Will Cuba opening its doors to USA affect DR tourism ?

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Mm530

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Dec 28, 2014
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I understand most people have had access to Cuba except us " gringos". But with the embargo lifted.... Cuba is on the way to have unprecedented investement and growth.
To many of us its almost like a whole new , formerly forbidden world.

Will this affect tourism in the carribean i.e. DR ??
 

Cdn_Gringo

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Apr 29, 2014
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Sure will, in two ways:

1) Dominicans will need to become better and more proficient at growing mint
2) The Mojitos available here should be better. If not, there is no future for DR tourism.
 

smitty777

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Jul 21, 2013
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In the short term, yes. It virgin territory for a lot and curiosity will bring in a lot of Caribbean tourists. For the sex tourists, they will flock to the "new" destination with cheaper prices.
 

NALs

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Jan 20, 2003
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DR is probably one of the better prepared for the Cuban competition. The DR isn't as dependent on the US market as some nearby islands (Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Jamaica; Cancun -not an island, but a major player in Caribbean tourism-, Aruba, and most of the other islands all depend on American tourists for well over 80% of their visitors, in many cases well over 90%). The has been competing with Cuba for the Canadian/Latin American/European markets and it has done very well.

The influx of American tourists might decrease for the DR (and across the Caribbean) as they head for Cuba instead, but they will displace many Canadian/Latin American/European tourists that vacation in Cuba. This displaced group is used to mainly European AI chains (the European AI chains in Cuba are the same players in the DR), and the DR is the best prepared to accommodate that group. DR has the hotel chains they know and trust, the flights connections to their airports (Punta Cana has the most flights to Europe of any Latin American airport and most major Canadian cities have direct flights too), the trained hotel staff that speaks their languages and/or knows the treatment they are used to, etc.

If we take Puerto Rico as an example. They overwhelmingly depend on American from the eastern seaboard. They hardly have flights to Europe, hotel chains are overwhelmingly American and mostly non-AI. Puerto Rican staff in most of their hotels probably understand English and that's it as far as non-native languages. There is no way PR can get ready in time for the Cuban competition, because once Americans start to head more towards Cuban than PR, they are going to have a hard time attracting the hoards of Europeans/Canadians/Latin Americans displaced from Cuba. Not many Russians, Germans, Italians, French are going to visit PR if there are no or too few direct flights when just across the Mona Passage thousands of Europeans from all over Europe arrive every single day in Punta Cana.

Jamaica faces a similar dilemma as PR, but at least Jamaica has the AI resorts even if only a few of the European chains. But they also face severe restrictions due to sparse flights to Europe/Latin America and their hotel workforce is overwhelmingly trained to cater to American quirks and nonsense which doesn't always rubs well with Europeans. Another negative for Jamaica is that its not a Latin country while DR is probably the closest thing to a Cuba without being in Cuba. While many people don't care where their resort is, a lot of people that travel to Cuba do so also because it is a Latin/Hispanic place with the vibe to go along with that. People that like to listen to Spanish/Latin American music by the pool might not get in their vacation mood listening to reggae or hip hop or whatever is not Latin.

Point is that DR is much better prepared than most of the Caribbean.

Cuba also needs to Americanize its hotel offerings. Americans are very picky and whiny people. Europeans take it as part of the experience when they have to eat in open air restaurants with the breeze soothing their skins, etc. That same scene is a nightmare for Americans, because most will not feel comfortable if there's no A/C, and the they will complain about the odd bug that flies through, get annoyed at the slower pace of things, and a very long whiny and annoying etc.
 
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windeguy

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Jul 10, 2004
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And if there is obvious poverty in Cuba, that will dissuade Americans from visiting just like it dissuades Americans from visiting the DR with the exception of the cruises that go nowhere otherwise known as AIs.

No matter what, the DR should drop its ridiculous airport and air fuel taxes to grab more tourists.
 

the gorgon

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Sep 16, 2010
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DR is probably one of the better prepared for the Cuban competition. The DR isn't as dependent on the US market as some nearby islands (Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Jamaica; Cancun -not an island, but a major player in Caribbean tourism-, Aruba, and most of the other islands all depend on American tourists for well over 80% of their visitors, in many cases well over 90%). The has been competing with Cuba for the Canadian/Latin American/European markets and it has done very well.

The influx of American tourists might decrease for the DR (and across the Caribbean) as they head for Cuba instead, but they will displace many Canadian/Latin American/European tourists that vacation in Cuba. This displaced group is used to mainly European AI chains (the European AI chains in Cuba are the same players in the DR), and the DR is the best prepared to accommodate that group. DR has the hotel chains they know and trust, the flights connections to their airports (Punta Cana has the most flights to Europe of any Latin American airport and most major Canadian cities have direct flights too), the trained hotel staff that speaks their languages and/or knows the treatment they are used to, etc.

If we take Puerto Rico as an example. They overwhelmingly depend on American from the eastern seaboard. They hardly have flights to Europe, hotel chains are overwhelmingly American and mostly non-AI. Puerto Rican staff in most of their hotels probably understand English and that's it as far as non-native languages. There is no way PR can get ready in time for the Cuban competition, because once Americans start to head more towards Cuban than PR, they are going to have a hard time attracting the hoards of Europeans/Canadians/Latin Americans displaced from Cuba. Not many Russians, Germans, Italians, French are going to visit PR if there are no or too few direct flights when just across the Mona Passage thousands of Europeans from all over Europe arrive every single day in Punta Cana.

Jamaica faces a similar dilemma as PR, but at least Jamaica has the AI resorts even if only a few of the European chains. But they also face severe restrictions due to sparse flights to Europe/Latin America and their hotel workforce is overwhelmingly trained to cater to American quirks and nonsense which doesn't always rubs well with Europeans. Another negative for Jamaica is that its not a Latin country while DR is probably the closest thing to a Cuba without being in Cuba. While many people don't care where their resort is, a lot of people that travel to Cuba do so also because it is a Latin/Hispanic place with the vibe to go along with that. People that like to listen to Spanish/Latin American music by the pool might not get in their vacation mood listening to reggae or hip hop or whatever is not Latin.

Point is that DR is much better prepared than most of the Caribbean.

Cuba also needs to Americanize its hotel offerings. Americans are very picky and whiny people. Europeans take it as part of the experience when they have to eat in open air restaurants with the breeze soothing their skins, etc. That same scene is a nightmare for Americans, because most will not feel comfortable if there's no A/C, and the they will complain about the odd bug that flies through, get annoyed at the slower pace of things, and a very long whiny and annoying etc.

NALS, the question is not complicated, and does not need overthought analysis. it asks if the DR will be affected by the US thaw with Cuba. the answer is a simple yes.

the product is different, and new. people like new. people want new. the Dominican Republic, from a tourism standpoint, is Punta Cana. it is an all inclusive vacation plantation model. Cuba is a brand...people are not going to go to Cuba to huddle together in an all inclusive. they want to see the land that time forgot. they want to see Havana. they want to see the Tropicana, and shows like that. they want to see real high quality music concerts. they want to see 55 Chey Belairs driving on cobblestone streets.

they will not be going to Havana to eat till they puke.
 

Amu

Member
Oct 4, 2010
174
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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...
 

bob saunders

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Jan 1, 2002
32,502
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dr1.com
I understand most people have had access to Cuba except us " gringos". But with the embargo lifted.... Cuba is on the way to have unprecedented investement and growth.
To many of us its almost like a whole new , formerly forbidden world.

Will this affect tourism in the carribean i.e. DR ??

The embargo has not yet been lifted, and the Communist party of Cuba is not going to allow free rein to Americans or American companies. Buyer beware are words to remember for anyone or any company investing in Cuba.
 

Julia31

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Jan 4, 2012
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from what I noticed cubas all I do not seem to keep up with the ones in DR esp. when it comes to food so there is probably a lot of work to do..
 

KyleMackey

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Apr 20, 2015
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Can only guess what impact it could have. DR tourism is diverse, from S. N America, Europe, Russia etc.
Lots of resorts already in Cuba.
 

bilko

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Aug 5, 2011
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The embargo has not yet been lifted, and the Communist party of Cuba is not going to allow free rein to Americans or American companies. Buyer beware are words to remember for anyone or any company investing in Cuba.



Many investors and companies have either lost their money or thrown in jail or both.
 

ju10prd

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Nov 19, 2014
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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.
 

barker1964

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Apr 1, 2009
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Curiosity and proximity to the USA will be the initial driving factor. Along with the low prices. The Dominican Peso will fall as a by product. Due to loss of tourism.
 

wrecksum

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Sep 27, 2010
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????

Gringos means any foreigner, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gringo, Americans were the only ones not going there...

Correct.
Other nationalities are not barred and so the only change would be the US influence. There are many offers for Cuba on Euro sites,in fact, the 'opening up' of Cuba to America may actually dissuade some visitors who prefer the unspoilt aspect of Cuba.

Whether regular US tourists will choose Cuba over the DR will remain to be seen.

(Not sure about Canadians.Are they also banned from visiting Cuba?)
 

bob saunders

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Correct.
Other nationalities are not barred and so the only change would be the US influence. There are many offers for Cuba on Euro sites,in fact, the 'opening up' of Cuba to America may actually dissuade some visitors who prefer the unspoilt aspect of Cuba.

Whether regular US tourists will choose Cuba over the DR will remain to be seen.

(Not sure about Canadians.Are they also banned from visiting Cuba?)

Nope Canadians go without problems to Cuba.
 

Dolores1

DR1
May 3, 2000
8,215
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Also remember that the DR is just opening up a Carnival port on the north coast for cruise ships. Stops in Cuba and the Dominican Republic will make this route more attractive.
 

Riva_31

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Apr 1, 2013
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Also remember that the DR is just opening up a Carnival port on the north coast for cruise ships. Stops in Cuba and the Dominican Republic will make this route more attractive.

Cuba is in talk also to receive turist from China and they want multidestination with Dominican Republic, they talked in a report that they want to make an agreement with PAWA to transport the chinees turist that would want to visit Santo Domingo and La Habana.

An yes im sure in the begining turist from USA will drop visiting Dominican Republic but later will go to normal everything, we are already competing with Cuba for the rest of the world potential turist, Russians, Canadians, Spanish, Germans, etc that do not have any problem visiting cuba.
 
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