Starting at the end of September, all tourists visiting the Dominican Republic will be covered with a temporary comprehensive health and travel insurance plan. The medical and trip protection insurance plan for visitors will cover hospitalization for coronavirus in the tourism destinations in the country, extended hotel stays and airline ticket changes.
Only random testing will be carried out at airports. Visitors will not be required to bring test results to travel here. The random rapid breathalyzer testing is set to start at the end of September. Once this measure is in place, the current requirement that travelers come with a negative PCR Covid-19 test or be subject to random antibody blood test at the airports will be eliminated.
During the presentation of the Responsible Tourism Recovery Plan to Covid-19 at the Presidential Palace on 25 August 2020, President Luis Abinader gave highlights of the measures being taken by the new government in the wake of the current pandemic and to ensure that the country is a safe travel destination and moves towards the new normalcy.
“Our goal is to minimize the effects of the pandemic and promote a responsible recovery that prioritizes health, maximizes the potential for job creation and economic growth, and promotes the continued sustainable development of the sector,” said the President.
Abinader said that several resorts have prepared in-house medical care facilities for first care to guests. Tourists would be given preferential treatment for timely testing in nearby labs. Embassies will receive timely information on any citizen that falls ill.
Mask wearing and keeping physical distance are mandatory during each visitor’s stay.
Abinader stressed the strategic importance of tourism as for the country. Tourism attracts foreign investments, creates jobs, and is a vital source of hard currency. He said for every job that has been lost in a hotel, five others have been lost.
The Abinader administration has put together a package estimated to cost US$28 million for the travel insurance and financial support to airlines so these maintain their frequencies to the country. Abinader said the funds were included in the complementary budget sent to Congress to cover government spending through the end of the year. The tourism plan is part of the overall government effort for better governance, management of the virus, communication and economic support.
Tourism Minister David Collado said that the actions have been harmonized with representatives of the private sector through the National Hotel & Tourism Association (Asonahores) or in-person meetings with key international hotel executives. Collado spoke of his recent meetings with top officials of AmResorts in the USA and Melia, Iberostar and Grupo Piñero in Spain.
The new efforts fall under the Tourism Cabinet led by the President of the Republic himself. The Minister of Tourism is the executive director of the Tourism Cabinet, responsible for the recovery of tourism. A new national inter-institutional initiative includes representatives of the health, labor, public works and tourism ministries, and the tax agency, working with the National Hotel & Tourism Association (Asonahores) representing the private sector. The Tourism Cabinet will continuously monitor the impact and effectiveness of each action implemented, adjusting as necessary.
The tourism recovery plan includes:
Temporary travel assistance plan that will include emergency coverage, telemedicine services, lodging for prolonged stays and flight change costs in the event of a Covid-19 infection. This insurance will be provided at no cost to the visitor until December 2020, covered 100% by the Dominican government. It will go into effect by the end of September.
New internationally certified health protocols that will cover the entire industry, including restaurants and bars. The protocols are in the process of certification by both Safe Travels of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and Bureau Veritas, both world leaders in industry certification.
Continuing support of efforts to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
Hotels commit to constant testing of their employees and providers.
The Ministry of Labor is working on changes to the Labor Code to offer flexible working conditions to reduce the impact of the health crisis on jobs. Labor regulations are in the process of being adapted to minimize and mitigate risks for employees.
The Ministry of Public Health will soon be publishing differentiated Covid-19 virus statistics for the tourism destinations. This will enable the authorities to better monitor the destinations and the results of the initiatives.
The government will be offering flexible tax payment conditions to hotels and tourism businesses. A 35% reduction in the Anticipated Price Agreement (APA) with the DGII and hotels is authorized. Hotels will be exempt from presenting anticipated tax payments (anticipo). The 1% property tax is eliminated through June 2021. Hotels under the Confotur tax incentive plans are getting a two-year extension.
President Abinader explained that the government was taking on loans to pay for the relief programs. He said that a large part of the funding was coming from savings for better governance, less wasteful spending in government, and less corruption.
Speaking at the event, Tourism Minister David Collado estimated the country stands to lose US$2.5 billion in tourism revenues this year. In July, the first month after airports reopened on 1 July, foreign travel reached 54,000. This compares to 488,000 in February 2020. He said hotel occupancy is at 5%. Collado is optimistic. He said the goal is to restore tourism to 400,000 travelers a month by December.
In his words at the presentation, Collado stressed the country’s commitment to take all measures for the Dominican Republic to continue to be the leader of tourism in the Caribbean and Central America.
“We are focused on driving the continued growth of tourism, as well as our country image, convinced that together we will be able to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and ensure that the Dominican Republic continues to be the first place in the region as a preferred destination for our foreign visitors, whether for vacation, business, investment or as a second home,” Tourism Minister David Collado said in the written Ministry of Tourism statement.
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26 August 2020