The Listin Diario newspaper features statistics from the National Hotel & Restaurant Association that show a nationwide decline of 3.4% in hotel occupancy and a miniscule .04% drop in tourist arrivals. The decline in travel is primarily due to the decline in European travel and is affecting the entire Caribbean. Asonahores statistics show drops in travel from: Germany 24.97, Italy 9%, Spain 8.9%, Sweden 33.5%, Switzerland 7.5%, Holland 12.5%, Belgium 17.2%, Portugal 26.1%, Austria 41%, Finland 18.5%. French and English tourism were the only two that increased last year. French tourism increased 15.3%. English tourism grew 22%. Arrivals from North America and South America were up 17.5% and 15% respectively. Arrivals from the US grew 14.25%, from Canada 25%, while Mexican travel dropped 3%. From January to June 2001, the DR received 1,305,886 non-resident foreigners by air, while during the same period last year 1,306,492 visitors came, or .04% less. El Caribe reports that North Coast occupancy declined 20%, while the East grew 5.27% in June after posting a 15% increase in the first three months of the year. Hotel occupancy in Samana dropped 20%, Sosua-Cabarete 15%, Playa Grande 13%, Playa Dorada 4.7%. Occupancy in Santo Domingo was up 2%. (23 July 2001)
