Santiago as Tourism Destination? Any Thoughts?

the gorgon

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Newly formed committee aims to boost Santiago as a tourism destination



By Jose Perez Maldonado.

Santiago.- Ten private and State institutions represented by Ramon Paulino, Branda S?nchez, Gilberto Serulle, Rafaela Joaquin, Manuel Cep?n, Maria Viera, Arqu?medes G?mez, Anthony Marte, Luciano Aybar and Manuel Altagracia Joaquin de Jesus formed the Management Committee of the project "Santiago tourist destination 2015" to achieve a better tourism development of the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, located in the center of the Dominican Republic.

In the first phase a municipal board of Santiago will be formed for the tourist destination, where are all the representatives of the government sector, entrepreneurs and the sectors linked in a way or another to national and international tourism.

Mayor Gilberto Serulle stated that to solidify the project, 2014 will be the year of the beautification of Santiago, in harmony with the projects for tourism development which will be implemented by the Committee and the city; In addition, Serulle promised to include an allotment of the municipal budget of 2014 for the activities of the project, and also announced that national and international funding will be sought to support the work carried out in the municipality.

He expressed his conviction that together, the Mayor's Office, the Central Government and dignified representatives of the private sector, the project will make the city of Santiago a real and true tourist destination for visitors and thus be part of the economic growth of the country.
 
May 12, 2005
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Certainly there are things worth seeing in Santiago as a tourist, Monumento, Centro Leon. Perhaps as part of a tour but as a stand alone destination, no.
 

Criss Colon

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yahoomail.com
You forgot, "Hillbilly",chip,and a visit to "Tamboril" to a "cigar factory", and a drive to "Camp David" for dinner.
"Camp David", that's a laugh,even Trujillo was a USA "Wannabee"!
I really like Santiago,only thing missing is "The Ocean"!!!
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santiagodude

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Nov 25, 2012
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Problem is there's just not enough to do in Santiago to keep a typical tourist busy. You can see everything worth seeing in a day or so. Jarabacoa is another story and is well suited to attract tourists.
 

dv8

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i like santiago but it is not a tourist destination. one day trip is good but it will not keep the attention of a tourist for more than that. great place to live full time, thou.
 

Hillbilly

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I second most of these opinions.
A tour could be made up of, mmmmm, let's see:
1) Centro Leon
2) Centro Ciudad (center city--the old part of town) but there is nothing to really see since the most interesting places are private and not open to the public--However, if the town could make the effort the Cabral House on Sol could become a beautiful example of fine 19th early 20 Century living. But it needs to be made into a museum.
3) Centro Espa?ol or the Gurabito Country Club...fine dining for special guests with perhaps a little show.
4) Nightlife--casinos and bars galore, and of course the tipicos are there for merengue and bachata..

Second day, a trip to cigar factories or Jarabacoa with lots of beer and rum

And so long. More than two days here? No, I don't think so.



HB
 

the gorgon

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I second most of these opinions.
A tour could be made up of, mmmmm, let's see:
1) Centro Leon
2) Centro Ciudad (center city--the old part of town) but there is nothing to really see since the most interesting places are private and not open to the public--However, if the town could make the effort the Cabral House on Sol could become a beautiful example of fine 19th early 20 Century living. But it needs to be made into a museum.
3) Centro Espa?ol or the Gurabito Country Club...fine dining for special guests with perhaps a little show.
4) Nightlife--casinos and bars galore, and of course the tipicos are there for merengue and bachata..

Second day, a trip to cigar factories or Jarabacoa with lots of beer and rum

And so long. More than two days here? No, I don't think so.



HB


maybe some interesting sights for visitors if the heat does not kill them first.
 

sirlurksalot

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Apr 2, 2002
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Tourist Safety Note

i like santiago but it is not a tourist destination. one day trip is good but it will not keep the attention of a tourist for more than that. great place to live full time, thou.

One thing the mayor might want to do is replace the ripped off manhole covers so no tourists are lost while walking around looking at all the attractions.
 

Gurabo444

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I think you guys are concentrating too much on just the urban Santiago, outside the city there's also many things worth seeing, Santiago province is probably one of the most diverse and beautiful provinces in the whole country.

Check out this vid, the sierra region (Janico, Sajoma, etc) can rival Jarabacoa and Constaza.
[video=youtube;Z1BAYqUUDaM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1BAYqUUDaM[/video]

Some of these small towns are extremely beautiful and clean, they're also perfect examples of authentic Cibaeno culture. I think a combination of Santiago city, plus the nature in the mountains and small towns could be interesting enough to keep someone in the province for a few days. Anyways, I doubt Santiago or any interior town will develop any sort of tourism in the near future, DR has made it clear that it's only interested in promoting their sand and beach tourism.

I've met many foreigners who've fallen in love with Santiago, as they put it "there's just something especial, perhaps magical about Santiago that makes you want to stay" I 100% agree with that, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world. Maybe that's one of the reasons why so many people decide to live in this land lock place in the middle of an island, maybe that's the reason why there's no other land lock city in the Caribbean islands that even comes close to the size of Santiago.
 

the gorgon

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Sep 16, 2010
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I think you guys are concentrating too much on just the urban Santiago, outside the city there's also many things worth seeing, Santiago province is probably one of the most diverse and beautiful provinces in the whole country.

Check out this vid, the sierra region (Janico, Sajoma, etc) can rival Jarabacoa and Constaza.
[video=youtube;Z1BAYqUUDaM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1BAYqUUDaM[/video]

Some of these small towns are extremely beautiful and clean, they're also perfect examples of authentic Cibaeno culture. I think a combination of Santiago city, plus the nature in the mountains and small towns could be interesting enough to keep someone in the province for a few days. Anyways, I doubt Santiago or any interior town will develop any sort of tourism in the near future, DR has made it clear that it's only interested in promoting their sand and beach tourism.

I've met many foreigners who've fallen in love with Santiago, as they put it "there's just something especial, perhaps magical about Santiago that makes you want to stay" I 100% agree with that, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world. Maybe that's one of the reasons why so many people decide to live in this land lock place in the middle of an island, maybe that's the reason why there's no other land lock city in the Caribbean islands that even comes close to the size of Santiago.

Gurabo, i am a guy who loves the Cibao region of the DR. however, someone is not going to travel thousands of miles to see it. people in the USA, for example, would rather go see the leaves changing in quaint little burgs in Rhode Island.
 

Gurabo444

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I totally understand what you're saying the gordon, and you're right. I guess it just amazes me how the whole region is underrated.
 

the gorgon

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I totally understand what you're saying the gordon, and you're right. I guess it just amazes me how the whole region is underrated.

it is not underrated by me, i assure you. i come alive inside when i drive through a place like San Juan de las Matas
 

amstellite

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what are the rents like in Santiago? I m hoping to make a life there some time in the near future. Where are the fairly decent areas? not too far from the center... renting like a two bedroom apartment...
 

kampinge

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I doubt. Last time I have friends from Sweden and Germany here they said: how can you live here, and went back to Sosua
 

kampinge

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what are the rents like in Santiago? I m hoping to make a life there some time in the near future. Where are the fairly decent areas? not too far from the center... renting like a two bedroom apartment...
Between 8000 to 12000 peso depending how close to the center
 

Hillbilly

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That should be San Jos? de las Matas.
What Gurabo444 is saying is true. There are some beautiful places in the province BUT they are totally unprepared for tourism and have little to offer besides some beautiful vistas...But places like La Cumbre are nearly inaccessable with the road like it is, and Janico, SaJoMa, El Rubio and other areas like Pedro Garc?a just have nothing to offer......

It is a shame, since there are some interesting sites, such as the fort built by some of the very earliest explorers of the island--well before 1500--but you need a bloodhound to find it.

HB
 

the gorgon

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Sep 16, 2010
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That should be San Jos? de las Matas.
What Gurabo444 is saying is true. There are some beautiful places in the province BUT they are totally unprepared for tourism and have little to offer besides some beautiful vistas...But places like La Cumbre are nearly inaccessable with the road like it is, and Janico, SaJoMa, El Rubio and other areas like Pedro Garc?a just have nothing to offer......

It is a shame, since there are some interesting sites, such as the fort built by some of the very earliest explorers of the island--well before 1500--but you need a bloodhound to find it.

HB

thanks, Hillbilly. i stand corrected.
 

Gurabo444

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Between 8000 to 12000 peso depending how close to the center
I know a friend who's paying 5500 pesos for a two bedroom apartment in la Zurza one of the most solid middle class and centrally located sectors of the city. If you take your time to look up homes and apartments youc an probably get a very good deal, I think generally rent is very cheap in Santiago.
That should be San Jos? de las Matas.
What Gurabo444 is saying is true. There are some beautiful places in the province BUT they are totally unprepared for tourism and have little to offer besides some beautiful vistas...But places like La Cumbre are nearly inaccessable with the road like it is, and Janico, SaJoMa, El Rubio and other areas like Pedro Garc?a just have nothing to offer......

It is a shame, since there are some interesting sites, such as the fort built by some of the very earliest explorers of the island--well before 1500--but you need a bloodhound to find it.

HB

That's right hillbilly, though sometimes I think that tourism might ruin these places. In some of those towns and campos there's still this sort of innocence, and kindness in the people and the general feel of the places, which are pretty much extinct in the rest of the island. Also, imagine all the horny tourist the would flood that place, god the difference in beauty between the girls from la sierra and the average cueros in Sosua is huge.
 
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