In the announcement on Sunday, 17 May 2020, about the sectors that are authorized to resume activities in recovery phase one, President Danilo Medina did not include the tourism sector. Earlier in the week, Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García had said that the local hotel and travel sector is ready to begin receiving visitors in about a month. He said international travel will move to the countries that have best handled the virus. He said that the tourism industry is already incorporating the health protocols to begin receiving visitors.
He said once the Caribbean opens to international travel, the Dominican Republic will be ready to safely host tourists. He said the country is ready regardless whether this happens in a month, two or three months.
García said the Ministry is working closely with the National Association of Hotels & Tourism (Asonahores) to implement the new health guidelines.
According to García, travel agents and local tour operators are preparing for the reopening. He emphasized that the tourist sector is, in reality, intact, and the only difference with the operation now and before the shutdown in March is that a series of health safety protocols are to be implemented.
García said the cruise line representatives say they too are ready to restart with new health protocols.
Garcia noted: “The airlines have it easy. All they have to do is administer a quick blood antibody test for their passengers and in minutes the results are known.” García envisions that since passengers have to get to the airport at least two hours before flight time anyway, there is ample time to carry out these diagnostic tests before the flight.
García made the remarks during a Zoom online conversation with reporters from the Dominican Association of Tourism Journalists. He said the opening could happen within 45 days or in the two months.
Hotels are expected to open first to local travelers. Its large population will work in favor of the Dominican Republic. García is optimistic the local market will fill hotels once the government authorizes the opening. García forecasts that local demand will surpass supply once the resorts are cleared for domestic travel. He said living in confinement has been a stressful situation that will motivate people to book vacations.
Meanwhile, the executive vice president for Asonahores, Andrés Marranzini said that the private tourism sector has worked on safety guidelines using input from member hotel corporations that have reopened their operations in Asia, including Singapore. Marranzini said Asonahores is working on these protocols with the government authorities. He said that DR is “Covid-prepared.” Hotels will be catering first to local travelers. Marranzini forecasts the country will be competing for a reduced market of international travelers.
Marranzini mentioned the spacing of guests on floors that do not require elevator use. Other changes are likely to happen regarding traditional buffets in restaurants, the interaction of staff with guests with the implementation of new technologies. More outdoor activities are being programmed for the safety of the guests to take advantage of the spaciousness at Dominican resorts.
In the interview with El Dia TV show with Javier Cabreja and Amelia Deschamps, Marranzini said that no more than 2,000 hotel rooms of around 90,000 are open at present. He said these are servicing guests that were in the Dominican Republic at the time of the closure of borders. He says these guests chose to stay because the situation in their home countries was worse or they could not secure a flight. He said the rooms are in the capital city and a hotel in Punta Cana. He did not name the hotel.
The Dominican Republic leads the Caribbean in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases. This is attributed to the large population, high population density, large numbers of international travelers and airline connections, and government and population handling of the crisis. The numbers of cases also reflect the number of diagnostic cases performed and the resilience and acquired immunity of each population to the virus.
According to the stats from the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center as of 17 May, the situation in the Caribbean and Central America is:
Dominican Republic: 12,725 cases, 434 deaths.
Puerto Rico: 2,646 cases, 123 deaths
Cuba: 1,881 cases, 79 deaths.
Haiti: 533 cases, 21 deaths
Jamaica: 520 cases, 9 deaths.
Trinidad & Tobago: 116 cases, 8 deaths.
Bermuda: 125 cases, 9 deaths.
Aruba: 101, 3 deaths.
All other Caribbean countries have less than 100 cases and deaths.
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Diario Libre
Andres Marranzini interview El Dia
19 May 2020