Exp Realty bets on the Dominican market

The Dominican Republic stands out as having a substantial market for residential properties in the tourism sector.

With a substantial market for residential properties in the tourism sector, easy international access, and attractive incentives for foreign investment, the Dominican Republic is the ideal market to expand Exp Realty, the first global brokerage agency to go from a physical establishment to one based on the cloud.

This was expressed by the president of Exp Global, Michael Valdés, announcing that this brand is establishing itself in the country under the eXp Dominican Republic brand, a fully digital real estate business model.

“As we continue to grow in the Caribbean and Latin America, there has been a lot of interest from agents in the Dominican Republic, and it feels like the perfect next step in expanding our footprint,” Valdés said.

Among the novelties that Exp offers to agents are wealth opportunities such as revenue share programs and stock equity; Cloud premise environment, no office fees, work from anywhere; real-time support; live training, more than 50 hours of weekly online training; equity reward, for meeting production targets; access to professional services, among other facilities.

Business models

Broker in DR
Marbel Lugo, a broker in the country, is in charge of guiding and offering all the information needed by those interested in being part of eXp Dominican Republic. She stressed that the company’s goal is to provide Dominican real estate agents with a better quality of life through a new business model.

Starting next week, US citizens will not be able to travel with an expired passport.

If your passport expires while you are outside the US, you will not be able to use it to return.

The United States Embassy in the DR reported this past Thursday that after June 30 of this year, US citizens would not be able to travel with an expired passport.

This means that if the US citizen is outside their country after June 30, they will not be able to use their passport to return to the US if it is expired, so they must renew it as soon as possible.

“After June 30, 2022, US citizens will no longer be able to use their expired passport to return to the United States. To renew your passport, make an appointment with us,” the embassy wrote in a statement.

The embassy noted that it has resumed routine services in Santo Domingo and that the US Citizen Services Unit continues to provide routine services to US citizens in the Dominican Republic, including routine and emergency passport appointments.

You can use the passport browser available on the consular agency page to apply for a passport. The Passport Navigator will ask you simple questions to help you make an appointment at the US Embassy in Santo Domingo or the Consular Agencies in Punta Cana or Puerto Plata.

Routine passport renewals by mail take three to four weeks. However, if you are traveling within two weeks and need an emergency passport, please follow the instructions at the link below.

In December of last year, the US State Department approved that US citizens abroad could return to their country with an expired passport. The measure was taken to reduce travel difficulties created by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the reduction in staff at US embassies and consulates due to the pandemic. They had announced that it would be in force until March 2022.

Harvest Festival’ promotes gastronomy and tourism of Constanza

Constanza is preparing to celebrate, from July 15 to 17, the Harvest Festival 2022, an event organized by the Association for the Development of Constanza that aims to showcase everything related to the agricultural production of the municipality and for lovers of culture, gastronomy, and mountain tourism.

The invitation to the public to support the activity is made by María Felisa Gutiérrez, Rafael Augusto Collado and Rosa María Rosado, president and members, respectively of the association, according to Listín Diario.

In that sense, María Felisa Gutiérrez explained that 80% of the economy of the Vegan municipality is based on agriculture (it is the largest producer of flowers, vegetables, and greens in the country), but what they want to show in the festival is the whole economy and culture that revolves around that agricultural production, gastronomy, the cultivation of flowers and ecotourism.

“We want to highlight the production that exists in the municipality and how much it can contribute to the country’s food security, what is elaborated with what is harvested here,” he said.

He said they seek to integrate producers around the activities and make known the variety of products grown in the valley beyond garlic and potatoes because there are also grown celery, carrots, beets, onions, cauliflower, lettuce, zucchini, tayota, eggplant, strawberries, tomatoes, cilantro, peppers, broccoli and coffee in the area of La Descubierta, among many others.

He informed that this version is dedicated to President Luis Abinader and that there will be an exhibition, sale, and tasting of products, gastronomic samples, talks and workshops on agriculture and the environment, presentation of the work of young entrepreneurs, and technological advances implemented in agricultural activities and cultural celebrations.

Collado announces investment of RD$600 million to regenerate Sosúa beach

The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, announced that the award has already been made after the rigorous tenders to undertake the regeneration of Sosúa beach, which entails a millionaire investment.

He assured that in the next few days, the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, would give the first bite to start said work amounting to 600 million pesos.

The head of Mitur maintained that the long-awaited work on Sosúa beach would boost tourism even more; they will build a place for vendors, who will be provided with loans through Promipyme, they can continue undertaking.

He added that in Sosúa beach, 300 parking lots would be built on land donated by the Pastoriza family so that vehicles do not park on the avenues and streets; surveillance cameras and night lighting will also be installed.

He indicated that only the culmination of an alliance between the Public-Private sectors in Sosúa beach is expected since they talk kindly with the Association of Handicraft Sellers ( AVAPS ) directors to achieve a consensus.

Arajet airline certified as a flight operator in the country

Santo Domingo, DR.

The interim general director of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), Héctor Porcella, officially delivered the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to the Dominican low-priced airline, Arajet, which formally authorizes it to start commercial air transport operations as a safety instrument.

Porcella also delivered to Víctor Pacheco Méndez, executive president of Arajet, the Operations Specifications, a complementary instrument that the IDAC, as an authority, defines and limits the operations for each aircraft model of an air operator.

“As of this moment, Arajet is formally authorized to carry out regular and non-regular air operations (charter flights), air cargo and mail. Likewise, this certification empowers this airline to formalize negotiations with any other airline, from anywhere in the world, always under the tutelage of the civil aviation authorities involved,” said Porcella.The president of Arajet explained that this certification is the materialization of five years of hard work, which “allows us to become the national airline and offer the Dominican diaspora and all our passengers from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean direct flights to and from Santo Domingo with low prices, world-class service, and the best punctuality.”

“We are very proud and optimistic to have received the IDAC Operations Certificate. Our commitment, hand in hand with our investors, is to guarantee operational and financial success, to take the Dominican Republic to the top and farther, strengthening its area connectivity and opening up greater opportunities for the commercial and tourist development of the country,” concluded Pacheco Méndez.

Arajet received its certification after exhausting a rigorous and meticulous legal and regulatory structuring process and evaluations, validations, and training by the Authority. In addition, its operational manuals, technical personnel, operation equipment, operations support, and standard and emergency procedures, which guarantee the effectiveness and safety of operations, were also supervised and approved.

The interim general director of the IDAC urged the executives of Arajet to operate “following the rules and principles of operational safety, with responsibility and pride, since air connectivity is a key economic facilitator to boost productivity, being one of the most important for the economic and social growth of the country and of the passengers, who benefit from this connectivity.”

Porcella concluded by assuring that with this milestone, “Dominican aviation is becoming stronger, and proof of this is that this airline that today received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) will use state-of-the-art and highly efficient Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, within of a modern aeronautical market that is increasingly demanding of safety and comfort.”

Entrepreneurs from more than 38 countries invest in the Dominican free zone sector

The United States tops the investment list.

The Free Zones sector of the Dominican Republic has a record of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from more than 40 countries. The United States is the primary investment partner, with an accumulated investment of 2,136.73 million dollars.

According to data from the National Council of Export Free Zones (CNZFE), at the end of 2021, the Foreign Direct Investment accumulated by the free zones reached the figure of 4,642.01 million dollars, growing by 12% compared to 2020, with an approximate amount of 500.05 million dollars.

According to the study “Provincial productive profiles for the promotion of exports and the attraction of investment for development,” the United States heads the list as the leading investment partner in the Free Zones sector, growing by 11%.

The United Kingdom is in second place, with 391.41 million dollars, growing by 1%. Germany is in third place, with 378.58 million dollars, growing by 13%; and in fourth place is Canada, with 249.85 million dollars, growing by 11%.

They are also: Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, China, and South Korea, among others.

Accumulated Foreign Direct Investment by sector and country of origin

The official document details that by 2021, FDI attracted by the Dominican Republic reached the figure of 3,102.1 million dollars, growing by 21% compared to 2020 and exceeding by 3% in the pre-pandemic in 2019.

It specifies that the main sectors attracting foreign direct investment by 2021 are Tourism, with a 31% share, with an amount of 961.8 million dollars; Real estate 16%, with 497.4 million dollars; Mining, 15%, with 472.5 million dollars; and Commerce/Industry 11%, with 330.7 million dollars.

It points out that the amount of FDI Stock during the period 2011-2021 of the Dominican Republic amounts to the figure of 29,018.4 million dollars, especially highlighting the investment destined for the tourism sectors, with 6,757.1 million dollars and a participation of 23%. In second place and very closely trade/industry, with 6,436.9 million dollars, representing 22%.

In addition, the real estate sector continues in third place, with 4,396.3 million dollars and a 15% share, and fourth place in the mining sector, with an accumulated investment of 4,060.3 million dollars, for a 14% share.

The study explains that the Dominican Republic receives Foreign Direct Investment flows from different countries in all regions of the world, which has allowed the nation to become one of the most popular investment destinations in the region.

It adds that the country’s main foreign direct investment partners are the United States, with 6,676.5 million dollars; Canada, with 4,331.90 million dollars; Brazil, with 2,244 million dollars; Spain, with 1,869.9 million dollars; and Mexico, with 1,603.7 million dollars.

Collado says 30% of tourists coming to the country are from New York

Santo Domingo, DR.

Last Wednesday, the Ministry of Tourism organized a dinner at the Grand Plaza in New York to recognize the companies contributing to and promoting tourism growth from New York to the Caribbean country.

This activity was led by Minister David Collado, who welcomed more than 400 attendees, thanking the country for its efforts over the last ten years.

“New York is the most important market for the Dominican Republic, representing 30% of all visitors from the United States,” shared Collado. ”

Recognition
During the event, the Ministry recognized Expedia, Hopper, and Vacation Express for their contribution to promoting tourism in the Dominican Republic.

It also gave special recognition to Destination Weddings, a leading wedding agency in the industry. And to the three travel companies Travelong, Flight Center Travel Group, and Travel Impressions.

Since the pandemic, the Dominican Republic has positioned itself as one of the leading world tourist destinations, demonstrating that effective health protocols can guarantee the safety of tourists and support a healthy tourism sector.

Strategy
The minister announced the plans for the development of Miches, the Seibo, with an investment of US$1,000, for which agreements have been established with several businessmen from the hotel industry, among which are: Frank Rainieri and Rafael Blanco, and Gustavo Cisneros.

The objective is the creation of an organized magical tourist destination that begins with investment by the private sector. Together with the Pedernales and Bergantín initiatives, the tourism development of Miches is part of a tourism diversification strategy.

Real estate tourism, in full swing: they launch a new project in Punta Cana

Executives from Buena Vista at San Juan Lakes formally launched the luxury real estate project in Punta Cana, which has forty private villas strategically located next to the area’s primary health, education, and leisure services.

“Buena Vista at San Juan Lakes, has an ideal location in Punta Cana, the area with the greatest tourist development in the Dominican Republic and close to the best beaches and the best golf courses in the world. An area that combines accessibility and also a private and safe environment for our health”, indicated Jesus Montano (Jr.) and  Ralf Friessner, as developers of Buena Vista at San Juan Lakes.

They explained, “In total, there are forty luxury villas with two different models of open and bright modern design that you can choose according to your needs and preferences. Sixteen with one level and twenty-four with two levels, both with exterior environments and spaces for the enjoyment of the whole family”.

The project, headed by the architect Roberto Reijo and the engineer Vicente Cruz, has one-level villas from 240.00Mts2 and two-level villas from 285.10Mts2 and aims to respond to the needs of new buyers who are looking for open spaces, finishes, quality, and safe environments.

As an added value, the owners of the Buena Vista villas will be able to enjoy the Clubhouse of the residential community, San Juan Lakes, a space for relaxation, leisure, and entertainment, through a swimming pool, recreational area, playground, and several natural lakes.

Buena Vista is part of the San Juan Developmentplan, made up of the largest shopping center in Punta Cana, with a wide range of entertainment, shopping, and restaurants.

During the presentation of the project at the AC by Marriott hotel, realtors and associates from the real estate and tourism sector learned about the main benefits of the residential area, which stands out for its open spaces and low population density, as well as for a natural environment surrounded by large green areas and wide trails that guarantee the exclusivity, tranquility, safety, and health of its inhabitants.

Aerodom: Covid test elimination will stimulate tourism from the US

World Travel and Tourism Council applauded the measure

The United States establishes itself as the leading tourist emitter of the DR

Luis José López, director of corporate communication at Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI ( Aerodom ), indicated that the decision of the United States government to eliminate the requirement of the Covid-19 test, which was required of travelers to enter that nation, will undoubtedly stimulate American tourism in the Dominican Republic.

“The United States is the main market with which daily flights are maintained from our airports, and the decision to eliminate the test requirement will undoubtedly influence more people to move to our country,” he said.

He explained to arecoa.com that, as North American airlines had recently expressed in a statement, many Americans were reluctant to travel internationally due to concerns about testing positive and being stranded abroad.

As for how operations are going through the AILAterminal without the test, López said that “the trips have been carried out successfully.”

“We welcome the decision of the US Government to eliminate the requirement of having a negative result from a recent Covid-19 test,” he emphasized.

The repercussion and acceptance of the measure have been such that the World Travel and Tourism Council ( WTTC ) has welcomed the decision of the president of the United States, Joe Biden, to lift the Covid tests for air travelers.

Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the WTTC, said, “we welcome the decision by the Biden administration and the CDC to lift the harmful testing requirement for travelers. It will provide much-needed relief to the beleaguered sector.”

“US Travel & Tourism’s long-term recovery now looks positive, and our projections show that a fully recovered sector will create more than six million new jobs over the next 10 years,” he added.

He recalled that “in the short term, the measure caused incalculable damage to an already devastated sector, since the spending of international visitors has been so low in the last two years.”

Dominican Republic tackled broad issues in the US

Santo Domingo.- At a Summit of the Americas in which there were absences due to exclusion and decision, the Dominican Republic maintained a broad agenda focused on issues of security, investment and balance of positive post-pandemic results in which it strengthened ties with the United States, host of the meeting, with a lack of signature in a section of the final declaration and a diplomatic disagreement with Haiti.

“We applaud the participation of the Pdte. of the Dom. Rep., @luisabinader, along with heads of state from various countries in the region at the #IXCumbreDeLasAméricas, led by Pte. of the USA, Joe Biden and the vice-president. of the USA, Kamala Harris”, the Embassy of the United States in the Dominican Republic published on its official Twitter account last Friday, the day the Dominican president addressed the plenary session of the Summit, held in Los Angeles.

In his speech, Luis Abinader presented the achievements in the fight against drug trafficking and corruption, institutionality, and economic recovery after the most critical stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He raised however the need for support in the face of the crisis generated for the war between Russia and Ukraine, in addition to the repeated call for the international community to attend to the situation in Haiti.

Dominican Republic: Leader in golf courses

The best golfers, in both branches, have participated in the highest levels of tournaments of this modality in the various golf courses and have praised the facilities of the DR

The Dominican Republic, today, is the main bastion for the construction of the best golf courses in Latin America and the Caribbean, which has filled the country’s golfing family with pride.

In recent decades, majestic golf courses have been built in different regions of the country, which have been in charge by the most famous developers in the business. The Dominican Republic is the leading destination, without question, for golf in the tropics.

Relevant data
At least seven of the country’s golf courses have appeared on more than one occasion in the Top 50 of Golf Week magazine in the Caribbean and Mexico, including Punta Espada in the Top 10, Los Corales, where the PGA was held Tour 2018, and Teeth of the Dog, in Casa de Campo.

From La Romana to Punta Cana, Juan Dolio, and Puerto Plata, the Dominican golf courses have 86 holes with ocean views and 39 on the shore.

These courses offer the possibility of enjoying a tee time by the sea, or along with leafy inland courses.

Designers love the DR

Love for golfDesigned by the most acclaimed golf course architects, including Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Gary Player, Tom Fazio, Nick Price and Greg Norman, they have put all their ingenuity and great finesse have built world-class golf courses.

Dominican Republic megaproject smacks of room glut

Santo Domingo.- The tender opened this week to contract the soil studies to build nine hotels in Cabo Rojo, Pedernales, includes analyzes to determine the feasibility of buildings of up to six levels, as opposed to the traditional four maximum in the destination Bávaro -Punta Cana.

The specifications indicate that the proponent must carry out geotechnical studies and pavement design for the construction of seven lots of nine hotels from one to six levels, with between 300 and 750 rooms each.

In the first batch alone, three hotels with 500 rooms each are planned to be built in an area of 709,131 square meters.

The deadlines for the maximum execution time and delivery of the final report for the lots range from 90 to 165 days.

Red Air increases its operations between Santo Domingo and Miami: it will offer three daily flights

Starting July 25

Red Air reported that it will operate three daily flights on the Santo Domingo – Miami route as of July 25, having a total of 21 weekly flights to the aforementioned city of the sun.

Astrid Pérez, commercial manager of Red Air, said that the new operation will be flight L53993 that will depart from Las Américas International Airport ( AILA ) at 5:00 in the afternoon to arrive in Miami at 7:30 at night.

“When making a comparison of the data on the number of passengers who flew from Santo Domingo to Miami, in the first quarter of 2022 and 2021, there has been an increase of 78%. If we take into account the nationalities, the Dominican has a 57.4% relevance of the total amount, followed by the American,” she added.

He explained that “its shareholders, a group of businessmen with extensive experience in the civil aviation and airport services sector, are committed to the aeronautical sector, its development and contribution to the economy and, above all, to the creation of value as a country brand.”

It is recalled that as a new Dominican airline, the company has competitive quality parameters. For this reason, in tourist class, in addition to an 8-kilo cabin suitcase, it allows the passenger a hold baggage of 32.

“We want to achieve objectives in phases, but focusing on the human quality of a close staff, close and above all, with a vocation to serve. A total of 97 collaborators between crew and administrative and operational personnel to meet the needs of the passenger.” Pérez pointed out.

RED Air’s main markets are the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe. The growth plan has started in Miami with two daily frequencies, with four own aircraft models Mcdonell Douglas Series (MD-82 and 83).

In a second phase, operations are planned to cities in Central and South America, as well as to cities with high traffic of Dominican nationals such as South Florida. In a third phase, long-range flights are planned to cities in the Southern Cone as well as to Europe.

According to the growth phases of the company, the acquisition of medium-range aircraft (B-737-400, 700 and 800) and long-range aircraft (B-767, Air Bus 330) is planned. The path is solid and safe when done slowly. The important thing is that we have all recovered, the illusion of flying again.

Abinader arrives in LA for Summit

President Luis Abinader arrived in the city of Los Angeles early this Wednesday to participate in the ninth Summit of the Americas, which brings together heads of state and government from different countries in the region.

Dominican 1.2K coastline beckons boating tourism

Santo Domingo.- Over the years, more people are inclined to do tourism aboard boats to enjoy the adventure of traveling in the waters of the Caribbean Sea.

The Dominican Republic, with some 1,288 kilometers of coastline, and its adjacent islands, rivers and reservoirs, is a recreational paradise for nautical tourism, but it requires investment and promotion to exploit this tourism branch.

The country does not have a tourist history of nautical life, however, its coasts occupy a “privileged” place within the Caribbean archipelago and, being part of the Greater Antilles, it enjoys an extensive geography endowed with beautiful landscapes that favor it to position itself as country brand in that tourist region.

For the Dominican-Italian Chamber of Commerce (CCDI), which has a delegation of experts in nautical matters, the country has made significant contributions to the Dominican economy with the creation of quality jobs and the traffic of tourists who make Stop at Dominican hotels to get to know the country

Hodelpa builds new tourist residential project in Playa Dorada

 The hotel chain expands its offer in Puerto Plata.

 Launch package combined with Ocean World water park

The Hodelpa Hotels chain presented its new tourist real estate project, “Xanadú Resort & Residences by Hodelpa,” which will be apartments and duplexes integrated into nature and the environment, located in Playa Dorada in Puerto Plata, on the beachfront.

Jessica Aja offered the information marketing director of the Hodelpa chain, who explained that the Xanadú Resort & Residences by Hodelpa project will be ready by March 2023.

He highlighted the facilities of the project, where the different types of apartments stand out, and “their proximity to airports, theme parks, city center and cruise port,” according to a statement from the chain.

The project will have unique features within a complex such as four main pools and seven private pools in exclusive buildings, more than 300 meters of beach, bar, gardens, café, gym, and event hall, among other facilities, he said.

Jessica Aja also highlighted the novelties and promotions that the Emotions by Hodelpa Puerto Plata brand would have in the Playa Dorada complex, which will offer three days and two nights, combining these offers with an experience in the Ocean World water park.

The board offered the information during a breakfast for travel agents and tour operators at the last Expoturismo 2022 fair, the main activity to promote travel and tourism in the country’s northern region, held at the Convention Center of the Hodelpa Gran Almirante hotel.

During the activity, the preferential rates for the summer were presented, and the facilities that guests will have in rooms, especially in the “Deluxe Family,” with its various capacities now available for summer 2022.

Dominican Republic among few to grow in 2022: World Bank

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic is one of the few countries in Latin America and the Caribbean for which the World Bank did not change -nor did it decrease, as it did for almost two dozen nations- its growth projection for this 2022, in its most recent “World Economic Outlook” report.

The multilateral organization maintains the country’s growth projection at 5.0% for this 2022 and also for next year, as indicated in a similar report published in January of this year.

However, it projects a drop of -0.4% for the Haitian economy in 2022, of which it did not indicate any growth in its report in January.

Abinader gets North Region industries kudos

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader was recognized by the seven private institutions that make up “Compromiso Santiago” for promoting the economic development of Santiago and the Cibao region through a public policy plan.

This recognition highlights the president’s support in the design, formulation and transparent monitoring of projects to be implemented in coherence with the Santiago Strategic Agenda, the Regional Development Agenda, the Plan for the Relaunch of the Tobacco Industry and the Plan for the Relaunch of Free Zones, both coordinated by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes, Víctor -Ito- Bisonó.

When presenting the recognition to the president, the businessmen from the area who were present highlighted the plans and progress in public investments launched by the government for the 2021-2025 period, which had been announced by the president at Expocibao 2021.

Dominican boom: US$34.3B for 9,026 hotel rooms

Santo Domingo.- In the next four years the tourism sector in the Dominican Republic will be receiving investments of approximately US$34.3 billion in mixed, hotel and real estate projects, contributing about 9,026 rooms to the Dominican market.

“A fundamental indicator to see investment in the future is what happens today with those who put their money in the Dominican Republic, such as hoteliers and all those who invest in some infrastructure such as water parks and other real estate investments,” said Jacqueline Mora, Technical Vice Minister of Tourism.

She said so far this year they already have nearly 2,000 rooms between real estate and hotel companies.

“Important projects such as Downtown Punta Cana, in its second stage that has already started, and with this, investment projections of some 34,3 billion dollars in the next four, five, seven years, depending on how the Downtown Punta Cana project goes.”

Palo Blanco, Puerto Plata road repair requested

Puerto Plata – The producers and locals of Palo Blanco, in the municipality of Yasica, are crying out for the authorities to fulfill their promise to asphalt the road that allows access to the community since it is impassable.

They add that due to the road’s poor condition, it is difficult for them to get the agricultural products (yautia, yucca, cacao, coffee, among others) that they grow in the area, which are sold to feed their families.

“This is a production site, what we don’t have the road enabled,” said one of the residents, who also expressed that “if the asphalt can’t be thrown away, that at least they burn it and make a good whitewash.”

“This road is useless, the vehicles have to be four by four, and when it is raining, they don’t even work. So here we live on livestock.

They indicated that if a person gets sick before getting to the nearest doctor, “they easily die.”

They said they hoped that the authorities, especially President Luis Abinader, would come to their aid.