One hundred and forty French and Swiss tourists were left in the lurch in Puerto
Plata when the tour operator that had brought them to the North Shore closed up
shop. The Swiss company, Avione Travel, did not pay the hotel where the tourists
were staying and apparently ceased operations while the tourists were
vacationing in Cabarete. The French Press Agency (AFP) carried the story.
According to spokespeople from the French Embassy in Santo Domingo, the Swiss
company was negotiating with French diplomats and the local agency that
represents the foreign travel broker. Employees of the Hotel Camino del Sol
reported that conversations were still ongoing as late as 10:30pm yesterday. The
Dominican company Go Dominicana Travel confirmed that diplomats and
representatives of Avione Travel were working on a solution. At present time,
there is a marked increase in French tourists in the Puerto Plata?Cabarete area,
and other companies such as Nouvelle Frontier have a long history of satisfied
clients.