The president of the Hotel & Restaurant Association Ramon Prieto confirmed that in the weeks following the 11 September terrorist attack, 80% of hotel reservations were cancelled. He said nationwide, hotel occupancy dropped below 50%. He said hotels have laid off about 20% of their personnel.
But Prieto trusts the situation will return to normal in time for the start of the winter season in November. He said September is usually a low occupancy month. He added that the effects of the attack on travel in the DR were mostly felt on the East Coast, where hotels focus more on US travellers.
He said Puerto Plata, on the North Coast, has benefited because some European charter companies have sent charters there that were destined for Asia.
Alberto Del Pino, tourism advisor to President Mejia, recently forecast that the DR would benefit from tourists being rerouted from destinations in Turkey and northern Africa. Nevertheless, Prieto said unfortunately a lot of Puerto Plata’s traffic is the result of rates that were lowered after the 11 September attack.
For instance, Sun Holidays of Canada is offering a last minute booking deal, from 30 September until 6 October at Playa Naco Resort, all inclusive for $437 per person. See http://www.sunholidays.ca
Ambassador Bruno Picard of Canada said he maintains his forecast that this will be an excellent year for the DR in terms of numbers of Canadian tourists. He said that 390,000 airline seats are available for the winter season on charter flights. Picard forecasts that 290,000 Canadians will visit the DR in 2001, up 45,000 over last year’s total.
“I tell Canadians that regardless of how terrible the attacks on the US were, our winter is going to continue to be cold and very long, and thus we have the same reasons for coming to the DR,” said Picard.
British ambassador David Ward said that British charters to the DR have not been suspended and that operators maintain their forecast for a 20% increase in British travellers to the DR this year. He said last year 115,000 tourists visited, and the forecast is still for 135,000 to visit this year. He said November, December and January will be crucial months for the travel industry. (28 September 2001)
