You might be right about the increase in NC tourism, but I haven't seen it so far.
One can only really believe what one sees and in the few years that I've been in the DR, this year has been the thinnest.
Together with the harassment from the authorities and insistence on um-meetable goals, coupled with the closure of several attractions and the illogical and totally cretinous and illogical closure of the bar fronts of Sosua,together with the totally illegal closure of the nightclubs, this does not auger well for the future.
Far too much unjustified value is being put on the cruise ports for the future that present day needs are disregarded.
I have lost a lot of money, and also, more valuable, a loss of faith in the ruling parties, to try to predict what the future holds.
For sure, my investments here are on hold whilst I lick my wounds....
as Judge Judy says, "if it does not seem to be true, then it is not true." this increase in tourist numbers in POP does not seem to be true, because the only people who detect it are the people who claim that it is so. i went to Playa Dorada last week, and i saw a grand total of 8 foreigners in my 15 minute stay. this is the heart of high season. i remember what it looked like 5 years ago, and there is no sign of an uptick.