Central Bank statistics indicate that non-resident foreign air arrivals to the Dominican Republic have increased 8.2% from January to May 2004. This is 111,088 more travelers than last year for the same period. The Central Bank attributes the good year to the improvements in the US economy, and to the increased buying power of hard currency to the Dominican peso. Hotel occupancy is up 3.6 percent points to 80.2% during the same period. La Romana/Bayahibe posted hotel occupancies of 88.7%, Punta Cana/Bavaro showed 88.1%, and the Puerto Plata/Sosua/Cabarete improved posting 80.3% occupancy. Puerto Plata had posted a 66.5% occupancy for the same period in 2003. Most tourists came by way of Punta Cana (47.3%), followed by Puerto Plata International (23.7%), Las Americas (17.8%). The Central Bank points out that the eastern part of the country, with its Punta Cana/Bavaro and La Romana/Bayahibe destinations received together 56.3% of all tourists arriving by air to the Dominican Republic.