The long weekend that ends the Easter vacation week in the Dominican Republic is the peak time for domestic tourism, as most schools take their spring break. Hotels are often booked even a year in advance. The executive vice president of the National Hotel & Restaurant Association (Asonahores), Arturo Villanueva says that occupancy is high at hotels nationwide for this Easter. Villanueva said that this was also the case at small hotels catering for independent travelers. He added that rental property is also in great demand this year and that the extra 15% that domestic tourism contributes to the around 65,000 hotel rooms nationwide means that full occupancy can be expected around the country. What is different during Easter is that music will be louder and food will be more “Dominican” with plenty of stewed and fried dishes on the menu.