Russian-Ukrainian conflict warns of serious blow to tourism in the Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic receives about 50 thousand Russian tourists each month

Analyzes how Ukrainian tourists who visit the DR will return

The economist and business consultant, Henri Hebrard, projected that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will bring very negative consequences for tourism, the economy, and the Dominican Republic’s budgetary stability.

He explained that tourism would be hit hard since, in 2021, the two countries together contributed 269,612 tourists to the country. In January of this year 2022, 49,215 arrived from Russia and 13,749 from Ukraine, for a total of 332,576 travelers from these destinations in 13 months.

He indicated that “if the economic sanctions of the United States and Europe against Russia are very extreme, this could affect Russian tourism to the Dominican Republic, which is the main destination from these countries.”

He declared that from Ukraine, 15,000 tourists arrive monthly, and it is the fifth most important country for the DR from Europe, above Italy and the United Kingdom, and only surpassed by Russia, Germany, France, and Spain.

“Ukraine is currently the fifth largest market for tourists to the Dominican Republic from Europe. Nowadays, around 15 thousand tourists are received, more than from Italy and England,” he stated.

Hebrard wonders what will happen to the Ukrainian tourists who are visiting the DR and what will be the mechanisms to proceed with their return?, according to N Digital.

Concerning oil, the economist said that the other problem for the Dominican economy derived from the Russia-Ukraine war lies in the rise in the price of a barrel, which shot up to around 100 dollars in international markets.

In addition, he added that the other important aspect of the Dominican economy is that Ukraine is one of the leading exporters of wheat, corn, and soybeans, high-consumption products that will inevitably increase the prices of bread, chicken, and other foods.

He stated that the only positive aspect from the point of view of the Dominican economy is that the price of gold has skyrocketed to almost two thousand dollars an ounce, although it would not compensate for the increase that would occur in cereals and oil.

“That is positive, but it will never be positive enough to offset the negative of grain and oil,” he said.

Central Bank: health tourism increases in the Dominican Republic

The Central Bank reported a change in the tourist profile of those who visited the Dominican Republic in 2021, highlighting the growth of medical tourism in its statistics.

According to the institution, medical tourism increased its participation in 2021 compared to 2019, going from 0.5% of air travel to 3.7% during the period mentioned above.

It is recalled that the “Study and diagnosis of health tourism in the Dominican Republic,” the most recent on the segment, revealed that in 1918 health tourism contributed more than 13 billion pesos to the State.

In addition, 117,275 services were offered to people who planned to travel to the country for health reasons.

The study numbers do not include wellness tourists, representing an average growth of 15 percent for the health tourism segment and 7 percent for the tourism medicine segment compared to 2017.

The data has represented a great interest in the Government, since President Luis Abinader and Vice President Raquel Peña await a report from the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Tourism ( Mitur ) on the current situation of health tourism in the country, document that these institutions must deliver and present to the Health Cabinet before next March 6.

The report requested by presidential decree must include a survey of the current situation of health tourism in the DR and short, medium, and long-term proposals aimed at institutionalizing and strengthening the sector to favor its formalization and promotion.

Decree 787-21, issued at the end of last year, also instructs the Ministry of Public Health and the Mitur to sign an inter-institutional agreement to elaborate policies and strategies aimed at developing this important market niche.

Puerto Plata, the focus of expansion of a Spanish hotel chain

Plans to open an establishment with more than 100 rooms

Signs nine hotels in Latin America and the Caribbean

A medium-sized Spanish hotel company with more than 25 establishments to its credit has just confirmed a jump in its expansion in the American region.

According to what ‘ Development’ has exclusively advanced, this chain plans to open a hotel with more than 100 rooms in an attractive area of ​​Puerto Plata, as part of its expansion in which it has achieved the signing of nine hotels in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In addition, the prominence of these additions to its portfolio has corresponded to the second generation of a group with a presence in different parts of the Spanish market.

Abinader summons Economic Cabinet to analyze impact of Russia – Ukraine conflict

Santo Domingo, DR
President Luis Abinader suspended his activities scheduled to be held in the interior of the country this Thursday and called for an emergency meeting of the Economic Cabinet at 2:00 pm to take extraordinary measures concerning the effects of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, following the decision of the Russian government to invade Ukraine.

Those special measures will be announced on February 27 during the accountability speech.

“Today we are seeing the largest military operation in Europe since the Second World War…this situation goes beyond the price of oil, which today in the market is already over 100 dollars a barrel, but it is also affecting most of the raw materials, especially what has to do with the production of food such as wheat, soybeans and corn”, said Abinader.

The head of state said that this war conflict would cause a “special” economic crisis that can affect “drastically” the world situation.

“We came out of the pandemic, the pandemic created a disruption in the channels of distribution and distribution that has created a worldwide inflation and this is now going to worsen with this military crisis that will obviously create situations in all the prices of raw materials, commodities, oil, as we are seeing today,” added the President.

He called on the Dominican people not to worry.

Abinader exclaimed that the Dominican people “can trust” that the authorities will respond to the crisis “within their possibilities” and call on them not to worry but pay attention to what happens in this conflict.

“But at the same time, we must remain calm, our activities that the economic recovery of the free zones, construction, tourism must continue,” added the President.

He will speak about the war conflict this afternoon.

The President said he was dismayed by the human losses caused by the armed conflict and that he would be speaking about the “armed aggression this afternoon.”

This Thursday, after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “military operation” in Ukraine, the markets plummeted, and oil prices soared above 100 dollars.

Abinader’s statements were made after leading a meeting of the police council at the National Police Palace.

Sky Cana will add two new planes to double its passenger flow

They will include the A-330 and A-319 aircraft in March.

The CEO of Sky Cana, Frank Díaz, stated that after having finished the last year 2021 with the mobilization of 127 thousand passengers, he estimates to transport around 300 thousand in this 2022.

He indicated to arecoa.com that the metric to be met closes on January 31, 2023, so the operations, which are carried out by other national and international airlines, would be carried out in the United States and “we plan to incorporate Boston, New York, Los Angeles with the A-330 aircraft, Houston, Dallas and Las Vegas with the A-319.″

“There are two aircraft that will join the fleet, since we currently have 5, four A-321s and one recently arrived A-320,” he added.

He stated that the destinations, in addition, are: Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Mexico, Colombia, “and already with the 330 we plan to move towards long-range routes such as Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and we have a request from the Italian community to Punta Cana, and we are pondering it together with the directors of the Punta Cana airport.

All would be direct flights with the 330, which is a modern aircraft, it is barely 5.5 years old with a capacity of 377 passengers and we will be receiving it next March,” he said.

Díaz indicated that the airline’s projections are due to the excellent reception (although not 100%) shown by the experience of the local passenger through a program that ended on January 11 and was requested by the Government.

“It was a project where 20 rotations were carried out and although it was not 100% satisfactory for passengers due to the pandemic issue, since there were days like December 23 when approximately 600 flights were canceled, and we did not cancel, we only delay and this causes discomfort with the passengers; Even so, this year the projections are very good,” he emphasized.

The manager recalled that the airline continued exhausting the process with the country’s civil aviation authorities.

Abinader touts the country’s recovery

Santo Domingo.-. President Luis Abinader described the values that he believes have accompanied the Dominican people since the founding of the Dominican Republic, attributing to them the good performance in historical struggles, such as the pandemic.

Abinader spoke at the steps of the National Palace in a solemn act of hoisting and military honors to the Dominican flag, whose day is commemorated this February 23.

The president stated that “it is no coincidence that the fight against Covid 19 and its negative effects on health, the economy and in all social spheres has been successful, making our country a benchmark for social normalization and economic recovery at the international level.”

Mitur negotiates more flights to Puerto Plata with British Airways

Tammy Reynoso, Deputy Minister of Tourism Development, confirmed the closing of negotiations with British Airways, which will begin operations to Puerto Plata in October 2022, with an investment of US$400,000 from the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur).

Similarly, he maintained that negotiations are being held with operators from South Florida, Condor from Germany, Corsair from France, and the Russian Tour Operator Pegas Touristik, to increase the arrival of tourists to the bride of the Atlantic.

The information was offered during the celebration of the board of directors of the Association of Hotels and Tourism (Asonahores), a meeting headed by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, and attended by Rafael Blanco Tejera and Andrés Marranzini, president and vice president of the entity, respectively, and the different representatives of the sector.

Collado expressed that the recovery of tourism in the Dominican Republic is everyone’s achievement while emphasizing the interest in promoting the Puerto Plata destination.

“In our work schedule, Puerto Plata is our main point, and the signal was given at the Fitur fair, where after the visit of the King and Queen, two agreements for new flights to the destination were signed. We want to give Puerto Plata the hope and assurance that they are on our work agenda to guarantee much more flights,” he added.

Meanwhile, the directors of Asonahores presented topics of interest, such as the details of the DATE fair that will be held in Punta Cana from May 11-13, according to a publication by Ashonorte on social networks.

The meeting, held at the Gran Ventana hotel, was also attended by the Senator of the province of Puerto Plata, Ginette Bournigal; the president of the Playa Dorada Hotel Association, César José De Los Santos; the president of the Puerto Plata Tourism Cluster, Birgitt Heinsen; the general director of Infotep, Rafael Santos Badía and the tourist advisor of Ashonorte, José Natalio Redondo.

In February 390K tourists have arrived

Santo Domingo.- So far in February of this year, 390,000 tourists have arrived in the Dominican Republic, or 210% more than in February 2021 and 1% more than in the same month, but in 2019.

The information was offered this Sunday by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado. The official stated that only this Saturday 29,534 foreigners arrived in the Dominican Republic, “one of the highest figures.”

“The recovery of tourism is a worldwide success story,” Collado stressed.

The Minister of Tourism has intensified his promotional efforts to ensure that more foreign visitors continue to arrive in the Dominican Republic.

Recently, he headed the seventh day of the DR Tour in San Antonio, Texas, attended by more than 300 tour operators and travel agencies from the area.

The Icelanders look to return to the warmth

Punta Cana.- Icelandic tour operator FiTravel made its first flight from Reykjavík to Punta Cana airport, Dominican Republic, after more than a decade since Aeromar flights from Iceland were suspended.

Flight FI1047 arrived at the airport terminal with 182 passengers, including Thórunn Reynisdóttir, CEO of FiTravel, an agency that is studying the possibility of carrying out several frequencies during the fall of 2022.

The tourists arrived in the Boeing 757-256 with a capacity of 187 seats of the Icelandair airline, which was received to the rhythm of merengue by the folkloric ballet of the Ministry of Tourism directed by Oscar Batista, according to a statement from the Ministry of Tourism.

Jarolin De la Cruz, director of the Tourism Promotion Office (OPT) Scandinavia, said that the interest in traveling to the Dominican Republic from the Nordic countries shows a potentially favorable growth.

Iberostar Grand Bávaro, among the best 5 hotels in the Dominican Republic

Punta Cana has developed a sophisticated hospitality proposal to captivate luxury tourism that meets the demands of travelers who make the destination a private refuge, with paradisiacal beaches and other amenities.

For this reason, US News & World Report, a global authority on consumer classification and advice, released its annual ranking of the  Best Hotels in 2022, with a list that includes properties from the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

In this sense, in the Dominican Republic, the best hotels in the Eastern zone stand out, where they include:

Iberostar Grand Bavaro

In the heart of Punta Cana, the hotel integrates luxurious suites with marble bathrooms, as well as an 18-hole golf course, which will be the preferred delight for enthusiasts of this sport. At the same time, its seven restaurants will add a gourmet touch to the endearing travel experience.

Eden Roc at Cap Cana

The luxury offered by the resort located in  Cap Cana, one of the most exclusive communities in the destination, positioned it in first place. Suites with private pools, exclusive wellness treatments at its spa, and an exotic beach club are part of the proposals that its guests fall in love with.

Tortuga Bay Hotel

The suites at this elegant property were designed by Dominican fashion icon  Óscar de la Renta. That is one of its many attractions that make it a proposal to consider when visiting Punta Cana. Avid golfers will discover here other well-known names such as Tom Fazio and PB Dye, who designed the challenging golf courses of this tourist complex.

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas

Seven thousand acres in  La Romana embrace a property sought after by all celebrities when they visit this paradisiacal destination. Three Pete Dye-designed golf courses, including the challenging and acclaimed Teeth of the Dog, are among the amenities that earned it a US News & World Report ranking.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana

In the fourth position was a family hotel managed under the all-inclusive concept. The complex shares part of its service proposal with its sister property  Hyatt Zilaria Cap Cana, thus multiplying both the gastronomic proposal and the unique experiences to enjoy there; with the wonderful Caribbean Sea as a backdrop.

Although the most famous sun and beach destination in the Dominican Republic has countless lodging options, these five hotels are the favorites of lovers of sybaritic life.

Gold, top Dominican export to Switzerland

Dominican gold, top export to Switzerland

Santo Domingo.- Historically, Haiti has been the second-largest trading partner of the Dominican Republic. The country sends Haiti everything from agro products to cell phones.

The data indicates that in the last three years Switzerland has remained in second place, but that position is due to gold. If you take out that precious metal, Haiti is the second most important market for Dominican products.

Top 10 products shipped to Haiti in January 2022

In January of 2022, the Dominican Republic exported goods to Haiti valued at US$83.07 million. Among the exported products, cotton fabrics are in the first place (US$10.77 million), followed by T-shirts and knitted cotton shirts (US$9.17 million), and cement (US$4.59 million) in third place.

Hoteliers tap over 1,300 for jobs in Punta Cana

Santo Domingo.- Of the 5,000 jobs that hoteliers said they needed to fill in the eastern region of the Dominican Republic, 1,362 people were selected in the grand job fair that the Ministry of Labor developed in conjunction with the hotel sector.

“Through the employment intermediation service, the great two-week job fair has just concluded to respond to the call of the tourism sector in the East about approximately 5,000 places that they have said they have.

“Of these amounts, they have indicated a first group of 1,362 vacancies,” said the head of the Ministry of Labor, Luis Miguel De Camps.

He added that on the day of the great job fair, more than 1,500 people were referred and more than 90% have been hired.

Tourists to Dominican destinations change profile

Santo Domingo.- The type of accommodation selected, the reason for the trip and more children, adolescents and young people were part of the changes in the profile of tourists who visited the Dominican Republic in 2021, when compared to previous periods.

Tourists with an age range between zero and 12 years, and those between 13 and 20, were the groups that increased their participation the most in terms of the number of non-resident foreigners who visited national destinations during 2021.

Of the 3,655,217 tourists who arrived in the country last year, 10.7% of these were children between zero and 12 years old, an amount that in 2019, the year before the coronavirus pandemic, was 6.1%, according to the Report of the tourist flow of the Central Bank.

In the case of adolescent and young tourists, with a range between 13 and 20 years old, they accounted for 9.2% of visitors in 2021, increasing from the 8.4% they represented two years ago.

Dominican Republic starts US$29M ‘intelligent’ fence at Haiti border

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader has materialized one of his accountability announcements of February 27, 2021: the beginning of the first phase of the “intelligent” perimeter fence on the Dominican Republic-Haiti border.

On Sunday, the president made one of the longest tours of his term: from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana, where a project of the Puntacana Group began; and from Punta Cana to Dajabón, where work began on the first 54 kilometers of fence, whose cost is RD$1.7 billion (US$29.0 million), RD$300 million less than what was presented in the 2022 general budget.

It’s a wall, which the Government labels as “intelligent,” since it will have a surveillance system with motion sensors, lighting radars, a command center, video surveillance, a communication tower, drones and other features.

Puntacana starts US$200M logistics hub

Punta Cana.- President Luis Abinader on Sun. headed groundbreaking for the construction of a major air, sea, land and logistics hub, free zone park and expansion of terminal B of the Punta Cana International Airport.

“Today I say it with much more certainty and security. Today is the best time to invest in the Dominican Republic,” Abinader said at the activity.

He said the country is open to investment, to job creation, to improving each of the services and to promoting each of the sectors to work together.

The Punta Cana Free Trade Zone (PCFTZ), of the Puntacana Group, will have an estimated investment of US$200 million and will house cargo logistics operations and offices for the development of the Punta Cana Hub aimed at innovation and development of fintech companies.

According to official data, the site will have an area of 546,617.45 square meters.

Marriott highlights new resort The Ocean Club diversifies tourism in Puerto Plata

The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, welcomes The Ocean Club, a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa Norte in the Dominican Republic’s northern coast, to its unique ensemble of experiential hotels. Just a 15-minute drive from Puerto Plata Airport, the resort is located deep within the expansive beachfront landscape of the island. Throughout the property, a contemporary and sophisticated design by Chapi Chapo Design is portrayed while materiality makes a connection to the place – it is an intimate retreat suffused with natural beauty and distinctive cultural experiences.

“Costa Norte is an ideal fit for our expanding footprint as we continue to offer our global explorers captivating home bases from which to explore all corners of the world,” said Philipp Weghmann, VP and Global Brand Leader for The Luxury Collection. “The Ocean Club will draw on the area’s natural wonders, and we’re delighted to offer our guests unique design and exceptional service as they discover this magical destination.”

The Ocean Club offers 64 spacious suites by French interior designer Nathalie Pain, ranging from one to three bedrooms and five multitiered four-bedroom penthouses, which evoke beachfront elegance with modern craftsmanship and design. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the interior with natural daylight and ocean views, while a light color palette with thoughtfully curated artwork and furnishings brings a sophisticated eclecticism and residential feel to the suites. The most enchanting accommodation is the resort’s three-floor Presidential Penthouse Suite, the largest in the Caribbean with a total of 9,732 square feet of space. The suite boasts five bedrooms, a fitness center, a jacuzzi, and multiple terraces offering unlimited views of the surrounding tropical landscape.

“We are thrilled to formally introduce The Ocean Club, a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa Norte as Dominican Republic’s most extraordinary place to vacation, gather, dine and delight,” said Herve Humler, President of Ocean Club group. “The opening of this newest gem further diversifies the reinvention of the northern coast of the Dominican Republic.”

The Ocean Club features three distinct epicurean experiences celebrating the best of the Dominican Republic’s produce and cuisine and The Cellar, a Caribbean speakeasy. Baia, the hotel’s signature restaurant, will offer familiar staples as well as new dishes inspired by the region’s produce. Aguazul features Asian-Peruvian fusion cuisine, a menu where Japan’s elegant and delicate cuisine meets the freshness and spicy punch of Peru. Rock Bar & Grill, a casual outdoor restaurant, offers meals at the foot of the ocean, where the sunset is the backdrop to Mediterranean meals and signature cocktails. The Cellar showcases an intimate room to enjoy a world-class vintage spirits collection and limited-edition cigars.

The property features three pools, two of which are adult-only and beachfront whirlpools with firepits perfect for those who want to unwind after a day of exploring. Guests who prefer their toes in the sand can enjoy the secluded beach, with private wooden cabanas, several lounges, and bespoke beach service. The property also features a dedicated marina and helipad to arrive by boat or helicopter.

Inspired by the Mediterranean art-de-Vivre, L’OCCITANEE Spa is seen as the pinnacle of the entire resort experience. Guests at The Ocean Club can enjoy a range of holistic and wellness therapies in a contemporary setting, inspired by local rituals. With four treatment rooms, the spa boasts open-air relaxation areas as well as two sauna rooms, savory nourishment, and a café featuring light delicacies. The hotel also offers complimentary access for all guests to a 24/7 Fitness Center with cardio equipment and free weights.

With the hotel’s lavish views and stunning grounds providing the perfect backdrop, The Ocean Club is poised to welcome all occasions from social gatherings to intimate events with various spaces to choose from.

The powerful tourism advantage of the Dominican Republic: exemplary handling of the crisis

Tourism applauds the removal of Covid restrictions. 

However, maintaining protocols will depend on the characteristics of each hotel.

The tourism advisor to the Executive Power, Joel Santos, stated that the elimination of all the restrictive measures imposed by  Covid-19, as announced by President Luis Abinader, is the result of all the correct decisions that were made throughout the pandemic to care for the health and ensure the well-being of tourists and locals; measures that also served to recover the tourism sector.

“What has benefited tourism has been the set of measures that were taken throughout the pandemic process and the elimination of restrictions is nothing more than the end of a set of strategic decisions by the parties involved based on analysis of the behavior of Covid-19,” he added.

He stressed that what has helped the growth in the arrival of post-pandemic tourists has been the trust that the authorities have generated due to the certainty of the decisions; “That is, the President’s decision is part of the set of measures and will obviously be taken as another element that gives tourists confidence.”

The former president of Asonahores indicated to arecoa.com that despite the suspension of the measures, many of the protocols created and implemented in the tourism and hotel sector would remain since he understands that the confidence at the level of health management would be the confidence that the country impresses on tourists.

“Many of the protocols that were established during the pandemic are here to stay because at the level of health management we have learned a lot during the process and mainly with the cleaning protocols, to name a few,” he said.

Santos explained that the protocols that hotel chains choose to maintain would depend on the characteristics of the properties, clients, the physical distribution of the hotel (common areas), among others.

“Without a doubt, at the management level to preserve health, like other situations that the industry has suffered in the past, they have left lessons learned that will undoubtedly remain in the sector,” he emphasized.

Dominican Republic projects removal of restrictions boosts arrival of Russian tourists

It is favorable for Russians who want to experience tourism in the DR.

The Dominican Republic is hopeful that the announcement of the lifting of restrictions due to the pandemic will positively impact tourism from Russia, assured the Dominican ambassador in Moscow, Hans Dannenberg Castellanos.

“We have one of the lowest mortality rates in the world and the pandemic is clearly declining in our country, so this is very positive news for all Russians who want to go to the DR as a tourist destination,” he said.

He indicated that “we continue to welcome the Russians; and we assure that specific protocols will be maintained in the hotels for any situation that arises, although we hope that this does not happen.

“Russia has become the first country in Europe that sends tourists to the DR,” said Dannenberg, specifying that from September to December of last year, 172,262 Russians arrived.

He explained that these figures equal or exceed those of the pre-pandemic years. For example, in December 2021 alone, 51,838 tourists arrived, while in the same month of 2017, 2018, and 2019 there were around 25,000.

The ambassador stated that in January 2022, more than 40,000 Russians decided to spend their vacations in the Dominican Republic, and it is expected that these figures will continue, according to the Sputnik agency.

“We are working with all tour operators to maintain direct flights throughout the year, and also see our country as a regional connection point to other destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America,” he added.

It is recalled that the president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, announced on February 16 the suspension of the mandatory use of masks and other restrictions derived from the global Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition to leaving behind the mandatory use of the face mask, it will not be necessary to present the vaccination card to access public and private spaces, and the restrictions to access both types of sites are no longer in effect.

The government decision came just one year after the start of the National Vaccination Plan, considered by the leader of the Executive as a collective victory.

Trade with the U.S. reaches US$16.8 billion

Washington, United States

The consolidated figures for the year 2021 demonstrate the strength of the economic relationship between the Dominican Republic and the United States, with increases in almost all areas, including remittances, trade, and tourism, according to Sonia Guzmán, Dominican ambassador to that country.

The diplomat stressed that the United States was by a large margin the largest issuer of foreign investment received by the DR. Data from the Central Bank indicates that, from January to September of last year, foreign direct investment from the US reached US$1,021 million, 41% of the total captured in that period, which is the highest percentage in a decade.

According to a report from the Embassy’s Commercial Department, from January to December 2021, the exchange of goods between the two countries reached a record of US$16.791 million, an increase of US$4.000 million in relation to 2020, for a year-on-year rise of 32%.

Exports represented US$6,347 million last year, 20% more compared to 2020, and 14% compared to the volume of 2019, said Leonel Mateo Hernández, in charge of economic and commercial affairs of the diplomatic mission.

Dominican Republic advances historic open skies agreement with the United States

The Dominican Republic, through the Civil Aviation Board ( JAC ), advances in the negotiations for the signing of the Open Skies Agreement with the United States, which seeks to increase the operations of national and foreign airlines to and from any US city, without limits of frequency or capacity, as reported by the president of the JAC,  José Ernesto Marte Piantini.

The negotiations between the two States will establish the conditions for airlines to compete effectively and promote more and better alternatives for air transport users. This agreement also contemplates better airfares to create more competitive prices for the Dominican market.

According to the air policy of the Dominican Republic, air service agreements are negotiated, allowing the multiple designations of airlines, which has a favorable effect on healthy competition and translates into better prices for passengers. In addition, the agreement encourages the creation of more routes and frequencies and promotes commercial and tourist exchange between the Dominican Republic and the United States.

“We started the process to take another historic step in national aviation and take the strong economic alliance between the United States and the Dominican Republic to a higher level,” said Marte Piantini.

During 2021, with regard to connectivity and incentives for the development of Dominican tourism, the JAC approved 12 commercial cooperation agreements between airlines of different nationalities.

Last year the JAC also approved 48 new routes and flight frequencies new air service agreements and ratified and amended those already signed. In addition, 5,491 non-scheduled or charter flights were authorized for exclusive cargo air operations and 5,909 for passenger and combined transport for 11,400 charter operations.

Likewise, the country also had a significant increase in the number of passengers by air, closing with 10,753,720 people (entry and exit) transported by Dominican airports, which translates into estimated direct and indirect income for the country of 9,926 million dollars and the recovery of more than 400 thousand direct and indirect jobs.

It is recalled that the Dominican Republic recently signed an air service agreement with Spain at the International Tourism Fair through the Civil Aviation Board, better known as Fitur.