The Dominican Republic is looking to attract small, private aircraft to its territory by hosting “Fly-ins” that take tourists to small airfields around the country. Promoters say this could mean a boost in income from high-value tourists, as well as exposure to an elite audience overseas.
With this in mind, the director of the Dominican Airport Authority, Andres Vanderhorst, headed a delegation from the DR that visited Oshkosh, Wisconsin where the one of the world’s biggest fly-ins takes place each summer, the Air Venture 2009. Described as the most important air show in the world, more than 10,000 aircraft take part.
Sub-director of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute Jose Tomas Perez said that the Bahamas receives over 45,000 private flights each year, and the Dominican Republic has yet to receive 2,000 such flights.
As part of the local incentives to bring more flights to Dominican airports, President Fernandez has issued a decree exonerating these aircraft from all airport taxes.
Among the Dominican delegation were Air Force chief of staff Major General Carlos Altuna Tezanos and the directors of El Caribe and Listin Diario newspapers.