Travel to the DR increased 8.3% in the first quarter of the year, propelled primarily by local and international currency fluctuations, according to a release from the Central Bank tourism statistics division. Foreign arrivals from January to March represented 851,337 travelers, hitting a new record for the Dominican Republic and bettering arrivals for the same time last year, which stood at 786,164. DR travel benefitted by the depreciation of the peso at a time when the European and Canadian currencies appreciated. <\/p>\n
Punta Cana on the East Cost continues to lead the way in tourist arrivals, with 46.8% of total air arrivals. Puerto Plata was next with 25.2%, followed by Las Americas (Santo Domingo), which held a 16.8% market share. La Romana received 9.2% of total tourist arrivals. <\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the Central Bank says that the most vigorous recovery was that of Puerto Plata, where traffic was up from 170,101 travelers in 2003 to 214,053 in 2004 ? a 25.8% increase. Punta Cana?s traffic was up 7.1%, from 372,283 foreign arrivals in the first quarter of 2003 to 398,747 arrivals in 2004.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Travel to the DR increased 8.3% in the first quarter of the year, propelled primarily by local and international currency fluctuations, according to a release from the Central Bank tourism statistics division. Foreign arrivals from January to March represented 851,337 travelers, hitting a new record for the Dominican Republic and bettering arrivals for the same … <\/p>\n