This is why the roads are so crowded

There are nearly 5.5 million vehicles on Dominican roads. Now we know why traffic is so difficult throughout the country

Of these, 60% are motorcycles of all sizes and shapes: small 70cc motoconchos, big, honkin’ Harleys, Yamahas, and Hondas, and even three wheelers that carry vegetables, deliver goods, and transport food items.

The National District, Santo Domingo, La Vega and Santiago head the list of the places with the most motorcycles. Fully one-third of these motorcycles belong to companies, and less than 20% belong to women.

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Listin Diario

24 April 2023

Dolores Vicioso

More than 800,000 cruise passengers have docked in DR so far this year

The exponential growth of cruise ship stops at Dominican ports has produced phenomenal numbers so far this year. Over 800,000 people have visited the Dominican Republic from cruise liners in the first three months of 2023, N Digital reports.

According to the Dominican Port Authority, in 2022, there were 106,000 arrivals, and in 2023 that number jumped to 272,000, a 255% increase, attributed to the successful opening of the Taino Bay terminal in Puerto Plata. The two most-visited ports are Puerto Plata’s Taino Bay and Amber Cove. La Romana, Samana and Santo Domingo follow as cruise ship destinations.

These numbers put the Dominican Republic firmly on the way to become the cruise line hub of the Caribbean.

Read more in Spanish:
N Digital

18 April 2023

Dolores Vicioso

Collado in Miami for travel show; announces 39 aviation deals

The Ministry of Tourism reports signing 39 aviation agreements with airlines during Tourism Minister David Collado’s participation in a Dominican Republic Trade Show in Miami, Florida, USA on Wednesday, 12 April 2023. The agreements seek to boost travel from the United States, Canada and South America.

Tourism Minister David Collado estimates the agreements guarantee 2.5 million tourists from the United States, Canada and Latin America in 2023.

Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Tourism
Diario Libre

18 April 2023

Dolores Vicioso

Sky High to fly twice a day to Miami

Sky High announced it will fly twice a week between Miami and Santo Domingo. The airline announced during the Miami Travel Trade Show on Wednesday, 12 April 2023 that it has added a second daily frequency for better connectivity with Caribbean destinations.

The airline is based at Las Americas International Airport (SDQ).

Sky High flights depart from Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo at 12:30 noon and at 8:30pm.

The airline primarily focuses on flights to Caribbean destinations. Sky High has flights to Anguilla (AXA), Antigua (ANU), Martinique (FDF), Aruba (AUA), Bonaire (BON), Saint Maarten (SXM), Tortola (EIS), Saint Kitts (SKB), Curaçao (CUR), Santiago de Cuba (SCU), Havana (HAV), Guadeloupe (PTP), connecting to Las Americas International Airport (SDQ)

Private charter flights to destinations within the Caribbean are also available.

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Sky High
El Dia

18 April 2023

Dolores Vicioso

Ministry of Tourism reports new record for March tourist arrivals

Tourism Minister David Collado proudly presented on 20 April 2023 the numbers for the year’s first quarter, now at 2,076,171 tourists arriving by air. Air arrivals from January to March 2023 represent an increase of 11% compared to the first quarter in 2019, the pre-pandemic year. Travel is also up 21% compared to the first quarter in 2022.

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Mitur

20 April 2023

Dolores Vicioso

Free trade zone exports up in first quarter 2023

Daniel Liranzo / CNZFE

The National Council of Export Zones (CNZFE) announced that export values increased US$47 million in the first quarter, or 2.5% compared to 2022. Export values went from US$1,851.6 million in for January-March 2022 to US$1,898.6 million in 2023. The CNZFE did not report on the variations in volume of exports.

Liranzo described the increase as demonstrating that the free zone sector continues to consolidate the growth of its main variables. He said free zone exports represent 63.2% of the total exports of the Dominican Republic.

March 2023 exports were up 5.5% compared to export values in March 2022. March exports were US$768.2 million, compared to US$728.0 in 2022.

Liranzo detailed the increases in export values for the first quarter of 2023 by items exported. These were: agro-industrial products, 23.8%; plastic articles, 21.0%; metal articles, 19.7%; electrical products, 9.7%; medical devices, 9.0%.

Read more in Spanish:
CNZFE

20 April 2023

Dolores Vicioso

Ritz Carlton chooses the Dominican Republic to open its first “all access” hotel in the world

The Dominican Republic is set to welcome the Ritz Carlton chain’s first “all access” hotel in the Punta Cana-Macao area, featuring two of the company’s hotels: one from its “Luxury Collection” and the other, “Ritz Carlton Punta Cana All Access”. This move by the Ritz Carlton, known for its luxurious hotels worldwide, comes with an approximate investment of $250 million in the first stage, encompassing all 250 keys to the Ritz Carlton, all 300 keys to the Luxury Collection, and all 50 Ritz Carlton brand properties.

Construction is expected to begin between September and October 2023, and the project has already received the necessary permits. The Dominican investment group Pioneer, with support from institutions such as AFPs and investment funds, will operate the two luxury flags, which will be run by Marriott. The Ritz Carlton complex will have 250 keys and 50 residential units available for purchase under the hotel brand. Additionally, the Punta Cana-Macao area will feature a residential component and a community village with restaurants, bars, and amphitheaters.

The project is in its final design stage, with the global design team working in Washington D.C., and the aim is to conclude it between now and the summer, according to Yamil Isaias, Pioneer’s executive vice president.

Aerolíneas Argentinas increases seats to Punta Cana with its A330

Starting from July 1, Aerolíneas Argentinas will be using Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 265 seats for its flights to Punta Cana, increasing the number of available seats to the Dominican Republic’s main tourist destination. Presently, the airline operates five flights a week to Punta Cana, using Boeing 737 MAX 8 equipment with a capacity of 170 passengers across two classes.

Aerolíneas Argentinas has also made changes to its reservation system for its flights to Havana, with plans to operate the destination with the Airbus A330-200 aircraft from July 7, in addition to its current two flights per week. These changes are scheduled to continue throughout the year, as per the reservation system and the Cirium platform.

Furthermore, the airline will no longer operate between Punta Cana and Havana and instead will fly to the Cuban city via Cancun.

Constitutional Court ratifies Bahía de las Águilas as State property

More than twenty people filed an amparo appeal against a ruling by the Second Chamber of the Superior Administrative Court (TSA), which recognized the Dominican State’s ownership of the land in Bahía de las Águilas, in Pedernales. The appeal was rejected by the Constitutional Court (TC), which refused to halt the tourist projects in Pedernales until the appellants, who claimed to be parceleros of the Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD) and landowners in Bahía de las Águilas, were compensated.

The TC declared the appeal for constitutional review inadmissible as it lacked clear and precise arguments of the grievances caused by the TSA’s decision. The Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) defended the rights of the Dominican State in this case, and the TC’s decision issued in favor of the Dominican State is found in Judgment TC/0423/22, dated December 12, 2022. The appellants’ amparo appeal was directed against several entities, including the IAD, the Presidency of the Republic, the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic, and the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic.

Abinader: “We have delivered more housing than any other government has ever delivered before”

This Saturday, President Luis Abinader presided over two apartment handover ceremonies, benefiting 208 families who now have a roof over their heads.

The first delivery of some 112 apartments occurred in the Hato Nuevo sector, in Manoguayabo, Santo Domingo Oeste, specifically in the Hato Nuevo V Residencial, built by Constructora Bisonó.

In his speech, the President praised the trajectory of the construction company and the “innovative scheme, which is really working” of public-private alliances.

“This is a government of all. A government of those who have the least and it is also a government to develop business, to develop commerce and those who think that there are differences between one sector and another, it is the opposite,” he said.

Abinader explained that it is fundamental to maintain social peace with actions of social justice.

“That is why we have increased social assistance in the government. More than doubled, because we have doubled the amount given and we have doubled the number of people who receive it,” he added.

He also stressed that “the goal of any family when asked what they want in life is to have their own home.”

“In these two years and eight months, we have delivered more houses than any other government has ever delivered before… We will continue to do so because of the importance we give to social programs,” he concluded.

Investment
For his part, the Minister of the Presidency, Joel Santos, offered detailed information on the investment made in this project.

“When I speak of public-private alliances, I want you to know that this project had an investment of more than 252 million pesos by the developer, Constructora Bisonó, while the State, represented by the Government headed by President Luis Abinader, contributed more than 97 million pesos in subsidies,” explained the Minister.

Santos specified that of the subsidy, 33.6 million pesos correspond to the Bono Inicial, 24.1 million to Bono Itbis, and 37.6 million to Bono Tasa. He also indicated that 1.7 million pesos are focused on the Bono Mujer, granted to nine women who are heads of household.

The President of Constructora Bisonó, Rafael Vitelio Bisonó, also participated in the event and highlighted the compliance in the payments of the people who request support from the social programs.

Lolita I Project
Afterward, the authorities moved to the Lolita I Residencial, also in Hato Nuevo, where 96 new apartments were delivered to an equal number of families through the National Housing Plan Familia Feliz.

Among the beneficiaries, four female heads of the household received the Bono Mujer granted by the Ministry of Women. With these 96 units, there are now 753 housing units delivered by the government through the Happy Family Plan.

Minister Santos explained that these 96 families had been supported with 77,696,000 pesos by receiving the Initial, Itbis, and 7-year rate bonds, considerably reducing the value of the house they are receiving today.

The developer of Residencial Lolita I, Louis Bogaert, invested more than 208 million pesos in an infrastructure project that guarantees security and comfort to the residents. At the same time, the government assumed an essential subsidy for the families.

On behalf of Louis Bogaert, his wife, Nicole Morales, said that Residencial Lolita I has 21 buildings, with apartments ranging from 54 to 68 square meters, designed with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, kitchen, laundry area, and balcony.

Likewise, the Lolita II and III projects are already in the permitting phase to begin construction soon.

More housing
Minister Joel Santos announced that by 2023 another 5,000 homes are planned to be delivered, and by 2024 the construction of 10,000 more is planned, thus adding to other programs being developed by this government, such as Mi Vivienda and RD se Reconstruye.

Places in Monte Cristi that you should not miss this Holy Week

Santiago, DR

If you are one of those who have decided to vacation this Easter, the Monte Cristi province is a different possibility. Therefore, we recommend some places when you arrive in San Fernando de Monte Cristi.

Monte Cristi has six municipalities that are distributed over an area of 1,989 square kilometers: Castañuelas, Guayubin, Villa Vásquez, Las Matas de Santa Cruz, Pepillo Salcedo (Manzanillo), and its capital San Fernando, and with four Municipal Districts: Palo Verde, Hatillo Palma, Villa Elisa, and Cana Chapetón, each with something to show.

Although the beaches of Monte Cristi are seen as the attraction par excellence, it is recommended that, before going, take a tour of the city center and visit the surroundings of Central Park. There you can see the symbolic Montecristi Clock, a symbol built in France and installed on March 11, 1895, being inaugurated on June 29 of that year.

Also next to the Duarte Park of that city is the Parish of San Fernando, which stands out for its tinted windows and an altar made of mahogany, attracting visitors for its architectural design inspired by the nineteenth century.

The senator of that province, Ramón Antonio Pimentel Gómez (Moreno Arias), said that, on the way to the different beaches, on the way to the hill, you can know the most important Salinas in the country, which is, in turn, a pillar activity in the economy of the town.

Moreno Arias said that “you will be surprised by the salt ponds, you will be able to know the process of the main seasoning of the kitchen.”

Also, any visitor who goes to Monte Cristi, a city on the Northwest line, cannot return without going to El Morro de Monte Cristi National Park.

El Morro is the natural space that identifies the province. This is part of the Montecristi National Park, one of the leading National Parks in the country.

With an elevation of 242 meters above sea level, its camel shape is very striking; This place will offer you breathtaking views from the top of its summit, composed of dry forest vegetation.

Also, in its surroundings, the beach, also known as “la playa del Morro,” is one of the most attractive natural beaches within the Montecristi National Park. She is known for its brown sand and warm waters.

Places to eat in Montecristi.

On the East-West route, of the Duarte highway, on the way to Montecristeña, you can stop at any of the places in Alto del Medio, Villa Eliza, and Guayubin. In this way, you can enjoy one of the emblematic dishes of the area: the goat, in its different varieties, whether baked, stewed, fried, or as you like, you can find it in these places.

Already in the city of San Fernando, Montecristi, you can go to the boardwalk area and visit a hundred restaurants overlooking the sea.

When night falls, the nightlife of the city of Montecristi is activated, and the center of the municipality becomes a single concert; all visitors converge on the so-called Calle 8 and other surrounding bars.

Impact of cruise ship tourism in Puerto Plata analyzed

As part of the strategic alliance agreed between the Puerto Plata Destination Tourism Cluster (CTDPP) and the School of Tourism and Gastronomy of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), students and professors of the university visited the ports of Amber Cove and Taino Bay, to apply surveys that will reflect the impact generated by the cruise industry in the value chain and the local economy.

The field practice is part of a series of investigations to structure a market intelligence system that systematically, objectively, and transparently collects and examines data and statistics to plan strategically for tourism-related projects in the province.

Students from Santo Domingo and Santiago, accompanied by professors from both centers, participated in the application of questionnaires in both terminals to capture data on the demographics of visitors, both passengers and crew, their activity, levels of spending, and satisfaction at the destination, willingness to return, among others. Interviews will soon be conducted to investigate the effects of this operation on employment.

The institutions involved in the project announced that all this information would form a baseline study of the socioeconomic impact of cruise ships in the province of Puerto Plata, the results of which will be published later. Furthermore, they added that the cruise ship department of the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) would continue to use the tool for a constant compilation of data to obtain a realistic and updated picture.

PUCMM was represented by Ina Percival, director of the School of Gastronomy and Tourism of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Campus, and professors Clara Barriola, Mirian Laureano, Jetti de Jesús, and Soraya Sànchez.

Also present were Birgitt Heinsen, president of the CTDPP; Atahualpa Paulino, regional director of Mitur; Zobeyda Brito, for the Cruise Department of Mitur; port managers Sharon Mei of Amber Cove, and Harold Sanders of Taino Bay.

Minister of Tourism visits beaches and resorts for Easter Week

The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, toured the main beaches and resorts of the country as has been the custom during the Holy Week holiday.

This Holy Saturday, he visited the beaches of La Romana and then the southern resorts, such as Las Marías, in Neiba, Bahoruco province, where vacationers applauded him upon his arrival.

Collado also went to Los Patos and El Quemaíto beaches in Barahona, which the Ministry of Tourism recently refurbished.

During this Holy Week, the minister has also visited the Guayacanes beaches, in San Pedro de Macorís, Macao, La Altagracia province, which were refurbished by the institution so that they would be ready for this holiday.

Puerto Plata, in full swing in cruises: attracts 40 ships this month

Puerto Plata’s appeal to cruise passengers remains unyielding as it continues to bolster its economy through the dynamic generated by this sector. The main tourist hub on the North Coast is set to welcome a total of 40 cruise ships this April 2023. Of these ships, 18 are expected to dock at the Amber Cove Port, which is owned by Carnival Corporation, while the remaining 22 will arrive at the Taino Bay Port, which belongs to the ITM Group.

Atahualpa Paulino, the North regional director of the Ministry of Tourism, has provided data that emphasizes the impact of cruise tourism on the economy of the province of Puerto Plata. He cites the support that President Luis Abinader and Minister of Tourism David Collado have given to this crucial sector, which has helped the Dominican Republic become the primary cruise hub in the entire Caribbean.

Paulino notes that the province of Puerto Plata contributes the most in terms of both ship arrivals and cruise passengers to the country.

Dominican Republic received 180 thousand visits during the Holy Week

During the Holy Week period, over 180,000 foreign tourists flocked to the Dominican Republic from various parts of the world to enjoy the renowned beaches and hotels in different destinations. The Ministry of Tourism reported that hotel occupancy rates in the country’s tourist spots exceeded 95%, with the highest number of visits recorded in the eastern zone. Holy Week is a highly anticipated event for visitors, as it offers a break from work and school life and increases family vacations.

As usual, coastal destinations such as the East and Northeast zones attracted the most visitors. However, the Southern Region, including Barahona and Pedernales provinces, also witnessed a significant number of tourists.

To ensure a safe environment for visitors, the Dominican Government deployed over 40,000 men and women from various state security institutions, especially in tourist destinations. With expectations of record numbers of arrivals this year, the government has been enhancing security and infrastructure in tourist destinations, such as Macao, Caleta, Guayacanes beaches, Los Patos, El Quemaito, Saladilla, Galeras, Las Terrenas, and others.

Through the Ministry of Tourism, important infrastructure works have been carried out on these beaches, providing foreign and local tourists with the necessary conditions to safely enjoy the destinations.

The seven hotels that already have the Mitur tourist quality seal

Qualitur is a certification that identifies service providers who meet the tourism quality standards, and the “Q” mark for Tourist Quality adds credibility, distinction, reliability, and promotion, enhancing the company’s value proposition. Currently, seven hotels in the Dominican Republic have obtained the Qualitur distinction, including Sheraton Santo Domingo, JW Marriott Santo Domingo, Catalonia Santo Domingo, Ocean Blue and Sand, Ocean el Faro, Hotel Intercontinental Real Santo Domingo, March 2023, the Crowne Plaza Santo Domingo.

Additionally, Okra restaurant and tour operators Colonial Tour and Travel and Turenlaces Del Caribe have also received this certification. The objective of Qualitur is to enforce a set of quality requirements that differentiate certified establishments from those that do not meet the standards. To obtain the Qualitur badge, establishments must meet the following requirements: credibility, a commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction; distinction, a positioning strategy for establishments that meet the specified requirements; reliability, a guarantee of compliance with the quality standards offered; and promotion to consumers.

The purpose of the Qualitur badge is to assist the tourism industry in achieving full customer satisfaction, adapting services to meet their expectations, and using available resources to maximize the benefits for both customers and companies that offer tourist services.

RCC Media/Gallup poll: Abinader most likely to be reelected

An RCC Media/Gallup poll reveals that if the presidential elections were today, incumbent President Luis Abinader would receive 48.3% of the vote, former President Leonel Fernández would get 25.9% of the vote, and Santiago Mayor Abel Martínez would get 18.2% of the vote. 7.6% of those polled said they were undecided. Abinader is the most likely candidate for the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM); Leonel Fernandez is the most likely candidate for the Fuerza del Pueblo (FP) and Abel Martínez is the pre-candidate for the former ruling party, the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). The presidential candidates will be announced in October 2023.

The same poll says that in case a presidential candidate does not receive 50%+1 of the vote, in a second-round vote Abinader would win with 45.9%l, Leonel Fernandez would receive 27.9% and Abel Martinez would receive 19.9% of the vote.

The Fuerza del Pueblo is a dissident group founded when Leonel Fernández split from the PLD after then President Danilo Medina backed his minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo as presidential candidate in the 2020 presidential election. There is speculation the FP and PLD could rejoin to present a unified candidate in 2024. But the Gallup poll indicates that this would not be enough to defeat incumbent Luis Abinader. The airing in the judiciary of major corruption scams involving family members of former President Danilo Medina and leading cabinet ministers of the past administration has kept the PLD at a relatively low profile in promoting its pre-candidate Abel Martinez. The Constitution impedes former President Danilo Medina from running again for President, not so former President Leonel Fernandez who pushed through a change to the Constitution in 2015 that enables him to seek office again.

The recent RCC/Gallup poll also showed that former President Leonel Fernandez (FP) has the highest rejection rate with 37.3%, compared to 26.6% of Luis Abinader (PRM) and 20.7% of Abel Martinez (PLD).

In the 2020 presidential election, Luis Abinader won with 52.5% of the vote. Leonel Fernandez received 8.9% of the vote.

The general election calendar establishes that political parties need to choose their presidential candidates in October for the 19 May 2024 presidential election.

The same poll indicates that 62% of eligible voters approve the administration of President Luis Abinader. The poll also placed the rising cost of living as the most important issue for Dominicans today.

Read more in Spanish:
RCC Media on Twitter
N Digital
El Nuevo Diario

11 April 2023

Dolores Vicioso

US Department of State confirms visit of Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman

The US Department of State has officially announced that Deputy Secretary Wendy R. Sherman will be visiting the country as part of a trip that is also taking her to Argentina.

The US Department of State says that the visits to the Dominican Republic and Argentina are to underscore the United States’ “strong bilateral relationships with key partners while furthering our shared interest in advancing democracy, prosperity and security in our hemisphere.”

The visit to the Dominican Republic and Argentina comes after Republican Representative Salazar inquired with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about major Chinese infrastructure in Argentina and about a travel alert issued for the Dominican Republic.

The US State Department announced:
“In the Dominican Republic, Deputy Secretary Sherman will meet with President Luis Abinader, Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, and other senior officials. Their discussions will reinforce our strong and enduring bilateral ties across a broad range of issues, including the urgent situation in Haiti. The Deputy Secretary will also engage the Dominican Republic’s diverse civil society, including alumni of US government fellowship and leadership programs. Her visit follows that of Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas Chris Dodd, who participated in the 25 March Ibero-American Summit as a guest of President Abinader.”

The Abinader administration has asked for international actions to contain the violence of gangs in Haiti and bring peace to the neighbor country. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic is burdened with the high social costs of the Haitian population that finds ways to cross the border to receive free social services and work. The position of the US government has traditionally been to insist on the Dominican government taking actions to take on new costs to support the human rights of the Haitian population in the Dominican Republic given the failed state in Haiti.

One of the main issues affecting the Dominican Republic is that the Haitian government for decades has failed to identify its population creating a major limbo when these travel to the Dominican Republic for work and social services. So far, the Dominican Republic has carried the burden of the multidimensional crisis in Haiti in providing social services and work to the displaced Haitian population.

Read more:
US Department of State
US Department of State – biography Wendy Sherman
Diario Libre

DR1 News

DR1 News

11 April 2023

Dominican Republic reduces growth forecast for 2023 to 4.25%.

Santo Domingo, D.R.
The gross domestic product (GDP) of the Dominican Republic will grow by 4.25% at the end of this year, that is, 0.25% less than estimated last November, the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development informed this Friday.

In a press release, the ministry said that growth projections had been revised downwards for 2023 due to a less favorable international environment, given the tightening of financial conditions at the global level. However, it highlighted an expansion in real terms of the GDP of 4.25%.

An improvement in the performance of the Dominican economy is expected for next year, with a natural GDP expansion of 5.0 %.

The economic outlook “continues to be conditioned by the level of uncertainty that currently dominates global markets, as a result of the hardening of financial conditions and the economic slowdown of our main trading partners,” states the report Macroeconomic Outlook 2023-2027, according to a note from the Ministry of Economy.

According to the information, adopting a restrictive monetary policy, the subsidies granted by the Dominican Government to mitigate the increase in fuel prices, and the extension of the temporary suspension of the adjustments to the electricity tariff have contributed to the slowdown in inflation.

Inflation is expected to converge to the target range of 4% ± 1% during 2023, with an expected year-end price growth of 4.5% and an average of 5.5%.

The authorities also project an average exchange rate of 56.79 pesos per dollar, a reduction of 0.41 cents concerning last November’s forecast, and a depreciation rate of 3.0% concerning the 2022 average.