Paola Dimitri, director of the Santo Domingo Hotel Association told El Caribe
newspaper that Santo Domingo did benefit from the hosting of the Pan Am Games.
She said that for three weeks, hotels enjoyed 87% occupancy. She said this is 17
points more than occupancy for the same period last year. The Association groups
2,300 hotel rooms in the 15 leading hotels, which is 54% of the total rooms in
the city, estimated at slightly more than 4,200 rooms.
Dimitri explained that hotel occupancy in Santo Domingo this year has been down.
She said this reflects the lull in business, many that have been put aside given
the economic instability affecting the country now.
Dimitri said that tourism this year is up 21% for the first seven months of the
year when compared to last year. But that when this is compared to 2000, travel
is up only 5%, which while low still confirms there has been a recovery.