A report by The Times’ reporter Jim Hartley, sent to the Dominican Republic to investigate allegations that the United Kingdom visitors stand to suffer from health problems, cleared the country. Jim Hartley’s story concluded that the Dominican Republic had been an undeserving victim of bad press. The journalist traveled to the DR on a Thomson package, stayed at the Puerto Plata Village in Playa Dorada, but traveled extensively through the country taking many excursions. Hartley said he had plans to drink only bottled water, eat only cooked foods. He said that by the second day he started eating fruit when he observed they were prepared right in front of him by a women using disposable gloves. He said he interviewed other guests and none had fallen ill. He inspected the kitchen, no one stopped him, and observed a kitchen with pots and pans that sparkled. He later visited the Riu Merengue, also in Puerto Plata, and the reviews of the guests were also very favorable. Those he interviewed said they "definitely would return." He said he visited only two resorts of the nearly 400 hotels in the Dominican Republic but wasn’t able confirm stories of dirty kitchens. He said the food was much better than he expected. That the beer and cocktails were excellent. His only criticism was the lack of dinner wine in the package. But then he asks, "What can you expect for less than 1,000 British pounds for two weeks? He said that outside of the complex he met very friendly people, not the aggressive beach vendors or the violent taxi drivers so common in many Caribbean islands. He said he visited the mountains, bathed in a cascade, saw the whales, visited a cigar factory and was impressed by the elegant restaurants and the colonial architecture of the capital city, Santo Domingo. He ends his report saying that while he waited to take back the plane to return home, he felt sorry for all those who had seen their dream vacations ruined by illness. But he also felt sorry for the Dominican Republic, a beautiful country that had taken a beating by being undeservedly labeled as cheap and dirty.
