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1999 Successes Fuel Dominican Republic's Aggressive Tourism Development Plans for the Year 2000
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 1999--If the score tallied during the first seven months of 1999 are any indicator of what's ahead in the new Millennium for the Dominican Republic, then Sammy Sosa's homeland is in for a series of home runs when it comes to tourism's "big leagues."
Between January and July of 1999, the Dominican Republic increased its number of worldwide visitors 9.6 percent, its Punta Cana airport experienced a 18.5 percent increase and its Puerto Plata airport had an 11.2 percent increase, all compared to the same period of time the previous year. As of June 30 this year, more than 1.5 million visitors across the globe vacationed in the country. And in 1999, the American Society of Travel Agents listed Punta Cana as the number one top emerging international destination!
"Time is just the beginning of what will be achieved with a series of development plans we are putting into place in 1999 and 2000," said Felix Jimenez, secretary of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, during the 23rd Annual Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-23) held at the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel and Casino in Santo Domingo. As the destination with the largest number of rooms in the Caribbean (more than 44,000) and seven airports serviced by 40 airlines and 100 charter companies worldwide, Jimenez said his country has a responsibility to take tourism to new heights for the year 2000.
The tourism development plans Jimenez announced include an extensive airport improvement program, a myriad of new hotel openings in Punta Cana and throughout the country, a mega tourism project in Samana, a continuous schedule of new road construction and road improvements, travel agent specialist courses and a visitor survey program.
"We have signed an agreement with Aerodom, a four-nation consortium, in the amount of $203 million to improve four of our seven airports for increased visitor and flight traffic until the year 2015, with the second phase including improvements through 2030 for an additional $106 million," Jimenez said. The consortium includes U.S.-based Ogden Aviation Services, Canada-based Vancouver Airport Services, Italy-based Impregilio and Dominican Republic-based Operaciones Aeroparturias del Caribe. The airports scheduled for the renovations include Las Americas International in Santo Domingo, Gregorio Luperon in Puerto Plata/Sosua, Arreyo Barril in Samana and Maria Montez in Barahona. "As part of the agreement, the consortium will invest $85 million to promote and foster tourism," Jimenez added.
New hotel plans for the Dominican Republic in 1999 and 2000 will feature 31 new properties, and more than 9,500 rooms with a total investment value of more than $480 million. Of the 31 hotels, 4 will be in Puerto Plata, 3 in Samana and surrounding area, 12 in Punta Cana, 2 in Baybe/La Romana, 1 in Boca Chica/Playa Caribe and in 9 other areas.
"The most ambitious new development in the country will be in the area of Samana with a project being financed by the private sector and valued at $250 million," Jimenez explained. "It will include a marina, artificial lake, hotel complexes, a nautical club, sailing and navigation schools." The development area is located 16 kilometers from Arreyo Barril airport and 45 kilometers from the city of Sanchez.
In regards to new roads and road improvements in the planning, the Dominican Republic's Secretary of Public Works Diandino Pena announced earlier this year a budget of more than $104 million from January 1999 through August 2000 to build new streets, roads and highways and renovate others in the following areas: Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, Sosua, Santiago, Samana, Puerto Plata, Higuey, Bavaro, Santo Domingo, especially surrounding the airport there. The program is now underway.
According to a survey by Travel Agent magazine, 64 percent of visitors to the Dominican Republic come to see beaches, 15.4 percent for nature and ecology and 7.5 percent for culture. "We have so much to offer and in our development plans we try to involve all our key aspects," said Jimenez.
The second largest country in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic attracts visitors from all over the world with its excellent cuisine, active nightlife, casinos, historic locales, hundreds of miles of beautiful beaches and soaring mountains.
For more information about planning a Dominican Republic vacation, call 800/723-6138 for a "Dominican Republic Vacation Planner" or visit www.domrep-hotels.com.co to see an on-line Dominican Republic press kit. General information questions can be answered at 888/374-6361.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 1999--If the score tallied during the first seven months of 1999 are any indicator of what's ahead in the new Millennium for the Dominican Republic, then Sammy Sosa's homeland is in for a series of home runs when it comes to tourism's "big leagues."
Between January and July of 1999, the Dominican Republic increased its number of worldwide visitors 9.6 percent, its Punta Cana airport experienced a 18.5 percent increase and its Puerto Plata airport had an 11.2 percent increase, all compared to the same period of time the previous year. As of June 30 this year, more than 1.5 million visitors across the globe vacationed in the country. And in 1999, the American Society of Travel Agents listed Punta Cana as the number one top emerging international destination!
"Time is just the beginning of what will be achieved with a series of development plans we are putting into place in 1999 and 2000," said Felix Jimenez, secretary of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, during the 23rd Annual Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-23) held at the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel and Casino in Santo Domingo. As the destination with the largest number of rooms in the Caribbean (more than 44,000) and seven airports serviced by 40 airlines and 100 charter companies worldwide, Jimenez said his country has a responsibility to take tourism to new heights for the year 2000.
The tourism development plans Jimenez announced include an extensive airport improvement program, a myriad of new hotel openings in Punta Cana and throughout the country, a mega tourism project in Samana, a continuous schedule of new road construction and road improvements, travel agent specialist courses and a visitor survey program.
"We have signed an agreement with Aerodom, a four-nation consortium, in the amount of $203 million to improve four of our seven airports for increased visitor and flight traffic until the year 2015, with the second phase including improvements through 2030 for an additional $106 million," Jimenez said. The consortium includes U.S.-based Ogden Aviation Services, Canada-based Vancouver Airport Services, Italy-based Impregilio and Dominican Republic-based Operaciones Aeroparturias del Caribe. The airports scheduled for the renovations include Las Americas International in Santo Domingo, Gregorio Luperon in Puerto Plata/Sosua, Arreyo Barril in Samana and Maria Montez in Barahona. "As part of the agreement, the consortium will invest $85 million to promote and foster tourism," Jimenez added.
New hotel plans for the Dominican Republic in 1999 and 2000 will feature 31 new properties, and more than 9,500 rooms with a total investment value of more than $480 million. Of the 31 hotels, 4 will be in Puerto Plata, 3 in Samana and surrounding area, 12 in Punta Cana, 2 in Baybe/La Romana, 1 in Boca Chica/Playa Caribe and in 9 other areas.
"The most ambitious new development in the country will be in the area of Samana with a project being financed by the private sector and valued at $250 million," Jimenez explained. "It will include a marina, artificial lake, hotel complexes, a nautical club, sailing and navigation schools." The development area is located 16 kilometers from Arreyo Barril airport and 45 kilometers from the city of Sanchez.
In regards to new roads and road improvements in the planning, the Dominican Republic's Secretary of Public Works Diandino Pena announced earlier this year a budget of more than $104 million from January 1999 through August 2000 to build new streets, roads and highways and renovate others in the following areas: Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, Sosua, Santiago, Samana, Puerto Plata, Higuey, Bavaro, Santo Domingo, especially surrounding the airport there. The program is now underway.
According to a survey by Travel Agent magazine, 64 percent of visitors to the Dominican Republic come to see beaches, 15.4 percent for nature and ecology and 7.5 percent for culture. "We have so much to offer and in our development plans we try to involve all our key aspects," said Jimenez.
The second largest country in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic attracts visitors from all over the world with its excellent cuisine, active nightlife, casinos, historic locales, hundreds of miles of beautiful beaches and soaring mountains.
For more information about planning a Dominican Republic vacation, call 800/723-6138 for a "Dominican Republic Vacation Planner" or visit www.domrep-hotels.com.co to see an on-line Dominican Republic press kit. General information questions can be answered at 888/374-6361.