February was a month of record hotel occupancy in the Dominican Republic. Occupancy averaged 90.8%, according to the National Hotel & Restaurant Association (Asonahores). February is a peak month for sun-seeking tourism. This year occupancy increased 4.8 percentage points over that of February 2003. Asonahores says it was an excellent year for all beach destinations, not so for capital city occupancy that depends primarily on business travel and not leisure travel. Santo Domingo hotel occupancy was 59.7%, down from 68.6% in February 2003. Santo Domingo was the only region to report a decline when occupancy was compared to February last year.
Beach destination February occupancies in 2004 compared to 2003 were as follows:
Boca Chica and Juan Dolio was 88.2%, up from 80.1% in 2003.
Romana-Bayahibe was 94.9%, up from 91.2% in 2003.
Bavaro-Punta Cana was 94.8%, same in 2003.
Puerto Plata was 93.1%, up from 75.2% in 2003.
Sosua-Cabarete was 92.3%, up from 80.5% in 2003.
Samana was 76.5%, up from 75.1% in 2003.