El Caribe newspaper points out that an estimated extra RD$4 billion will be in circulation this month due to the 13th wage paid to public and private employees on occasion of the Christmas bonus (“regalia”). This amounts to an estimated payout of RD$2 billion for the government payroll and approximately RD$2 billion for private businesses. The government has indicated it would pay its bonus as of 10 December. Government paydays are the 15th and 25th of the month. National Treasurer Pastora Mendez says that the Christmas wage money is guaranteed, as the money is deposited in a savings certificate in the Banco de Reservas, the state commercial bank. The Central Bank reports that much more revenue will be circulating also as the hotels fill up for the holidays. The Central Bank estimates that by year-end 3.3 million foreign non-resident visitors will have entered the country, generating some US$3.1 billion – a record for Dominican tourism. The previous record was 2.8 million visitors in 2001, generating US$2.8 billion. In December alone, 517,973 arrivals are expected, generating US$200 million. This number does not include the thousands of expatriate Dominicans who return for the holidays with gifts and cash to spend.