Central Bank travel statistics to show US and Canadian travel to the DR is on the rise. Ramon Prieto, president of Asonahores, says the slowdown of the US economy makes the short haul destination of the DR attractive to US and Canadian travelers. “Just three hours flight time from New York, and two from Miami, we are an interesting new destination and an alternative to the saturation of Cancun, Mexico,” he explained to El Caribe. Central Bank statistics show that North America accounts for 45.73% of all travel to the DR, Europe is responsible for 45.24%, 7.38% comes from South America and 1.39% from Central America and the Caribbean. The breakdown per country for the first six months of 2001 is as follows: United States 381,725 (up 14% from 2000) Canada 209,044 (up 25% from 2000) Germany 177,588 (down 25% from 2000) France 117,011 (up 15% from 2000) Italy 67,622 (down 9% from 2000) England 63,540 (up 18% from 2000) Spain 60,951 (down 8% from 2000) Argentina 41,851 (up 11% from 2000) Sweden 17,822 (down 34% from 2000) Venezuela 19,251 (up 24% from 2000) (27 July 2001)
