Johnny Bernal, president of the National Hotel & Restaurant Association, protested the government decision to double the departure tax. Effective yesterday, all those leaving the Dominican Republic must surrender a fee of US$20. Bernal, as reported in Hoy newspaper, does not believe there is any other destination charging such a high departure tax and said that tourism furthermore being marked by the new 2% surcharge on imports levied yesterday by the government.
Recently, Tourism Minister Rafael Suberv? said he opposed doubling the nation?s departure tax from US$10 to US$20, although in an interview with John Collins of Caribbean Business, he said: ?If we have to adopt it, then so be it.?
Other Caribbean islands that charge US$20 or more as departure fees are Bonaire, Jamaica, Aruba and St. Maarten.