Leisure travel of Dominicans abroad has declined by as much as 50%. The steep decline is earning concern in the industry, as Dominican travel for years now has filled many seats on outgoing flights, contributing to spur interest of airlines in adding new flights to the DR. Dominicans are traveling less abroad now that the peso has declined to more than RD$50 to US$1. The 150 agencies belonging to IATA reported that sales fell by nearly RD$68 million from October to December of 2003. Ticket prices have nearly doubled over the same time period. Last November, a trip to New York City from the DR cost approximately RD$10,000. Today, however, the same trip would cost upwards of RD$22,000 and airfare to Europe would go for RD$50,000 or more. Travel agencies are still shaking from the new payment demands being required by the airlines. Payment is now to be made weekly, rather than bi-weekly, as was the custom. According to the report by Diana de Miguel in Diario Libre, 25% of all travel agencies are on the brink of ruin, and El Caribe reported on Saturday that 250 agencies have closed their doors.