Travel to the Dominican Republic was up during the first five months of the year, according to Central Bank statistics. Foreign air travel increased 21%, and there were 207,329 more travelers than during the same period last year. The Central Bank highlights that the depreciation of the peso is having a positive effect on travel to the DR. Average occupancy is said to have been 76.6% for the period, up from 65.9% last year. Punta Cana/Bavaro posted the highest occupancy rates with 86.9%.
Punta Cana arrivals represent 47.2% of the total, with Las Americas (Santo Domingo) and Puerto Plata following with 19.8% each. La Romana has 10.5% of all foreign air arrivals, and Santiago received 2.3%. With the exception of Las Americas and the smaller inter-city Herrera airport in Santo Domingo, all other airports showed increases in traffic. Punta Cana posted a 37.3% increase, La Romana a 31.9% increase.
Punta Cana is staking its claim as the main airport of entry for foreign tourists. Last year some 409,548 tourists used that airport, compared to runner-up Las Americas with its 246,348 foreign arrivals. Punta Cana received the most charter flights in 2002, and a similar trend continues in 2003. Charter flights for the first five months of 2002 numbered 2,340 through the East Coast airport, jumping to 3,796 for the same period this year.
Las Americas International continues to lead as the country?s main terminal for regular flights, but showed a decrease in its scheduled flights. Central Bank statistics show that AILA received 5,103 regular flights in the first five months of 2002, but only 4,565 for the first five months of 2003.
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