Travel – Page 457

Travel up 7.5% first half year

131,919 more air arrivals traveled to the Dominican Republic during the first half of the year, according to Central Bank statistics. This is 7.5% more than last year. Of the total, 80% are foreign arrivals, evidence of continuing strong demand for Dominican holidays. Non-resident Dominicans traveled to the DR in good numbers, for a 8.3% …

Where tourists are coming from

For the first half of the year, tourists from the United States and Canada continued to dominate. US travelers accounted for 31.9% of the total non-resident foreign arrivals, and Canadians were 20% of the total. Some 482,148 tourists came from the United States, up 8.9% over the previous year. From Canada, some 302,159 visited, up …

Playa Grande sold to Kohler?

The Central Bank is reporting the sale of the Playa Grande touristic complex to Playa Grande Holding for US$43 million. No details were given as to who the principals of Playa Grande Holding are, however. In April of this year, the Central Bank had stated it had sold Playa Grande to the Kohler Co. for …

Cultural landmark for Puerto Plata

The Ministry of Culture is now in charge of La Chocolatera, the early 20th century chocolate factory of Puerto Plata. The large structure of the former factory is slated to become a cultural center for the city. The regional director of the Ministry of Culture in Puerto Plata, Oscar Hungria, said the decision was based …

JetBlue announces reduced fares to DR

JetBlue Airways has just announced a fare sale on tickets to Santo Domingo. The airline is offering Caribbean service from New York starting at just US$69 for a one-way ticket, from JFK to Santiago and Santo Domingo. Fares from the DR start at US$78, with the inclusion of the value-added tax. With all taxes and …

New hotel in Bavaro and the Hotel Hispaniola

Bowing to the pressure being exerted in the Dominican Republic and in Spain by Greenpeace Spain, Spanish businessman Juan Jose Hidalgo announced he would desist from his plan to build a resort on National Park of the East property. Hidalgo had sought to develop his hotel after receiving an authorization to do so by President …

Five Dominicans nominated to Latin Grammy Awards

The 5th Annual Latin Grammy Awards will include nominations for five Dominican artists. The awards recognize the best of those recordings released from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004. Those Dominican artists in the Latin Grammy running are: Johnny Ventura (Best Merengue Album: ?Sin Desperdicio?), Alex Bueno (Best Merengue Album: ?20 Anos Despues?), Frank …

Merengue Festival program

Merengue Festival 2004 is set to begin on 16 July on the main stage of the Pueblito Merengue, Plaza Juan Baron, along Santo Domingo?s Malecon. The activities, as organized by the Ministry of Tourism and assisted by the artistic promotion company of Luis Medrano, call for cultural and folkloric performances to take the stage as …

Jack Nicklaus at Cap Cana

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus was recently in Cap Cana, the US$3-billion, 30,000-square acre resort and residential community on the East Coast, to examine the progress being made on his first Dominican golf course, scheduled to open in April 2005. Properties there are selling from US$480,000 to US$1.2 million, and Nicklaus?s visit coincided with the closing …

Summer Break at Azzurro Clubs in Cabarete

Azzurro Club Cabarete and Azzurro Club Estrella, both in the northern beach town of Cabarete, are hosting an event called Summer Break ?04 to take place this Saturday, 17 July. These hotels, catering to those aged 15 to 35 who seek a fun vacation with time for adventure and water sports, will feature a lively …

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