Hotel occupancy averaged 80.8 percent in January, which is 26.3 percent more than the numbers for January 2002. The National Hotel & Restaurant Association statistics indicate that travel is definitely recovering in the Dominican Republic and forecasts, which do not take into account the possible effects of a war in the Middle East, are predicting a strong summer.
The most resilient touristic area is that of Bavaro-Punta Cana, located in the East, with a 92.8-percent rate of hotel occupancy. Romana-Bayahibe, along the Southeastern Coast, follows with 87.3 percent. Also reporting good occupancies in January were Playa Grande and Samana, with 85.3 percent.
According to the report published in El Caribe, the travel industry has also seen significant increases in Playa Dorada, Sosua-Cabarete and Samana, when compared to December 2002. Samana hotel occupancy increased from 45 to 64 percent, Playa Dorada increased from 51 to 65.1 percent and Sosua-Cabarete shot up to 70 percent after posting a dismal 48 percent in December 2002.
Total tourist arrivals for January numbered 256,738 non-resident foreigners ? 67,8706 more than the arrivals for January 2002.