Years of visits by hundreds of thousands of German tourists are bearing fruit. German Ambassador Eva Alexandra Countess Kendeffy says in Listin Diario newspaper that German cooperation, investment and travel continue to be at high levels in the DR. The German ambassador, who has been in the DR for two years now, says investments of US$3 billion are on the drawing boards of several German companies. German cooperation agencies are investing US$120 million in environmental and community development programs. The Ambassador explained that while tourism is slightly down given the weakening German mark, it continues to be around half a million tourists annually. She pointed out that in reality a German tourist is worth more to the DR than a US or Canadian tourist as most of the Europeans will come for two-week stays versus the one-week stays of the North Americans. Another consequence of German tourism is the increase in Germans living permanently in the DR. She says there are about 25,000 Germans living here now as a result of the investments made by Germans and many marriages with Dominicans. Regarding investment projects, she spoke of an investment of US$3 billion in years to come. Projects include one by Cimex to install gas turbines to produce energy in San Pedro de Macoris, another power plant being installed in Puerto Plata in the north, and another one for the north that would use alternative energy sources. She said that German companies are planning to build five-star hotels on the north coast. She also mentioned a maternity hospital that is going up in Santiago, and the construction of prefab houses in the north using German technology.
