Will Cuba opening its doors to USA affect DR tourism ?

[chic]

Being a mob enthusiast, I know practically almost everything about the Nosa Nostra. Who knows, maybe whatever is left of the "current Mafia", this can be an opportunity for them. hmmmmmmmmmmm NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There will never be a Lucky or Meyer. EVER!!!!!!!!!!

oportunists...who s the escaped mex guy...

 

[chic]

ha ha ha you think factories arent going to jump ship and relocate...90 miles away highly skilled labor cheap...look at all the land f--k ,,,,, alot of factory coming...face it cuba educated...d.r. is in education trouble cant evan build a school on schedule ,,,,,,,,,basball... el dukae:squareeye:smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke:

 

[Hope024]

ha ha ha you think factories arent going to jump ship and relocate...90 miles away highly skilled labor cheap...look at all the land f--k ,,,,, alot of factory coming...face it cuba educated...d.r. is in education trouble cant evan build a school on schedule ,,,,,,,,,basball... el dukae:squareeye:smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke::smoke:

My hope is Cuba. Dominicans never stopped dealing with Cuba, and the language, history, music and how one evoled under a capatlist and communist nation, is imho amazing to see, albeit with an anchor called Haiti. I feel Hope at Cuba opening. Much more closely aligned culturally than DR will ever be to Haiti.

 

[IslandDreaming]

Just as i read in a New York Times article, americans might be ready for Cuba, but Cuba aint ready for americans, so, no, at least not for now...

A few years back, before there was any certainty of Cuba opening, there were articles of all the major Casino operators ear marking BILLIONs
for Cuba I don't think it will take long to establish an "American" centric infrastructure

The guy I work for has filed apps for rights to land at Havana I think It would be great if he picked up a couple DC-3's to make the route, American’s are looking for the nostalgia Just think of it, Joe’s Airline departing Dinner Key direct to Havana”

 

[Fernandez]

The Cuban experiment will develop in step with the pace of confidence and the establishment of investor protections which, as of today do not exist there. The DR has benefited from the absence of these protections in Cuba, and while not perfect in this respect either, the DR still provides greater secured opportunities- (courts are still questionable). Once changes in Cuba are codified in a legislative process that meets international demands, the competition for tourism $$ will be brutal.
I fear the DR will not be able to compete with the educated masses Cuba commands, and Haiti will continue to be a significant damper on what happens here.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

Eventually it will come down to which island has the better resorts.

After the initial heightened interest from Americans, vacation decisions will return to being all about price and convenience. 80% of NA 1 week vacationers in the winter months, see first the price, second whether or not its a direct flight and third the price. As Cuba develops and modernizes it will lose its appeal to those who seek the "glory of the olden days" crowd, I would think.

 

[Xavier_Onassis]

Cuba is many times more expensive to visit than the DR, except for the AI tourists and other very wealthy individuals.
Transportation from Havana & Santiago to other places is awful, and renting a car is very expensive.
If all you want to see is in one of the cities that you can fly to, then this is not a problem. If you want to see most of Cuba, then it is.
In the DR you can get a comfortable, inexpensive bust to almost anywhere and a guagua to absolutely anywhere.

 

[Major448]

Not sure how far THIS will go in the current "full" US Congress, but it may signal some "interesting" developments ahead ... and maybe sooner than we think ...

Cuba travel ban should be lifted, says Republican-controlled Senate panel | World news | The Guardian
GOP-controlled Senate panel votes to lift Cuba travel ban - KTAR.com

And as reported from Cuba ...
U.S. Senate Committee Approves Amendment to End Restrictions on Travel to Cuba - ACN

 

[Major448]

Cuba is many times more expensive to visit than the DR, except for the AI tourists and other very wealthy individuals.
Transportation from Havana & Santiago to other places is awful, and renting a car is very expensive.
If all you want to see is in one of the cities that you can fly to, then this is not a problem. If you want to see most of Cuba, then it is.
In the DR you can get a comfortable, inexpensive bust to almost anywhere and a guagua to absolutely anywhere.

Everything you say is true! But it's also true that, along with the very "lacking" infrastructure in Cuba ... Cuba is many times larger than the DR. A trip from Havana to Santiago is "hundreds" of miles. It would take some time to see "most of Cuba" even under the best of circumstances ....

 

[Major448]

Here is what a few are saying in the "travel industry" ...
Caribbean tourism feels winds of change from Cuba | Tourism | Bradenton Herald
How Cuba’s tourism could affect rest of Caribbean | Florida Courier
Tourism Is Surging in Cuba - Bloomberg Business

And it seems that some just can't wait to get in on the "deal" ...
Carnival, AirBnB, JetBlue & Apple Vacations Increase Travel Options To Cuba From The U.S. - Forbes
Carnival Corporation Announces Travel to Havana, Cuba,
Pearl Seas plans cultural cruises to Cuba: Travel Weekly

Colleges Begin Establishing Exchange Programs In Cuba

 

[ohmmmm]

For the vast majority of American travelers its simply a matter of price, because they just have a couple weeks vacation per year and want to go to a sunny destination where they can lay out, see the ocean and eat well in a nice looking hotel. Americans want air conditioning and a nice room as well. Going to Cuba is nostalgic and if the price is similar for Cuba vs. the DR or Mexico or Jamaica they will likely choose Cuba to tell their neighbors they went there. They will want a short city tour on their one-week stay, but they are unlikely to venture out a whole lot more. Europeans generally can handle a more rougher environment, Canadians are just nice people and tend to roll with most things, but Americans have specific requirements and they ask a lot. I would guess that Cuba will be very attractive to American tourists and its impact will be noticeable.

What I find interesting is the interest that Chinese seem to have in the Dominican Republic. Their numbers are not big but there are some old time wealthy Chinese that got their citizenship here years ago and still have a dream of sending people here. One is building a shoe factory and others are trying to get things going. However, its just so darn far away for the Chinese... In any case, the competition for tourists to the Caribbean is likely to get much stronger and everyone could win to some degree but also some countries could lose as well. As with any change, it will be the countries that respond the best to competitive forces and support growth that will win. All these countries have the natural resources such as beautiful beaches and sun...

 

[jkc]

Guys, stop! Even Miami is worrying about Cuba now! Ok

Also, it is educational exchange and everything else. Cuba is a very educated nation!


In Miami, worries about Cuba include grains of sand | Miami Herald

 

[the gorgon]

I guess there are people who think the funding, design and development, and construction of new resorts with infrastructure is something that happens in a year or two. Realistically allow 5 years for the start of new developments opening at best and 10 to 15 for the new resorts to mature into destinations. Funding became a huge issue since 2008 and remains fraught with difficulties. Investors wants security of investment with all the 'i's' dotted and 't's' crossed. Look how long it took DR and Panama to take off and look at all the stalled hospitality projects lying half finished throughout the Caribbean still after 2008 with no buyers.

By then DR has 10 million tourist annually.

you claim that the DR will have 10 million tourists by the time Cuba gets up and running. you claim 10 years. the DR has less than 5 million tourists now. if you believe that they can double that in 10 years , you cannot be sober.

 

[the gorgon]

Cuba's impact on DR tourism? Small on the short to mid term.

By the time Cuba catches onto the DR in hotel rooms alone, the DR would had moved to another stage on the tourism sector.

There's no comparison to be made between the two for now.

The DR is already moving into the high scale tourism sector. That's why investors are now putting their money into high end hotels before prices hit the roof like elsewhere in the sector offered in the Caribbean.

Sadly, Dominicans will be shifted from the Capital's best areas and all around coastal residentials into the interior. It will be done via gentrification.

This can be seen in areas like Punta Cana. Where before 90% of properties were in the hands of Dominicans, now the levels keep dropping fast.

Tourists come and fall in love with the island. They return and invest. Many do.

Cuba will not face this for a loooooooong time.

more spin from PICHARDO. let us get something straight here, P. Cuba is a brand. people want to go to CUBA. people go to Punta Cana. there are numerous gringos in the DR who had never heard of the Dominican Republic 10 years ago. they found out because of travel agents. people who go to Cuba do not want to go to just one more all inclusive hotel. it is like wanting to go to the Wailing Wall, or Jerusalem, not some Hard Rock hotel in the middle of nowehere.

 

[Xavier_Onassis]

Everything you say is true! But it's also true that, along with the very "lacking" infrastructure in Cuba ... Cuba is many times larger than the DR. A trip from Havana to Santiago is "hundreds" of miles. It would take some time to see "most of Cuba" even under the best of circumstances ....

I agree. If Cuba were as cheap and accessible as the DR, I would go there. Cuba has a mystique that the DR never had and will never will have. But right now, the DR is a much better value for what I like best about a Caribbean trip.
Cuba has amazing old architecture, a vastly different culture, and many other attractions. But if you have to spoend a fortune to visit them, or they are inaccessible, then what is the point?

At present, two weeks in Cuba would cost me at least three times as much as the same trip in the DR. And I might not be able to see and do what I want because of transportation problems.

Things will change, but slowly.

I have been going to the DR since 1978, and I still have not seen it all. The only countries where you have a chance of "seeing it all" are micronations, like the Caymans or St Lucia.

 

[the gorgon]

I agree. If Cuba were as cheap and accessible as the DR, I would go there. Cuba has a mystique that the DR never had and will never will have. But right now, the DR is a much better value for what I like best about a Caribbean trip.
Cuba has amazing old architecture, a vastly different culture, and many other attractions. But if you have to spoend a fortune to visit them, or they are inaccessible, then what is the point?

At present, two weeks in Cuba would cost me at least three times as much as the same trip in the DR. And I might not be able to see and do what I want because of transportation problems.

Things will change, but slowly.

I have been going to the DR since 1978, and I still have not seen it all. The only countries where you have a chance of "seeing it all" are micronations, like the Caymans or St Lucia.

the thread is about the effect on US tourists. over 20 million Americans visit Europe every year, and the prices do not deter them, even though travel to Europe is expensive. the guys who go to see the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, and the canals of Venice are not the same guys who want a 599.00 dollar all inclusive vacation eating rubber chicken. there are several tourist subsections, and they go to countries for different reasons. the guy on the Serengetti this year is not likely to be in Punta Cana next year.

 

[Contango]

For the vast majority of American travelers its simply a matter of price, because they just have a couple weeks vacation per year and want to go to a sunny destination where they can lay out, see the ocean and eat well in a nice looking hotel. Americans want air conditioning and a nice room as well. Going to Cuba is nostalgic and if the price is similar for Cuba vs. the DR or Mexico or Jamaica they will likely choose Cuba to tell their neighbors they went there. They will want a short city tour on their one-week stay, but they are unlikely to venture out a whole lot more. Europeans generally can handle a more rougher environment, Canadians are just nice people and tend to roll with most things, but Americans have specific requirements and they ask a lot. I would guess that Cuba will be very attractive to American tourists and its impact will be noticeable.

What I find interesting is the interest that Chinese seem to have in the Dominican Republic. Their numbers are not big but there are some old time wealthy Chinese that got their citizenship here years ago and still have a dream of sending people here. One is building a shoe factory and others are trying to get things going. However, its just so darn far away for the Chinese... In any case, the competition for tourists to the Caribbean is likely to get much stronger and everyone could win to some degree but also some countries could lose as well. As with any change, it will be the countries that respond the best to competitive forces and support growth that will win. All these countries have the natural resources such as beautiful beaches and sun...

DOMS LOVE POLLO CHINO... Ive met many chicas right there, second most popular after the meeting place, "la bomba"..

 

[Contango]

I can say this with unequivocal unrefuted evidence... The DR still has better weather than CUBA.. CUBA weather is similar to MIAMI, you don't know what you are going to get... The DR has a Cuba beat for "consistent" good weather.... my only point..

 

[ju10prd]

you claim that the DR will have 10 million tourists by the time Cuba gets up and running. you claim 10 years. the DR has less than 5 million tourists now. if you believe that they can double that in 10 years , you cannot be sober.

Quite sober.

It has been well publicized by government that the objective of the DR is to have 10 million tourists by the year 2022. My projection was by 2025 allowing some flexibility.

They have four year strategic planning and are ahead of schedule already in the latest plan.

The total numbers of tourist arrivals excluding domestic tourism was 5,141.377 for 2014. Already in the first six moths of 2015 there has been a 7.3% increase. The rate of increase of the past few years is consistent with the planned growth.

There were 4000 new beds under construction at the beginning of the year and since then we have had a raft of new hotels announced so perhaps that number has doubled and more. A further $2.3 billion of hospitality developments are due to break ground very shortly. We are talking at least 15,000 or so new beds in the shorter term.

The airport at Punta Cana is being extended, and there is plenty of spare capacity to expand traffic flow in other airports and further expansions planned.

A new passenger cruise terminal is being prepared at Maimon and the projected inflow of tourist from that in 3 years is a minimum of 600,000 annually.

More than 65% of tourist traffic from overseas arrives in Punta Cana/LR and their is great potential for more tourism growth in that area with all the new roads and empty beaches. There is huge development potential all the way up the east coast to Miches where there are 4 hotels due to be announced later this year.

There are a number of new hotel developments underway and in the pipeline for Santo Domingo which diversifies the tourist base.

A major resort has been announced in to the south west of Bani and this will open this area. Higher end tourism developments in both Samana and Barahona/Pedernales are in the pipeline.

And the US accounts for 40% of arrivals,with steadily increasing inflows from Europe, South America, Canada and Asia too.

And outside all this there are real estate developments and domestic tourism.

Realistic yes.......even with competition form Cuba and the rest of the Caribbean who all can benefit from increased tourism growth following years of recession in many developed countries.

A number of 7m per annum by 2018 is looking very achievable indeed without domestic tourism considered.

The numbers stack up and perhaps only a global shock such as we had a few years back can alter this.

Sadly PoP has become a backwater and clouds ones thinking of the rest of DR especially the East Coast when it comes to tourism.

 

[the gorgon]

Quite sober.

It has been well publicized by government that the objective of the DR is to have 10 million tourists by the year 2022. My projection was by 2025 allowing some flexibility.

They have four year strategic planning and are ahead of schedule already in the latest plan.

The total numbers of tourist arrivals excluding domestic tourism was 5,141.377 for 2014. Already in the first six moths of 2015 there has been a 7.3% increase. The rate of increase of the past few years is consistent with the planned growth.

There were 4000 new beds under construction at the beginning of the year and since then we have had a raft of new hotels announced so perhaps that number has doubled and more. A further $2.3 billion of hospitality developments are due to break ground very shortly. We are talking at least 15,000 or so new beds in the shorter term.

The airport at Punta Cana is being extended, and there is plenty of spare capacity to expand traffic flow in other airports and further expansions planned.

A new passenger cruise terminal is being prepared at Maimon and the projected inflow of tourist from that in 3 years is a minimum of 600,000 annually.

More than 65% of tourist traffic from overseas arrives in Punta Cana/LR and their is great potential for more tourism growth in that area with all the new roads and empty beaches. There is huge development potential all the way up the east coast to Miches where there are 4 hotels due to be announced later this year.

There are a number of new hotel developments underway and in the pipeline for Santo Domingo which diversifies the tourist base.

A major resort has been announced in to the south west of Bani and this will open this area. Higher end tourism developments in both Samana and Barahona/Pedernales are in the pipeline.

And the US accounts for 40% of arrivals,with steadily increasing inflows from Europe, South America, Canada and Asia too.

And outside all this there are real estate developments and domestic tourism.

Realistic yes.......even with competition form Cuba and the rest of the Caribbean who all can benefit from increased tourism growth following years of recession in many developed countries.

A number of 7m per annum by 2018 is looking very achievable indeed without domestic tourism considered.

The numbers stack up and perhaps only a global shock such as we had a few years back can alter this.

Sadly PoP has become a backwater and clouds ones thinking of the rest of DR especially the East Coast when it comes to tourism.

first of all, a cruise ship passenger is not a tourist. he or she is a visitor. anyone who spends less than 24 hours, or more than a year, is not a tourist. secondly, getting from zero to 5 million is not the same as getting from 5 million to ten million. it is like building an engine to put out 100 horsepower, and believing you can make it develop 100 more, because the first 100 was easy. incremental change is very difficult, and the resources to welcome 5 million might be there, but 10 million might not be possible. simply erecting buildings and putting in beds is one thing, but the attendant assets might not be able to handle the stress of the additional 5 million.