Edelweis of Switzerland flew in from Zurich, Switzerland to Puerto Plata. The direct flight landed with 127 passengers to Puerto Plata’s Gregorio Luperón Airport (POP).
Edelweis CEO Bernd Bauer stated that he is very pleased with the restart of the operation of the weekly Friday flight. The frequency would be increased depending on demand. Bauer highlighted the Dominican Republic has a great tourist offer for the Swiss.
Swiss ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Urs Schnider was present to receive the passengers on the direct flight from Zurich. “This is a country with many tourist attractions and I have always felt very safe here. I believe that Edelweiss has made the right decision to establish direct flights to Puerto Plata to facilitate that tourists from Europe visit this wonderful corner of the world,” said the Swiss ambassador.
Schnider said that in 2019 before the world was impacted by Covid-19 about 33,000 Swiss had visited the DR. He highlighted Edelweis is the only European airline to fly to two airports – Punta Cana and now Puerto Plata. Schnider highlighted Edelweis had resumed flights from Switzerland to Punta Cana once airports reopened in July 2020.
The Deputy Minister of Service and Quality of the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), Roberto Henríquez highlighted the positive effect of the flight on hotel occupancy and how it contributes to the growth in the arrival of tourists to the Dominican Republic. In June 2021, the DR received around 350,000 visitors.
The Swiss passengers were received at the Puerto Plata airport by merengue music and dances by the folkloric ballet of Mitur. Also present were Patrick Heyman, Commercial Director of Edelweiss; Carlos Rodolí Conde, director of Aerodom north airports; Stephanie Kfouri, director of Mitur in Puerto Plata, among other authorities and entrepreneurs of the sector.
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N Digital
5 July 2021