cuba is no threat to DR tourism

[windeguy]

Meanwhile DR Tourism is up, but is rather low on the north coast:

From Today's DR1 News:


Punta Cana leads in Dominican tourism
Punta Cana International Airport continues to be the main port of entry, with 3,115,468 tourists from January to November 2016, followed by Las Americas-Santo Domingo with 841,659 tourists, Puerto Plata (361,528), Santiago-Cibao (183,657), La Romana 82,542, Samana-Catey (55,325) and La Isabela-Santo Domingo (5,862).
Punta Cana International Airport reported an increase in tourist arrivals of 228,121 from January-November 2016, for a 7.9% increase.

Arrivals were also up at Puerto Plata?s Gregorio Luper?n International Airport (30,065 more), Las Americas International Airport (25,685), and El Catey in Saman? with 5,207 additional travelers.

94% of travelers polled said they came for leisure, and 89.8% reported staying at a hotel. The poll showed that 56% of travelers to the country are between the ages of 21 and 49. 50.2% are women and 49.8% men.

 

[sanpedrogringo]

Weak Demand Prompts Two U.S. Airlines To Cancel Cuba Service:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article138231698.html
"Market conditions have failed to materialize there" -Frontier Airlines
So much for the next big thing.

 

[cavok]

From what I've heard, most hotels there are booked months in advance, so no matter how many Americans may want to go, there just aren't enough hotel rooms to accomodate the demand.

Also, I think a lot of potential US tourists are a lot more leary of using the "people-to-people" visa "scam" now that Trump is President.

The airlines added way too many flights IMO.

 

[USA DOC]

From what I've heard, most hotels there are booked months in advance, so no matter how many Americans may want to go, there just aren't enough hotel rooms to accomodate the demand.

Also, I think a lot of potential US tourists are a lot more leary of using the "people-to-people" visa "scam" now that Trump is President.

The airlines added way too many flights IMO.

......Like I said in the beginning, after my trip last september , cuba is not ready...... I think it will be awhile before they are a threat to DR tourism, maybe a long while for those american tourists.......I think a large amount of usa tourists will be flying into the havana airport, in my thinking the worst airport I have ever used.....anyway I am sure when some of the first american tourists returned home , they talked to their travel agents, ect, and gave the same advise I did.... DONT GO.... and now the word is my Pres. Trump wants to 'look into' the deal Obama make with Raul, remember before the election he said he would unwind that deal if elected......well maybe...........you only have one chance, to make a first impression, those people in the cuban tourism business totally F#!?ed that up, to the advantage of the DR.....Doc......

 

[cobraboy]

Recently, I had three guests who spent 11 days in Cuba last year, traveling around.

At the end of their week in the DER, I asked them to compare/contrast.

"No competition, not even close" were the three answers.

One comment was striking. One of them---and they all agreed---is that in Cuba folks just sorta sat around all day in front of their barrio hovels looking bored, nobody smilkes. In the DR "everybody is working, doing business, going somewhere with chickens or bread or coconuts, talking on their cell phones, smiling."

 

[southern]

The best place for Cuban food and culture is Miami.

 

[AlterEgo]

So much for Cuba threatening DR tourism, another airline is dropping Havana from its routes

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflo...dSICAXSzmaGMg0232c4a3&t=1492196513&j=77939761

 

[USA DOC]

So much for Cuba threatening DR tourism, another airline is dropping Havana from its routes

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflo...dSICAXSzmaGMg0232c4a3&t=1492196513&j=77939761

......AMEN.......

 

[USA DOC]

...Called the internet travel company BOOK -IT last night the get my return ticket to the DR, and a week at a AI. .....Asked the lady, Anita, how was business for sending Americans to cuba?....Ohoo she said we dont sent anyone to cuba anymore... Conditions are not good there....she also said a cruise ship company that was stopping in cuba this winter, has cancelled.The day before I called Travel leaders, one of the biggest travel agents in the upper midwest...talked to a lady named Marissa,she also said all travel leader offices were not sending people to Cuba now or in the future....Sooo I guess put a fork in cuba for now and the near future.. they are done........Doc.........

 

[sanpedrogringo]

And the Cuban people continue to suffer.

 

[cavok]

...Called the internet travel company BOOK -IT last night the get my return ticket to the DR, and a week at a AI. .....Asked the lady, Anita, how was business for sending Americans to cuba?....Ohoo she said we dont sent anyone to cuba anymore... Conditions are not good there....she also said a cruise ship company that was stopping in cuba this winter, has cancelled.The day before I called Travel leaders, one of the biggest travel agents in the upper midwest...talked to a lady named Marissa,she also said all travel leader offices were not sending people to Cuba now or in the future....Sooo I guess put a fork in cuba for now and the near future.. they are done........Doc.........

Any idea exactly what she meant by "conditions are not good there"?

 

[cobraboy]

Any idea exactly what she meant by "conditions are not good there"?

Probably feedback from disappointed customers.

The guys who rode with us said not only would they never consider returning, they will pass the word around for others to make alternate plans.

The whole "Cuba is now open" thing has been greatly oversold.

 

[jd426]

Communism,
doing what it does best ...
Destroy every good thing that could HELP its People.. and future Generations .

Something I am kind of familiar with ..
In the Eastern block Euro Countries it was the abundant Agricultural products allowed to just ROT in the fields ..because there was no efficient system of transporting it to market, the rest stolen, and people were starving.
IN Cuba, its the Golden Opportunity of TOURISM and all that $$ which would come with it,
just Evaporating before their Eyes , and they are all sitting around scratching their heads , not knowing WHY its not happening for them... Who do they think is going to come and " build it ", the Tourism Fairy ?

It took well over a DECADE after Communism to be able to fix the Euro Countries to the point where Tourists WANTED to Travel there , they had no modern conveniences , and even furniture was a problem .It was a total mess.

It will probably take 20 years to fix Cuba , AFTER Communism completely falls .
The Mindset is just too ingrained in these people , a whole new generation has to be born and Grow up .

 

[USA DOC]

Any idea exactly what she meant by "conditions are not good there"?

...the hotels, are very rundown, dirty.....the havana airport is in need of replacement.....the worst of all the treatment of tourists by most cubans......The one thing that cuba has more of than the DR, is chicas...but they cant travel, even if they had the money to.....no threat there either........Doc.....

 

[the gorgon]

when i see this, i realize how much some peoples lives have been impoverished, by not having been exposed to stuff like this. there are some of us who are hardcore, and dig up this stuff, but everybody should have heard this wonderful gift to humanity, and others like it.. it brings me closer to God. your mileage may vary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvyTWRB4l4w

 

[jstarebel]

Nice video G. Kinda puts a different perspective on things doesn't it.. I was.reading an article last week regarding how Venezuela's issues were effecting Cuba and could possibly disrupt the boom that they are experiencing from tourism at present. The article went on about how US airlines have been adding flights regularly to Cuba from several hubs within the US. I hope their tourism growth continues.

 

[Derfish]

Nice video G. Kinda puts a different perspective on things doesn't it.. I was.reading an article last week regarding how Venezuela's issues were effecting Cuba and could possibly disrupt the boom that they are experiencing from tourism at present. The article went on about how US airlines have been adding flights regularly to Cuba from several hubs within the US. I hope their tourism growth continues.

Spirit Airlines just announced they are dropping Cuba in the near future. They had fares from FLL of $86.00 last time i searched back in January, and now dropping it. But Jetblue allows up to 5 checked bags of up to 100 lbs each where as to Colombia and other destinations one checked bag and one carry on is the normal.
Der Fish

 

[the gorgon]

Nice video G. Kinda puts a different perspective on things doesn't it.. I was.reading an article last week regarding how Venezuela's issues were effecting Cuba and could possibly disrupt the boom that they are experiencing from tourism at present. The article went on about how US airlines have been adding flights regularly to Cuba from several hubs within the US. I hope their tourism growth continues.

that is a beautiful place, if you are a spiritual soul. i watch that video, and i feel closer to God. if you are worried about your Angus Steak at just the right temperature, it might not be for you.

 

[jstarebel]

Spirit Airlines just announced they are dropping Cuba in the near future. They had fares from FLL of $86.00 last time i searched back in January, and now dropping it. But Jetblue allows up to 5 checked bags of up to 100 lbs each where as to Colombia and other destinations one checked bag and one carry on is the normal.
Der Fish

Spirit dropping Cuba doesn't surprise me at all considering the competition it has with that destination. Take that Spirit fee, and add the baggage fees, seat fees, and crappy service, and it gives a new meaning to the term "Discount Airline". Plus, have a look at their percent on time factor.

 

[jstarebel]

that is a beautiful place, if you are a spiritual soul. i watch that video, and i feel closer to God. if you are worried about your Angus Steak at just the right temperature, it might not be for you.

It Sure is. All one has to do is partake in one Carnival Santiago de Cuba the end of July to see what a special place this is. I haven't been there since the US ban was reversed, but we use to fly there regularly to get off island when on Providentiales. Change your dollars for euros, and we we're good to go. Gaby didn't need a visa with her DR passport either. One thing I found funny was that Gaby would always pay a visit to the Santera there to insure our continued prosperity in her eyes of course. It was pretty cool to watch the rituals though.