operate twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting next December 16 aboard Air Canada Rouge aircraft with Premium Rouge and Economy services, product enhancements including upgraded streaming entertainment, and options to purchase high-speed wi-fi.

Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s senior vice president of network planning and revenue management, said, “As travel restrictions ease, we are committed to rebuilding our international network to connect the world to Canada, reuniting people with families, friends and business colleagues.”

“Our flights to Santo Domingo connect to and from our flights across Canada at our global hub in Toronto to offer easy and convenient access to the Dominican Republic’s capital city, a destination that is steeped in rich culture and history, including the location of a Unesco World Heritage site, as well as being the country’s commercial and financial center,” he added.

He explained that customers could also accumulate and redeem Aeroplan points through Canada’s leading loyalty program when traveling by Air Canada, and eligible customers have access to priority check-in, Maple Leaf lounges in Canada, priority boarding, and other benefits available.

“Foreign nationals who have been fully vaccinated with Canadian government-accepted vaccinations at least 14 days in advance and who meet specific entry requirements may enter Canada for non-essential travel,” he added.

He indicated that seats are available for sale through all booking channels, including aircanada.com and travel agencies.

On his side, Fabien Gourdon, Commercial Director of Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom), expressed that “we are delighted to welcome at SDQ the new direct flight from YYZ with Air Canada, which will allow more Canadian tourists to visit the magnificent hotels and the wide variety of recreation and entertainment options that the DR has to offer, such route will also serve the growing business and friends and family visits demand, and will allow expanding the growing cargo exchange between both countries.”

Please be reminded that Air Canada’s business schedule may be adjusted as necessary based on Covid-19’s path and government restrictions which may change with little notice. Passengers are responsible for ensuring they meet all government entry requirements, including the correct travel documents, visas, required health certificates, and all other eligibility requirements for any flight they purchase.

Seven contracts signed for renewable energies would contribute 420 megawatts

The Minister of Energy and Mines and the executive vice president of the Unified Council of Electricity Distribution Companies led the signing of seven contracts for renewable energy projects, with national and foreign companies contributing to the system 420 megawatts: and could reach 544 megawatts of peak clean energy.

During the event, held in one of the halls of the “Julio Sauri Club” of the CDEEE, several of the investors highlighted the levels of transparency and speed with which these contracts were evaluated and approved, considering that, in the past, they took between one and eight years.

Speaking of the investment destined for these projects, which will be more than 485 million dollars, Minister Antonio Almonte considered it a milestone to have signed these contracts because they stimulate energy investment, generate confidence, and fulfill the promise of the changed sector.

“These investors will give testimonies and will be promoters for the stimulation of new investments in the Dominican Republic in the area of energy, after having arrived at this process without any difficulty in terms of transparency and legality,” he said.

Almonte said that due to the facilities received and the transparency of the process, the investors present would be the best promoters to stimulate the inflow of capital for investment in clean energy and thus transform the generation matrix by injecting renewable sources.

He affirmed that the construction of these projects would begin shortly in the different municipalities of the country.

The vice president of the Unified Council of the EDE, Andrés Astacio, was in charge of signing the contracts for the purchase and sale of energy with the participating companies, Koror Business S.R.L; Desarrollo Fotovoltaicos DSS, S.A.S.; Levitals Grupo Inversor, S.L.U.; Ege Haina, AES Dominicana Renewable Energy, S.R.L; Electronic, J.R.L., and Natural World Energy Corporation, NWEC, S.R. L.

The companies plan to develop their photovoltaic projects of between 42 and 120 megawatts in Azua, Peravia, San Cristóbal, San Pedro de Macorís, Monte Plata, and La Victoria, in Santo Domingo Norte.

Astacio said the signing of the contracts as part of the continuation of the energy policy established by President Luis Abinader for the country to have a renewable energy matrix with natural gas as a transition fuel.

He added that we would continue working with other concessionaires to achieve agreements that benefit Dominican society within a legal and transparent framework in the coming days.

At the end of the event, the businessmen who signed the contracts for the production of renewable energies agreed that they had not participated in the past in a meeting of that nature, nor that it showed those levels of transparency for the conduct of their business.

Jaime Llinares of Levitals Grupo Inversor highlighted the government’s effort to eliminate the bureaucratic obstacles of the past and congratulated the authorities for making this business effort a reality.

Michelle Reyes, Commercial Director of AES Dominicana, congratulated the authorities for the levels of transparency with which the contracts were handled, as well as for the speed with which all the permits were processed, “something that was not seen very often.”

Businessman Alfonso Rodríguez, the representative of Electronic JRC and the Monte Plata Solar project, highlighted the effort made by the current management to incorporate more renewable energy into the country’s energy matrix. “This work done by the authorities can be described as very good,” Rodriguez said.

While Luis Mejía Brache, of Ege Haina, stressed that his company has a lot of experience processing permits and that the record time in which they were approved on this occasion “is an engine to continue investing in the country.” “This is a support to investors like us to continue investing in new projects and new investments,” he said.

The Minister of Energy and Mines shared the main table, the vice president of the Unified Council of the EDE and several of its members, and with the Deputy Minister of Energy, Rafael Gómez. Lawyer Carmen Chevalier notarized the process.

Hoteliers demand Dominican Gov. action to compete

Santo Domingo.- The Association Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores) highlighted the importance of maintaining policies to promote the tourism industry as tools to guarantee the regional competitiveness of the tourism sector.

It said that maintains growth rates experienced in recent years, both in investment through the development of new hotel rooms and complementary offer infrastructure, as well as the arrival of tourists to our territory.

In a statement, Asonahores pointed out that for the association, “it is important to remember that tourism is a globalized sector, which requires a fiscal and legal framework in accordance with the competitive and long-term environment, which generates trust and maximizes the flow of capitals to the country.”

WELCOME TO PUERTO PLATA

The birthplace of tourism in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata continues to pack a mighty punch. Its spectacular, sprawling landscape combines sea, mountains, lush valleys, rivers, and a multitude of beaches. Its fertile soil grows cacao and coffee trees, while underneath rests the world’s clearest amber.

Savvy explorer Christopher Columbus knew there was much to discover on this northern Atlantic coastline–eventually finding gold deposits–when he glimpsed it from his ship in 1492. Drawn by the sight of clouds shimmering over Mount Isabel de Torres and illuminating Puerto Plata’s vast blue shoreline, he named the area the “Silver Port” and settled at La Isabela with a mixed community of Tainos–original inhabitants of the area–and Spaniards, built the first church and his first home in the Americas. You can follow Columbus’s trail and tour these archeological ruins, now part of a national park.

This Caribbean island has had its best tourism month ever

Maureen O'Hare, CNN

Read in CNN: https://apple.news/Ag3R6GDQBQ1Osi2HkHlIzHw

6. The Dominican Republic had its best tourism month ever

David Collado, the Dominican Republic's tourism minister, has tweeted that in September the country enjoyed its biggest visitor numbers ever. 

It's welcomed 3.3 million visitors so far this year -- more than in the pre-pandemic days of 2019 -- of which more than 365,000 were in September, reports the Caribbean Journal. 

The Dominican Republic is at "Level 2: Covid-19 Moderate" on the CDC's travel advisory list. 

Mitur: “Vaccination cards will not be required from tourists to enter”

THE USE OF A MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ARE MAINTAINED

 Public Health issues new resolution aimed at the tourism sector

 Health protocols promote the recovery of the tourism industry

The Ministry of Tourism ( Mitur ) established that the application and use of health risk management protocols against Covid-19 would continue, aimed at the tourism sector, which establishes the use of a mask and social distancing.

In this sense, resolution DJ-0032/21 establishes that “the presentation of vaccination cards by passengers arriving in the Dominican Republic will not be required,” following the protocols approved by the Civil Aviation Board. ( JAC ).

“To enter the hotels and services offered within these and the hotel complexes to their guests, it will not be necessary to present the vaccination card against Covid-19, as well as the negative PCR test, established in Resolution No. .00048, dated October eight (8), 2021, issued by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance,” says the resolution in point three.

Similarly, it establishes that activities related to land tourism transport, cruises, travel agency, tour operators, horse ranches, tourist walks, zip line, water or recreational theme parks and paintball, maritime transport and water sports, diving school and parasailing, will follow the same treatment indicated for hotel establishments, always safeguarding compliance with the provisions of the sector protocol issued for this purpose.

The resolution signed by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, this Thursday, the 14th, establishes that the measures will be applied immediately.

Jubilation in Puerto Plata tourism: Air Transat resumes its flights from Montreal

On Thursday, October 14, the Dominican Republic welcomed back Air Transat, which resumed service from Gregorio Luperon International Airport in Puerto Plata to Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, increasing the number of tourist flights available between Canada and the North Coast of the DR.

Air Transat’s new operation is being served on a modern Airbus A321neo LR aircraft, which offers more space in economy class, with wider seats and 50% less cabin noise.

It also offers state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment with larger individual touch screens and USB ports for charging your electronic devices.

The weekly flight that has been inaugurated will be growing in frequencies in the coming weeks, reaching three flights a week by the end of the current year.

“We continue to welcome new flights to our airports! With great joy we welcomed back AirTransat Welcome to paradise!” wrote Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom) on its social networks.

Announcement of USA program to facilitate trade with Dominican Republic

Improve trade. Replace paper certificates with electronic ones, streamlining processes

To improve trade flow, the Dominican Government will adopt the phytosanitary electronic certification system (ePhyto / GeNs) with the support of the United States Government through its Trade Safe or Trade Safe (TraSa) project.

This innovative tool harmonizes standards and facilitates transactions through electronic certificates, thus replacing traditional paper certificates.

This makes it possible to optimize the security of official communications between countries and reduces costs by reducing complex processes concerning the exchange of electronic data.

ePhyto / GeNs will be applied by the Dominican Ministry of Agriculture and is promoted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in alliance with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
The Minister of Agriculture, Limber Cruz, highlighted this tool that will speed up the procedures required for importing and exporting plant products.

The director of the TraSa project, Brian Rudert, pointed out that ePhyto/GeNs will increase the efficiency of the processes by replacing 62,000 paper forms with electronic ones, representing an automatic impact on the reduction of transit time through the ports of entry. In addition, Rudert said that in the case of perishable products, they would be able to move faster they guarantee more shelf life, which means benefits for all.

The TraSa project has been supporting the Department of Plant Health of the Ministry of Agriculture with the adoption of the ePhyto system through strengthening the capacities of inspectors of the Department with the use of this tool. Similarly, the project foresees an investment of approximately US $ 250,000 to integrate the ePhyto system with the Foreign Trade Single Window (VUCE) system.

The director of the Department of Plant Health of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rosa Lazala, explained that they are the executing body of ePhyto/GeNs and urged all sectors involved in export and import activities to have confidence in the change to digital and that at the same time are integrated into the use of this tool.

“This tool is safe, easy to use and quickly transmits the forms, which translates into direct economic benefits for these sectors and the country,” he explained during the launch of the certificate yesterday at the Dominican Fiesta hotel.

Dominican Republic unveils pavilion at Expo Dubai

Dubai.- Dominican Republic opened the Dominican pavilion at the most important multisectoral event in the world, Expo Dubai, which began Friday, where the country will strategically promote the exportable offer of national products, as well as the investment climate, tourist and cultural attractions, as well as the hospitality and talent that distinguishes Dominicans.

Biviana Riveiro, executive director of Pro Dominicana, represented the country during the opening event of the Expo and highlighted the importance of the participation of the Dominican Republic in this space, since it is estimated that more than 25 million people will attend the event, from all latitudes of the world, which represents a great opportunity for new businesses.

After the announcement of President Luis Abinader, last July, on the country’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, the inter-institutional coordination committee, composed of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Pro Dominicana and the logistics solutions company DP World, designed a work plan that seeks to take advantage of this important international platform to promote the new Country Brand and its five pillars: tourism, investment, export, culture and citizenship.

Riveiro said that thanks to the public-private partnership that was established between the Dominican Government and the company DP World, official sponsor of the participation of the Dominican Republic in the Expo, the country will be able toshow its potential before 190 countries that meet at this important fair, which seeks to stimulate the economic, cultural and scientific growth of the participating nations by building new paradigms for sustainability and technological transformation.

The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United Arab Emirates (USA), Julio Castaños Zouain, congratulated the leaders of that nation, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the USA and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Moktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United States and Ruler of Dubai, for achieving a reality an event that opens the doors to all nations, with a view to transforming the future and that will become a historical legacy for his country and the entire Arab world

The Dominican pavilion is designed and set to make visitors live a unique experience of the culture and attractions of the country, in order to attract tourists, investors and other potential business partners during the six months of the Expo.

The inter-institutional coordination committee is working on a wide agenda of activities that will be developed in the Dominican pavilion during the Expo, and seek to integrate the business sector into this great effort that has as its main objective the economic recovery of the country, open us to new markets and consolidate it as a reference in the region at the level of logistics, business and new employment opportunities, as well as showing our gastronomic and cultural offer.

Macao beach to get US$1.2M access upgrade

Punta Cana.- Tourism Minister, David Collado, yesterday broke ground for the construction of the access road and parking in Macao beach, at a cost of more than RD$53 million (US$1.2 million).

The work, which is part of the comprehensive reorganization project of Playa Macao (Dominican East), will feature 104 car-park as well as an area for motorcycles and buses.

The activity was attended by the main provincial autUS#1horities and representatives of the sector, headed by Rafael Blanco and Paola Rainieri, president and former president of the National Association of Hotels and Tourism (Asonahores).

Baltimore Orioles start baseball academy

Santo Domingo.- The Baltimore Orioles have finished last in the AL East in four of the last five seasons.

But the team wants to start changing its fortunes from the international market and for that broke ground Wednesday for a new academy in the Guerra community to house its international prospects.

“We have made great strides in recent years in establishing our international presence and revamping our baseball operations infrastructure, and this project may be the most momentous step yet,” said Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias.

Dominican Gov. to get US$73.7M for 5G lease

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican State will receive US$73.7 million for awarding Claro and Altice the deployment of 5G.

The regulator Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) will award the Dominican Telecommunications Company (Claro) and Altice Dominicana the licenses for the implementation of the fifth generation of mobile networks (5G) in the country.

In a statement, Indotel explained that the Claro company presented the highest economic offer per unit of Megahertz (MHz) per year, for US$37.9 million. and, in accordance with the bidding documents, it obtained the right to first select the band segment in which it wishes to operate.

Ambitious hotel project breaks ground in Santiago

Santiago.- Vice President Raquel Peña headed groundbreaking for the construction of Santiago Center, an initiative that will operate on the concept of mixed urban use made up of the Hotel Santiago, an events and convention center, and a retail and entertainment area.

The Hotel Santiago, Curio Collection by Hilton, will be located in Santiago Center and arises with the vocation of being a first level option for the corporate or business tourist, national or international, in an environment that reflects the essence of the city of Santiago.

The Hotel Santiago will be managed by Highgate Hotels, one of the leading hotel operators in the region with more than 65,000 rooms under contract, according to a press release.

Santiago Center will be located at the intersection of Estrella Sadhalá avenues with Juan Pablo Duarte, about 20 minutes from Cibao International Airport.

IMF: Dominican Republic economy will grow 9.5% in 2021

Santo Domingo.- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that the Dominican economy will grow 9.5% in 2021, a percentage slightly higher than the 9.1% recently estimated by the World Bank.

The positive projection is contrary to the drop of -6.7% registered by the local economy in 2020, as a result of the economic closures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With percentages higher than the Dominican Republic, the IMF only places Guyana (20.4%), Aruba (12.8%), Panama (12%), Chile (11%) and Peru (10%) in the region.

The figures are compiled in the report World Economic Outlook, released yesterday.

September is the new December; tourists flock to Dominican beaches again

The world is a different one and people are getting back to traveling. As a result, new records in air arrivals are being set even in September, usually a slow month for Dominican tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism reports that September 2021 was the best September for tourism in the entire history of the Dominican Republic, with tourist arrivals higher than in the pre-pandemic years of 2018, 2019 and in 2020. Travel is up 5% compared to September 2018.

In September, 365,544 non-residents arrived. There are expectations by year’s end the number of air arrivals will reach 4.8 million.

In a presentation of the data, Tourism Minister David Collado explained that the breakdown of non-resident air arrivals in 2021 has been 79% foreigners and the remaining 21% of Dominican origin.

87% of hotel rooms are back in operation with weekday occupancies averaging 54% and 61% on weekends.

Tourism Minister David Collado said the numbers are impressive considering the restrictions in travel still in place for those coming from France, Canada and the United Kingdom, leading source countries. Collado said that the relaxation of travel restrictions abroad has allowed the recovery of historical issuing countries for the Dominican Republic. He mentioned how Russia is now the second source of tourists, behind the United States. Spain and Colombia follow.

Punta Cana International Airport leads in the number of arrivals, followed by Las Americas (Santo Domingo) and Cibao (Santiago).

According to estimates, during September the Dominican Republic received 3,694 commercial flights with an occupancy rate of 71%. There were flights by 87 airlines from 90 different airports and 43 countries.

The Ministry of Tourism says that bookings augur a significant rebound for the end of the year, confirming the travel recovery trend that the country is undergoing.

The Ministry estimates that tourist arrivals in October 2021 will be more than those in pre-pandemic October 2019. And, by the end of 2021, estimates are that non-resident arrivals to the country could reach 4.8 million visitors.

Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Tourism

Dominican Republic unveils pavilion at Expo Dubai

Dubai.- Dominican Republic opened the Dominican pavilion at the most important multisectoral event in the world, Expo Dubai, which began Friday, where the country will strategically promote the exportable offer of national products, as well as the investment climate, tourist and cultural attractions, as well as the hospitality and talent that distinguishes Dominicans.

Biviana Riveiro, executive director of Pro Dominicana, represented the country during the opening event of the Expo and highlighted the importance of the participation of the Dominican Republic in this space, since it is estimated that more than 25 million people will attend the event, from all latitudes of the world, which represents a great opportunity for new businesses.

After the announcement of President Luis Abinader, last July, on the country’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, the inter-institutional coordination committee, composed of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Pro Dominicana and the logistics solutions company DP World, designed a work plan that seeks to take advantage of this important international platform to promote the new Country Brand and its five pillars: tourism, investment, export, culture and citizenship.

Riveiro said that thanks to the public-private partnership that was established between the Dominican Government and the company DP World, official sponsor of the participation of the Dominican Republic in the Expo, the country will be able toshow its potential before 190 countries that meet at this important fair, which seeks to stimulate the economic, cultural and scientific growth of the participating nations by building new paradigms for sustainability and technological transformation.

The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United Arab Emirates (USA), Julio Castaños Zouain, congratulated the leaders of that nation, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the USA and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Moktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United States and Ruler of Dubai, for achieving a reality an event that opens the doors to all nations, with a view to transforming the future and that will become a historical legacy for his country and the entire Arab world

The Dominican pavilion is designed and set to make visitors live a unique experience of the culture and attractions of the country, in order to attract tourists, investors and other potential business partners during the six months of the Expo.

The inter-institutional coordination committee is working on a wide agenda of activities that will be developed in the Dominican pavilion during the Expo, and seek to integrate the business sector into this great effort that has as its main objective the economic recovery of the country, open us to new markets and consolidate it as a reference in the region at the level of logistics, business and new employment opportunities, as well as showing our gastronomic and cultural offer.

Senator to reopen its hotel complex in Puerto Plata on November 1

WILL APPLY THE PROTOCOLS APPROVED BY THE DOMINICAN AUTHORITIES

The Spanish chain Senator Hotels & Resorts announced that it would reopen its Senator Puerto Plata Spa Resorts hotel complex on November 1.

Senator will apply the protocols approved by the Dominican authorities and will take into account the exhaustive methods of cleaning, hygiene, and disinfection, which are already in force in its hotels in other destinations, which already operate with the “Global Safe Site” certification, granted by the PREVERISK entity.

This certification validates the different safety plans, the review of its operational standards, the organizational level and the adequacy of its facilities, the novelty of the reopening of the Senator Hotels & Resorts hotels in the food area will be the buffet-circuits, self-service modality that includes pre-established routes to avoid crossings, in addition to establishing capacity limitations for diners.

“On November 1, we will reopen our doors,” said the hotel chain via its social networks.

Venezuelan airline Turpial will operate a flight between Maracaibo and Santo Domingo

STARTING NOVEMBER 2

Turpial Airlines announced November 2nd as the start of its operations between Maracaibo (MAR) and Santo Domingo (SDQ), with two weekly flights.

The Valencia-based airline will have regular international flights from La Chinita Airport. Previously, the company carried out some charter services to the Dominican Republic.

Flight itinerary

• Maracaibo (MAR) 14:00 – Santo Domingo (SDQ) 15:30, two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays operated by Boeing 737-400 Classic with 144 seats.

• Santo Domingo (SDQ) 17:30 – Maracaibo (MAR) 19:00, two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays operated by Boeing 737-400 Classic with 144 seats.

Currently, Maracaibo has several international services to Panama and the Dominican Republic (Countries allowed by the Venezuelan authorities). Both destinations allow travelers to make subsequent connections to the United States, Mexico, and Europe.

Among the companies that operate at La Chinita Airport are the following:

• Conviasa, destination: Panama – Tocumen (PTY) 2 weekly flights operated by Embraer ERJ-190, 416 seats per week.

• Copa Airlines, destination: Panama – Tocumen (PTY) 4 weekly flights operated by Boeing 737-800 Next Generation, 1,280 seats per week.

• Sky High / Sky Cana via Fly The World, destination: Santo Domingo (SDQ) 2 weekly flights operated by Airbus A321ceo, 880 seats per week.

• Venezuelan / Ravsa, destination: Santo Domingo (SDQ) 2 weekly flights operated by McDonnell Douglas MD-83, 536 seats per week.

US$1.3B for paving and sidewalks

Santo Domingo.- Public Works Minister, Deligne Ascención, announced a program of reconstruction, paving and patching of streets, construction of sidewalks and gutters in all of Dominican Republic’s provinces, at a cost of RD$72 billion (US$1.3 billion).

Ascención spoke in a mass in the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, San Carlos sector, whose structures were renovated by Public Works.

“We are going to start in the next few days, a broad reconstruction, paving, patching and construction of sidewalks and containers in all neighborhoods and urbanizations of the 31 provinces of the country and the National District, with an investment of approximately 72 billion of pesos.”