Tourism Minister Rafael Suberv? says he expects Puerto Rican travel to the Dominican Republic this year to exceed 500,000 visitors. As reported by journalist John Collins, Suberv? was in San Juan, Puerto Rico last week to meet with tour operators who are selling Dominican vacations this summer. These are focused on the forthcoming Merengue Festival (17 July to 3 August) and the August Pan American Games (1-17 August).
Suberv? said that in May nationwide hotel occupancy reached 63%, compared to the normal 35% for the low season month. Tourists are probably taking advantage of the greater buying power of their US dollars versus the depreciating peso.
Suberv? also pointed to ?a 22% increase in arrivals during the first five months of 2003?, when interviewed by the Puerto Rican press. Subervi said ?that jump represents 290,000 more visitors that the previous year.
Journalist Collins explains that last year American Eagle carried 1.9 million passengers of which the five airports in the DR accounted for more than 25% of the total, with around 50 flights a day.
Suberv? is betting on Samana as the next popular destination for the Puerto Rican market. He said the larger airport there that is nearing completion will make a big difference.
Subervi said he is opposed to the proposed doubling in the nation?s departure tax ($10) to $20 starting in November. He said it is one of the recommendations of the Monetary Board to increase revenues to cope with the current financial crisis. ?If we have to adopt it then so be it,? said Subervi. ?There are plenty of destinations in the Caribbean that have departure taxes that are higher and he pointed to Aruba, St. Kitts and St. Maarten, among others, as examples. Besides, they have higher rates in their hotels than we have as well.