2005 Travel News Archive

President Leonel Fernandez issued Decree 634-05 that creates the Sosua Submarine Attractions Theme Park. The decree entrusts a board, presided by the minister of tourism to prepare, coordinate and supervise the park’s construction and development. Other members are the minister of environment, the mayor of Sosua, the president of the Association of Hotels & Restaurants …

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Samana passed its first test as a cruise ship port with the arrival of the 2,200-pax Mediterranean Shipping Company Lirica ship that brought more than 1,300 European and Asian tourists to the northeastern port town. The visit was part of the program Bahia Cruise Services has prepared to bring an estimated 60,000 cruise ship passengers …

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The semifinals of the Dominican Professional Winter League start on 26 December and will break on 30 December. The series of 18 round robin games resumes on 2 January. The games will take place in Santo Domingo, Santiago and La Romana stadiums. A second break will come on Friday, 6 January and the third and …

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The East Coast of the Dominican Republic will kick off the 2005-2006 winter season with the opening of several new luxury hotels. First to open are the Tortuga Bay and Sivory, the first two boutique luxury hotels of the area and the Paradisus Palma Real. Tortuga Bay, part of the Punta Cana Group hotels, was …

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The grand opening of the Ocean World Marina and Casino, which are being built next to Puerto Plata’s Ocean World Water Park is scheduled for August 2006. But due to high demand, Ocean World Marina is already servicing boaters. Given that the marina is still under construction, boaters enjoy price on dockage. Multiple size yachts …

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The brand new Hotel Playa Naco Resort & Spa opened on 1 December, in time for the 2005-2006 winter season. Located in Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata, the resort has 414 rooms right on the beach. Five restaurants and four bars are part of the hotel’s facilities. For more details on this fully renovated hotel, see …

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As of 25 May 2006, leading Venezuelan airline Aeropostal will be flying to Puerto Plata International Airport. Aeropostal offers connections to Caracas, Valencia and Maracaibo in Venezuela; to Bogota and Medellin in Colombia; and to Lima, Peru. Aeropostal president Nelson Ramiz, took part in a meeting held at the Viva Wyndham Playa Dorada. Also present …

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Internet sources reveal that pop singer Britney Spears will be the next superstar to visit the Dominican Republic at the beginning of 2006. During his recent visit to the country to attend the November Puerto Plata film festival, movie director Randal Kleiser said that the so-called princess of pop, now turned proud new mother, would …

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Hang on to that credit card-sized tourist card you receive when you arrive in the country until departure, or pay a US$10 penalty fee. Some immigration officials are stapling it to passports. The Department of Taxes (DGII) recently started issuing the new cards, reportedly in coordination with a private company. While the procedures for the …

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The Dominican Surf Federation has not been able to secure sponsorship for their team to represent the country in the Pan American Surf Games to be held in Peru in January 2006. With the deadline approaching, the surfers who won the right to represent the country in the grueling national competitions held throughout 2005, may …

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