Lol. 37 years ago most of my music was on 8-track tapes.........and I don't think that format is going to return either. (;-)
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A lot of businesses closed in Sosua
Lol. 37 years ago most of my music was on 8-track tapes.........and I don't think that format is going to return either. (;-)
Probably not true, spoke with Bobby (the owner) over the weekend, he hasn't changed his plan to re-open as a restaurant, at least not as of Sunday night.
The sidewalks between downtown and Cheramicos along the main road were started in about July 2014 and have yet to be completed and are an ugly eyesore. The downtown sidewalks have not been completed and is basically a pile of rubble in front of the old Rumba and D'latins. The government can destroy and kill Sosua but it has no real plans and money to even finish the small projects it has started. The town's infrastructure is terrible. There are old falling apart and ugly buildings everywhere... Do you really think families will want to walk around a dilapidated city like Sosua and feel safe? Its not cute, its not family visitor friendly...with or without some hookers walking around at night... Nothing is happening other than Esplanade and they will have to be bused around to different locations from there I would guess... Sosua isn't going anywhere at the present time...a few remaining tourists are clustered in the remaining businesses downtown so it looks like there is something going on...but its minimal. Bars closing at midnight during the week is not tourist friendly. Police in full gear driving around in pickup trucks and blue vans is not tourist friendly. Stinky water in the gutters of the streets is not tourist friendly. unfinished sidewalks in downtown is not tourist friendly. Guys in loud motos driving fast the wrong way down streets is not tourist friendly. Broken sidewalks all over is not tourist friendly. No street lights is not tourist friendly. Guys and kids hustling you at night for parking downtown is not tourist friendly. No signs pointing to the beaches and public trash bins are not tourist friendly. Tourism is up around the North Coast, but not in Sosua. This winter season I expect Cabarete to do well. There is a lot of new development in Cabarete happening now that will open in early 2017. its the place to be to go out dancing and enjoying life. Thank you tourism director, your restaurant and investments in cabarete will be just fine...
As a resident, sometimes one just doesn't see the town with the same eyes as tourists do.
I agree that there are many, many things that residents (Dominicans and ex-pats) sort of just sigh and put up with and give a shoulder shrug, and say, "That's Sosua."
The previous posts delineating all the things that make Sosua not tourist-friendly are a wake-up call, of sorts.
The only thing with which I disagree is the increased police presence. That I don't mind.
I agree that there are many, many things that residents (Dominicans and ex-pats) sort of just sigh and put up with and give a shoulder shrug, and say, "That's Sosua."
The previous posts delineating all the things that make Sosua not tourist-friendly are a wake-up call, of sorts.
The only thing with which I disagree is the increased police presence. That I don't mind.
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I think this is one of the main obstacles - the local and central governments have absolutely no "skin in the game". They are doing nothing to make Sosua more attractive to both tourists and developers alike. They think all they have to do is get rid of the whores and everyone will be flocking to Sosua in no time. That's not going to cut it IMO. They have no real plan that I see(?).
You have a very short memory. The government (with private investment partners) is the only body that can address the situation.
DR1 News a week ago.....
President Medina visits Puerto Plata
President Danilo Medina was in the north coast province of Puerto Plata on Sunday, 11 September 2016, visiting the towns of Cabarete and Sosua to mingle with the people. In Cabarete, community representatives asked the President to help speed up the construction of the public school and a water treatment plant. They also asked for street lighting and paving, the town bypass, a cemetery, the small Catalina Bridge, and a clinic, as reported on the Presidency web page.
In Sosua, President Medina listened to community representatives expressing a series of needs, including improvements to the hospital, the potable water supply, and street paving.
Medina was accompanied by Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ramon Peralta and Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo.
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias/...-y-sosua-video
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Does anyone know what the Mayor means by “Family Tourism”?
Is it a Family with kids?
Has any one heard of any kid-friendly developments completed recently in Sosua?
From what I have read, it always sounds like a toothless (money less) dream of Family Tourism, followed by “That wasn't me who did that. It was Puerto Plata or Santa Domingo doing it”
I am looking for examples of positive plans, like we are actually building something or truly listening to suggestions. Not a negative plans like we closed this or we restricted that.
Can someone direct me to a clear (with money to back it up) plan for Sosua issued by the Mayor's Office?
What I have seen lately, being praised as proof of “Family Tourism” looks like it is marketed at couples with money, not families with kids.
Is it a Family with kids?
Has any one heard of any kid-friendly developments completed recently in Sosua?
From what I have read, it always sounds like a toothless (money less) dream of Family Tourism, followed by “That wasn't me who did that. It was Puerto Plata or Santa Domingo doing it”
I am looking for examples of positive plans, like we are actually building something or truly listening to suggestions. Not a negative plans like we closed this or we restricted that.
Can someone direct me to a clear (with money to back it up) plan for Sosua issued by the Mayor's Office?
What I have seen lately, being praised as proof of “Family Tourism” looks like it is marketed at couples with money, not families with kids.
Not at all. In Sosua, President Medina listened to community representatives expressing a series of needs, including improvements to the hospital, the potable water supply, and street paving. Doesn't sound like much of a plan to me. And when would any of this even start? Maybe after they finish the highway from the cruise ship port that was promised a year or two ago?
Same as a lot of other towns and cities across this country. Sosua is no exception.
i really think that danilo's surprise visits have most to do with getting in touch with votes. i mean, people, yes.
he listens to the issues, makes some promises, carries out some much needed works...
he is mainly looking at improving the lives of regular dominicans within the budget means for that particular area.
in case of sosua it's not much of the benefit of tourism, really. paving barrios, providing infrastructure to the poor, building public school or public hospital, none of this directly translates into something that would propel tourism.
Not trying to go off topic here but
I still say the little daylight video/ photo shoot was
the straw that broke the camel?s back.
Today Rick from Rumbas was bringing in cases of beer into Rumba. So who knows. Things change daily over here.
To a tourist, the level of police presence is shocking. I have had first time visitors ask me if the place is so dangerous that that type of police presence is needed.
The Tipping Point
Certainly not off topic and I agree 100%. Although only a few months old, this is a huge thread in both number of posts and number of views. Remember, the operating hours for businesses serving alcohol weren't even changed when this thread started.
That little "scene" in front of the old La Roca restaurant took place just before SANTO DOMINGO closed four bars, ordered the enforcement of the legal operating hours and closed down Pedro Clisante at night to vehicular traffic on July 7, 2015. And those three subjects have been the topic of hundreds of posts in this thread.
In my post #187 on July 5, 2016, I mentioned that exact incident as being the tipping point for things to come, specifically including: closing the streets, changing the operating hours for businesses serving alcohol, and business designations as "bar" "disco" or "restaurant". Also specifying WHO would be ordering the "changes". I was even criticized for posting "vague and meaningless information". THREE DAYS LATER government officials arrived on Pedro Clisante closing down four "bars", ordering the street closed at night, and changing the operating hours.
And although the street is no longer closed at night the change in operating hours is still enforced, and "bars" are now reopening as "restaurants". Just look at Chez Monreal, Rumba and D'Latin Drink. Chez Monreal just completed a significant renovation to conform more to a "restaurant" standard. Rumba bar is currently in the process of renovating and re-opening as a restaurant. And just TODAY Willy started the renovation of his "D'Latin Drink" bar to also re-open as a restaurant, his workers were there all day starting the reconstruction.
This thread is quite large and has been running for several months. To save time searching thourgh the entire thread, although rereading the posts from several months ago is interesting, here is what I posted three days before the changes that are now being blamed for some of Sos?a's current woes, and my specific mention about the filming incident.
Certainly not off topic and I agree 100%. Although only a few months old, this is a huge thread in both number of posts and number of views. Remember, the operating hours for businesses serving alcohol weren't even changed when this thread started.
That little "scene" in front of the old La Roca restaurant took place just before SANTO DOMINGO closed four bars, ordered the enforcement of the legal operating hours and closed down Pedro Clisante at night to vehicular traffic on July 7, 2015. And those three subjects have been the topic of hundreds of posts in this thread.
In my post #187 on July 5, 2016, I mentioned that exact incident as being the tipping point for things to come, specifically including: closing the streets, changing the operating hours for businesses serving alcohol, and business designations as "bar" "disco" or "restaurant". Also specifying WHO would be ordering the "changes". I was even criticized for posting "vague and meaningless information". THREE DAYS LATER government officials arrived on Pedro Clisante closing down four "bars", ordering the street closed at night, and changing the operating hours.
And although the street is no longer closed at night the change in operating hours is still enforced, and "bars" are now reopening as "restaurants". Just look at Chez Monreal, Rumba and D'Latin Drink. Chez Monreal just completed a significant renovation to conform more to a "restaurant" standard. Rumba bar is currently in the process of renovating and re-opening as a restaurant. And just TODAY Willy started the renovation of his "D'Latin Drink" bar to also re-open as a restaurant, his workers were there all day starting the reconstruction.
This thread is quite large and has been running for several months. To save time searching thourgh the entire thread, although rereading the posts from several months ago is interesting, here is what I posted three days before the changes that are now being blamed for some of Sos?a's current woes, and my specific mention about the filming incident.
The government's only plan is to get rid of the working girls and magically big investors will come. They have done nothing else
The infrastructure and physical clean up of the town is the key.
There is a very good chance that 5 years from now, things will be much the same in Sosua.
The infrastructure and physical clean up of the town is the key.
There is a very good chance that 5 years from now, things will be much the same in Sosua.