Hans Dannenberg, director of the Puerto Plata Hotels Association, says that the
occupancy in the North Coast hotels is up this year. Tourism in the North Coast
is returning to levels prior to the 9/11 phenomenon that caused a pronounced
drop in
travel to the Caribbean over the 2001-2002 winter season. Dannenberg says this
year travel is up 30% so far. He attributed the increase to promotional efforts
and the new attractions in the north coast destinations. He mentioned the
opening of the new Ocean World Park in Cofres? where tourists can interact with
sea fauna. Dannenberg mentioned that Puerto Plata is being rediscovered by
British tourists.