20012001 Travel News ArchiveNewsTravel

Luggage porters besiege Puerto Plata International again

El Siglo newspaper columnist Orlando Gil says today that the luggage porters are back at the Gregorio Luperon Puerto Plata International Airport. He says that government and Aerodom management efforts had reduced their numbers, but they are now back, apparently for political reasons. He says he is told that back with the luggage porters is the disorder and plundering of tourists at the terminal. He says provincial and municipal authorities needed to create the jobs to please their constituents. But he commented that the Puerto Plata travel businessmen think there is more to it. They comment there is a trickle of the "tips" to benefit several tiers. Like in the past, each luggage porter must pay a daily or weekly toll to keep the post. This passes on to different hands. This results in overly aggressive porters, that have been known to molest travelers. Gil says that 150 luggage porters were given the jobs, regressing to a negative situation that had been resolved at the airport. Gil also criticizes the permissiveness of the authorities with the vendors that are found to be bothersome in hotel areas or that are taking over beach areas. He said that the Minister of Tourism, being from Puerto Plata does not dare to contradict his fellow party members, even when he is aware that the situation hurts the tourism industry. President Mejia is due in Puerto Plata for a government council on Sunday, 18 March. (16 March 2001)