My two pesos
The latest Central Bank numbers on tourists arriving in the DR shows that 55% of tourists are women and 45% men.
Seems to be the "natural attractions" of the DR appeal more to women???
Just curious!!
HB
I would say that men have been hit harder by the recession than women. There's higher unemployment amongst men especially in the manufacturing sector and there's been some growth in the sectors where women traditionally work (health care and social services). Women are in better shape in the job market although in general they earn less. I'm seeing this here in Canada, families where the male has been laid off and the wife is employed. Single women with jobs, single men who have been laid off. Also there it seems to me that there are many men who are "retired" or "entrepreneurs" at 52, 53 and 54 and it's not through financial planning or having a great business plan. Maybe this accounts for the higher numbers of women visiting.
I think the DR is still a very competitively priced destination and has beautiful beaches, that will always appeal to women. BUT maybe also the work of the animation teams contributes to making the DR a fun beach destination. Aside from the sanky panky who is searching for a visa out, many of the animation workers put in long hours entertaining the tourist, teaching them to dance and running activities that contribute to the vacation experience. Dominicans are also fun people and very nice to tourists.
I think women get together and say "I'm sick of winter, let's go south" and it's relatively cheap - $800. We spend $200 on our visits to the hairdresser.
As a destination for sex tourism, I think there are many other destinations the men go to (Eastern Europe and Far East). Maybe that has had an impact? Not sure. And there's more poverty in Canada as well and trafficking of women into Canada to work as sex workers. I just think in general, men have been hit harder by the recession and don't have the disposable income for travel that working class and middle class women do.
