2003 Travel News Archive – Page 10

President Hipolito Mejia went East last Friday for the formal symbolic opening of the Punta Cana shopping center area ? with a bowling alley, shops and restaurants. During the ceremony, Frank Rainieri, president of the Punta Cana Group announced the start of the expansion works at the Punta Cana International Airport. The Punta Cana airport …

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Aerodomca is offering daily flights from Santo Domingo to Samana on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic. Thus, tourists arriving to the Las Americas International Airport can take the 4:45 pm flight to Portillo, Samana. Those already in Santo Domingo can take the same flight from Herrera airport in Santo Domingo at 4 pm. …

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According to the Central Bank, 19% of the tourists from North America polled at the airport prior to their departure in 2002 were on a repeat visit to the country. The same exit opinion poll showed that the main reason for their choosing a visit to the Dominican Republic was the climate (26%), followed by …

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The Dominican Republic?s biggest challenge is not to win medals during the Pan Am Games. It is to properly maintain and book its new world class sports facilities after the Games. To book major sports events the country needs to exercise its marketing muscle. The good word of mouth sports officers from visiting countries will …

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Wyndham International announced that an agreement with Viva Resorts has been reached to rename seven properties in Mexico and the Caribbean. These properties will now bear the name of Viva Wyndham Resorts as of 1 December. Financial terms of the 10-year agreement were not disclosed. Based in Santo Domingo, Viva Resorts also owns and operates …

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The Hotel Plaza in the Naco commercial and residential neighborhood of Santo Domingo will now be known as the Clarion Hotel Santo Domingo. Clarion Hotels market themselves as ?Upscale hotels at affordable rates.? Johnny Bernal, president of Hotelera Naco, S.A., made the announcement. Bernal is also the president of the National Hotel & Restaurant Association. …

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Casa de Campo is promoting its weekend for charity with stellar designer Angel S?nchez’ Four Seasons collection, including his latest bridal ensembles, brought to La Romana by Saks Fifth Avenue, Dadeland. Named Designer of the Year in 1999, S?nchez is considered the most promising Latin American contribution to the international fashion season. The benefit event …

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Foreign tourists traveling to the Dominican Republic during the first half of this year increased 20.3%, compared to the same period last year, according to Central Bank statistics. This means that 237,296 foreign travelers arrived at Dominican airports. For January – June 2002, some 1,167,430 foreign arrivals were tabulated, compared to 1,404,726 this year. The …

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According to Central Bank statistics for the first half of the year, the United States (31.6%) and Canada (20.2%) are the leading source countries for tourists to the Dominican Republic. European tourists accounted for 41.4% of the total flow. This is a turn-around from earlier trends. In the past, the majority of tourists came from …

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Punta Cana is by far the most popular tourist destination in the Dominican Republic, with 47% of all arrivals to the Dominican Republic choosing the East Coast hotels. This compares to the 19% who chose Puerto Plata on the North Coast and 10% who opted for the La Romana/Bayahibe airports en route to the La …

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