POP airport and the conspiracy

[playacaribe2]

Yes Rob... for sure they on it....big stuff going on on the No Coast... big investment = private
Costing RD $0 and they gain a ton.... taxes, employment ups.... mucho

And all that may be true.

But, as a tourist destination, the NC started the dying process at least as far back as 2004, which historically coincides with the ascendancy of Punta Cana.

Will the NC remain a retirement haven for expats. Probably, as expats tend to cluster together.

But as a major tourist destination, it likely has seen its day.....even with the new port and new construction.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[william webster]

That new port is aimed directly at the Tourist group... and more ships seem to be coming ---
don't ask me why !!

Tourism and ex-pat communities aren't mutually exclusive....
whatever shoe fits

Although - Lifestyles seems to think differently than you/I do
big $$$ there

 

[wrecksum]

Tour operators decide where people will go.It's based on the profit margin.

The big all-inclusives pay the best percentage on package deals.Not seats.
.
Charter airlines have to fly to where there is the most demand.
Hence Punta Cana.

 

[Riva_31]

Tour operators decide where people will go.It's based on the profit margin.

The big all-inclusives pay the best percentage on package deals.Not seats.
.
Charter airlines have to fly to where there is the most demand.
Hence Punta Cana.

So true, untill Puerto Plata do not find the way to grow atracting more turist showing something diferent than Punta Cana, every body will keep going to Punta Cana, si the most known place and a lot people talk about the best beaches here are there so every body wants to land there.

Santo Domingo used to have a direct flight from Lima Perú but time after they moved to fly to Punta Cana because most of the people landing in Santo Domingo went to Punta Cana and by that time the roads wasnt as good as now so they moved to flight to Punta Cana and till now not direct flights to Lima from Santo Domingo, but maybe soon they will have to add that flight againg because now Dominicans can go without visa to Perú and after Colombia they are becoming the second most visited destination for Dominicans travel agencies said.

Thats the way works as wrecksum said.

 

[TropicalPaul]

I think the Ministry of Tourism is far more focused on developing Santo Domingo as a destination than on the North Coast. There are some very very powerful people promoting the development of the Colonial Zone and they have just been awarded a further US$ 100M to spend on doing it up. The idea is to create a twin-center experience similar to Havana and Varadero in Cuba. This will add value to Punta Cana as a destination and differentiate it from places like Cancun. The main issue with the north coast is that it takes so long to get there from Punta Cana where most of the tourists are staying.

 

[Riva_31]

I think the Ministry of Tourism is far more focused on developing Santo Domingo as a destination than on the North Coast. There are some very very powerful people promoting the development of the Colonial Zone and they have just been awarded a further US$ 100M to spend on doing it up. The idea is to create a twin-center experience similar to Havana and Varadero in Cuba. This will add value to Punta Cana as a destination and differentiate it from places like Cancun. The main issue with the north coast is that it takes so long to get there from Punta Cana where most of the tourists are staying.

Yes, that is already happening, I think the same, this winter Blue Panorama opened winter flights from Milan to Santo Domingo, they was also promoting that flight to connect to Santo Domingo from Swissland and today I was checking the website and the flight has open reservation year round, before you could book only till first week of May.

 

[william webster]

Riva just posted a Milan to SDQ flight

Supporting your comment

 

[Riva_31]

Riva just posted a Milan to SDQ flight

Supporting your comment

I remember goverment said will start to support POP with more promotion, but not sure if is working good. Its been on news paper the problem with the garbage deposit in POP, local goverment in POP seams like they dont care about it, because last year was same problem.

 

[aviastar]

The garbage problem not is the issue only in Pp, it is a national disaster. When you drive the road it seems that there is a snow on the edge, country is covered by plastic everywhere.

 

[texan]

I think the Ministry of Tourism is far more focused on developing Santo Domingo as a destination than on the North Coast. There are some very very powerful people promoting the development of the Colonial Zone and they have just been awarded a further US$ 100M to spend on doing it up. The idea is to create a twin-center experience similar to Havana and Varadero in Cuba. This will add value to Punta Cana as a destination and differentiate it from places like Cancun. The main issue with the north coast is that it takes so long to get there from Punta Cana where most of the tourists are staying.

That would be nice to see more to do in Santo Domingo. I enjoyed spending some nights there on my last trip.

 

[singletravel]

Just bought some tickets. I've decided to move from Calif to Florida (no more red-eyes, yes) and my return to pop will be April 21 from LAX. I take possession May 8 of new apt in Miami, so will return then to Florida

1.) lax to pop, business was 656.00 (great price). Lot of competition on this route
2.) pop to mia (economy) may 8, 491.00 (really). Did not buy. AA owns this route
3.) stil to mia (economy) 161.00 (did buy) lots of competition for AA

My conclusion is it not POP airport but the airline. Where there is no competition they can charge what ever they want and do.

Here is a trick to mia, look at POP to NY on American (lots of competition) is under 200.00. Its the same plane that costs you 491.00 if you book to mia. Called "hidden city fares". I've done that once, but the airline can delete (I'm told) your FF account if caught.

Again, I see it as the airline determining the price not the airport. If we could get a Spirit flight from Florida to pop prices would really change.

 

[Taylor]

That's pretty much hitting the nail on the head.

 

[Golfer]

Isn't the elephant in the room that the weather is so much better in PC than on the North Coast? Sunnier and warmer with better beaches. What family with a week to escape the northern winters wants a cloudy, rainy and windy north coast? How much do you hear about flooding, landslides, and washed out roads in PC. No question that the NC has more beauty and variety than PC but that doesn't factor into a family sunning and swimming at an AI. Not to mention the explosion of great golf courses in PC versus one dilapidated Playa Dorado course. For the growing number tourists wanting to include golf as part of their vacation it's no contest.

 

[CristoRey]

Isn't the elephant in the room that the weather is so much better in PC than on the North Coast? Sunnier and warmer with better beaches. What family with a week to escape the northern winters wants a cloudy, rainy and windy north coast? How much do you hear about flooding, landslides, and washed out roads in PC. No question that the NC has more beauty and variety than PC but that doesn't factor into a family sunning and swimming at an AI. Not to mention the explosion of great golf courses in PC versus one dilapidated Playa Dorado course. For the growing number tourists wanting to include golf as part of their vacation it's no contest.

Had breakfast in Sosua yesterday. Plenty of sunshine but would have to agree,
the north coast is missing a few things.

 

[william webster]

golfer...
The algae problem on the east coast is worse.....

I doubt the normal traveler knows the subtle differences between north & east coast

What they do know is the barrage of advertising for the PC area.....
vs ZERO for the north coast

 

[Riva_31]

Condor confimed will have winter flights to POP 2019-2020 and probably will extend the service.

 

[cruzan1]

Seaborne just started flying into Santiago a few weeks ago from Puerto Rico. They have three flights per week and are competing with Jetblue. I asked a friend of mine who works for them why they were not flying into Puerto Plata. He answered that everything from landing fees to fuel charges are higher at POP then any other airport in the country.

I fly in/out twice per month and trying to get into Puerto Plata from anywhere besides JFK or Boston is ridiculously expensive. Any family of four trying to plan a trip here will be immediately lured to Punta Cana due to the fight savings alone. You cannot grow a tourist market without providing an economical way for them to get here.

It's incredibly sad to see all of those empty gates when all of the other airports in the country are thriving.

 

[Riva_31]

Seaborne just started flying into Santiago a few weeks ago from Puerto Rico. They have three flights per week and are competing with Jetblue.

No, Jetblue cancelled their flights to SJU-STI since arround Oct 2018 more or less. Air Century will have also flights STI-SJU soon.

 

[singletravel]

Not to change the subject (well a little), I just read where the 737max now only flies domestically but I just saw this??? I've flown this flight before with the max and not a real improvement, small toilets, less cushion seats, less pitch and leg room and no barrier between economy and business (people who pay more expect a little privacy). In fact I now look for the Airbus 321 when I fly on AA. Great plane.

So is this still flying today?? or can the DR request (demand) as other countries not allowed to enter.

Departing flightThu, Mar 14
American
Change flight
3:03 PM
Puerto Plata International Airport POP
Travel time: 2h 29m
5:32 PM
Miami International Airport MIA
American
Economy
Boeing 737MAX 8 Passenger
AA 935

Average legroom (30 in)
Wi-Fi
In-seat power & USB outlets
Stream media to your device

 

[Riva_31]

Not to change the subject (well a little), I just read where the 737max now only flies domestically but I just saw this??? I've flown this flight before with the max and not a real improvement, small toilets, less cushion seats, less pitch and leg room and no barrier between economy and business (people who pay more expect a little privacy). In fact I now look for the Airbus 321 when I fly on AA. Great plane.

So is this still flying today?? or can the DR request (demand) as other countries not allowed to enter.

Departing flightThu, Mar 14
American
Change flight
3:03 PM
Puerto Plata International Airport POP
Travel time: 2h 29m
5:32 PM
Miami International Airport MIA
American
Economy
Boeing 737MAX 8 Passenger
AA 935

Average legroom (30 in)
Wi-Fi
In-seat power & USB outlets
Stream media to your device

AA is using the 737-800 MAX 8 for all the flights MIA-SDQ, and here are waitting what FAA will says, they should band it to come, only USA let them to fly, rest of real countries grounded