Travel – Page 445

The Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA), the international association that oversees kiteboarding events worldwide announced a postponing of the Cabarete World Cup tournament. The latter will now be held 15-20 June 2004. This is a week earlier than previously set. For more information, see http://www.pkra.info or contact Xiomara Desimone at 1-809-498-5812 or xconsultora@hotmail.com

In time for Easter, the former Hotel Riviera re-opened in Barahona after closing in 1999. News reports indicate it will now be known as the Costa Larimar and the new owner is Jose Jordan. Reportedly, he invested RD$500,000 to renovate the hotel and paid US$2 million for the purchase of the 108 room city hotel. …

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Dominican air controllers resumed work on Friday, 2 April, 55 hours after going on strike. The air controllers accepted a pledge from Civil Aviation Board director, Carlos Alvarez Guzman that he would study their requests for wage increases and increased benefits. While the impasse was in effect, the government called in military air controllers and …

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In a report last Wednesday, 31 March, the US sports network ESPN focused on the Dominican Republic, calling it the most productive pipeline of of talent. ESPN pointed out that while five years ago there were only 55 ball players on the rosters on opening day of the Major League baseball teams, this year, there …

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Domino is probably the real Dominican national pastime. While simple looking, dominos is not a game of chance, dominos is a game that is won using mathematics and good memory. The Brugal rum company recently sponsored the publication of a book explaining the advanced techniques used to win games. The book by Jacobo Herrera Guerra …

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This year?s Miss Dominican Republic competition will be extra special, with Miss Universe, Amelia Vega, in town to officially crown her successor. The Miss DR contest is scheduled for Saturday 3 April at the Palacio de los Deportes in the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, with capacity for 8,000 spectators. An artistic show will be …

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The recently-held World Kiteboarding Cup held in Cabarete was named the Event of the Year during the Outstanding Puerto Plata People Awards ceremony held on Saturday, 27 March. The 2004 version of the athletic event is scheduled for 22-28 June 2004, again in Cabarete.

The Dominican Republic?s stand, sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, won the Best Exhibitor ITB 2004 award during the ITB fair held in Berlin, Germany. with the participation of 170 countries. Minister of Tourism Miguelina Ortiz said that the Dominican stall was 300 meters square and was honored for its colorfulness, size, and overall ambience. …

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Dominican track and field star Felix Sanchez will be in Santo Domingo for the 1 May International Association of Athletics Federations Grand Prix. Prize money amounting to US$170,000 will be distributed among the competing athletes. Two-time world champion in the 400-meter hurdles, Sanchez will be competing only in the 400-meter run. According to Tony Campbell, …

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JetBlue, the low-fare carrier from New York, announced the start of ticket sales to Santo Domingo and Santiago from JF Kennedy Airport in NYC. The carrier is offering an introductory sale fare on these routes of US$119 each way. The airline will fly to Santiago?s Cibao International Airport starting 10 June and to Las Americas …

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