SANTO DOMINGO.- Tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia yesterday said investors are interested in promoting tourism projects in several South region localities such as San Cristóbal and Pedernales, including Bahia de las Aguilas, and some investments could be announced in the next few days.

He said he spoke about tourism projects in Bahia de las Aguilas with Environment minister Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal, who told he agrees with any economic development in harmony with nature.

Garcia said the time has come to launch the South region’s tourism development and affirmed that investments in the millions will be announced in the coming days for that area, beginning with the municipality Palenque, in San Cristóbal province.

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http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2008/11/10/30015/Investors-covet-the-Dominican-South-Tourism-Minister-says

Tourism grows by 2.2%

According to data from the Central Bank, more than 3.1 million tourists visited the Dominican Republic between January and September this year. Over half (52.1%) of the tourists came from North America, and 37.5% came from Europe. These two markets have become the traditional suppliers of the Dominican tourism industry.

According to El Nuevo Diario, the Central Bank emphasized the "significant" increase in tourists coming from countries like Russia, France, Belgium, Scotland and Switzerland. At the same time, the bank highlighted the fact that this increase in tourist activity was taking place in the middle of the current world economic crisis.

Tourism is the main source of hard currency for the Dominican Republic, followed by remittances and the industrial free zones.

Center for Export and Investment (CEI-RD) director Eddy Martinez says that according to business experts from New York University and The Economist magazine, the DR's economy is not at risk from the international financial crisis. In fact, according to Martinez, the experts claim the Dominican economy will continue to grow. During the closed-door seminar, "Global Business Today; Different Perspectives For The Dominican Republic", President Leonel Fernandez said the Dominican economy would grow 3% in 2009. Fernandez said that the DR has been able to maintain its stability despite the current turbulence in the global financial market. "Our country continues to enjoy the highest levels of growth in Latin America: with a 5.4% growth rate projection for 2008 it will among the four with most growth in the region." Fernandez says that foreign direct investment has increased due to confidence in the country and added that the DR has a potential 40 investment opportunities worth upwards of US$8 billion. These investments included renovating the Duarte Highway, building the train from Haina to Santiago and the second line of the Santo Domingo Metro.

Economy, Planning and Development Minister Temistocles Montas and Central Bank Governor Hector Albizu Valdez were present at the event. Dean Anthony Davidson from New York University, Anna Szterenfeld from the Economist, Larry Marciano from Financial Markets, Marjorie Kalter from Global Marketing, Denis Garritan from Global Business Strategies and Bruce Baulch from Global Operations also attended the event, which was sponsored by CEI-RD and the Foundation for Global Democracy and Development (FUNGLODE).

Sol Meliá Vacation Club (SMVC) is opening a new project, The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic late this year that will feature 190 one and two-bedroom lock-off units with modern upscale design, exotic Balinese beds, private hot tubs and direct access from the lower level patio units into a spectacular lazy river swimming pool. Presidential Club Suites will feature two, three and four bedrooms, with the four bedroom suites accommodating up to 10 people, sold as a multi-week product.

"The growth of this new project with its exciting lazy river concept and the larger, high-end accommodations continues to put SMVC as the forerunner in this exciting destination," states Denis Ebrill, Sol Meliá Vacation Club's new Executive Vice President. "Our members enjoy the best of both worlds with the blending of amenities, services and home-away-from-home accommodations," Ebrill concluded.

Paradisus Palma Real's five-star amenities and services include: first-class spa treatments, a custom fitness program, championship golf course, a large, gorgeous white-sandy beach and crystal clear water, variety of gourmet restaurants, specialty bars, a casino and nightly entertainment, supervised children's programs, daily adult activities, concierge service and 24-hour room service.

Including The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real , Sol Meliá Vacation Club has three member resorts in Punta Cana. "In my short time with SMVC at this point, I have found that it is a strong and popular destination," continued Ebrill. "The varied and unique product offering in Punta Cana continues to address the increased demand for aluxury lifestyle product in the area."

Orlando-based Sol Meliá Vacation Club, part of Spain-based Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, is an internationally-branded membership club that focuses on providing leisure lifestyle experiences that include exotic destinations, designer-appointed luxury accommodations, exclusive services and unforgettable amenities. The lifestyle concept is designed to provide members with an entire lifetime of leisure experiences to meet their ever changing needs. All members have access through SMVC to stay at any of the Sol Meliá hotels and resorts worldwide, including those in destinations such as Paris, London, Madrid, Rome and more.

Sol Meliá Hotels & Resortsis a 50-year-old international hospitality company with 350 hotels in 30 countries on five continents. Sol Meliá Vacation Club members enjoy the best of both worlds: all the conveniences and amenities of aworld-class resort, plus the value, flexibility and choice that vacation membership offers. Members have more vacation lifestyle options through global luxury accommodations in a variety of unique resort and urban destinations around the world, as well as the flexibility to choose the length of stay, season and size of unit. In addition, Members can save their vacation time from one year to the next if needed, borrow from future vacation years to create a special experience that could include airfare or a spectacular cruise, divide their vacation time into shorter getaway or nightly stays, or stay at any Sol Meliá hotel or affiliated resort worldwide.

ForSol Meliá Vacation Clubdetails, call (407) 370-3671

Business Wire, October 15, 2008 Wednesday 8:15 PM GMT

DR is sophisticated luxury, exciting venues, 60,000+ hotel rooms, golf courses and top beaches.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dominican Republic (DR) Ministry of Tourism introduced their beautiful Caribbean nation as a premier affordable and luxurious meetings destination to U.S. meeting planners at the Incentive Travel Meeting Professionals (ITME) 2008 Motivation Show Sept. 23-24 in Chicago, with the premier of their first U.S. Meeting Planner guide for 2009.

A reception to celebrate the DR as a meetings destination was held at the Hyatt McCormick Place, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24 directly after the Show. Montserrat Despradel, Director of Conventions and Incentives for the DR Ministry of Tourism, said, "Today we celebrate the DR as a premier meetings paradise and present our 2009 Meeting Planner guide with information on designer resorts and hotels, championship golf courses, casinos and luxury marinas, as well as fascinating history, culture and lush tropical scenery. The DR offers sophisticated venues and value not found elsewhere."

The DR Meeting Planner guide features major meetings venues, convention centers, resorts and hotels and provides information on traveling to the DR, including a list of eight international airports, seaports and convention centers. Visit: http://Worth.texterity.com/custom/dominican2009 to view the colorful guide online.

Sponsors of the DR meeting planner reception include AM Resorts, Casa de Campo, Connect Travel, El Embajador Hotel, The Hotel Association of Santo Domingo, Private Jet Services, Sanctuary Cap Cana, Sol Melia and the Westin Roco Ki. The comprehensive 2009 Meeting Planner guide was developed by the DR Ministry of Tourism, Worth International and bvk, a marketing communications agency.

Rich in history, the Dominican Republic's first tourist was Christopher Columbus in 1492. Since then, it has developed into a diverse and luxurious destination offering both Dominican and European flavors to more than one million U.S. visitors each year. At 10,000 feet, the Dominican Republic is home to the highest point in the Caribbean. It also features some of the best golf courses and beaches in the world, the largest marina in the Caribbean and is a chosen escape for celebrities, couples and families. For more information, visit the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism's official Web site at: http://www.GoDominicanRepublic.com or call1-888-FUN-INDR.

 SOURCE The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Sept. 10, 2008 - According to a recent report issued by the Dominican Republic (DR) Ministry of Tourism, overall visitors to the DR in the first half of 2008 increased by 6.55 percent compared to the same period in 2007.* Approximately 2.2 million guests selected the DR as their vacation spot of choice in the first half of 2008. According to Central Bank of Dominican Republic (www.bancentral.gov.do), as of July 31, 2008, there were 2,602,675 visitors to the DR, a 3.81 percent increase compared to the same period in 2007.

The U.S. continues as the largest visitors market with 32.2 percent followed by Canada at 22.6 percent, France with 9 percent, Spain with 5.7 percent, Germany with 5.6 percent and UK with 5 percent. 

The most popular destination remains Punta Cana. The region's international airport received approximately 53.5 percent of 2008 first half arrivals followed by Las Americas in Santo Domingo. Puerto Plata International Airport received approximately 16.6 percent of the arrivals, followed by La Romana with 6.06 percent.

Affirming the DR's popularity as a growing tourism destination, JetBlue will launch its first intra-Caribbean service with daily nonstop service between San Juan, Puerto Rico and the DR beginning Dec. 18, 2008. "The DR is dedicated to supporting JetBlue's efforts to provide the Caribbean with additional air service," said DR Vice Minister of Tourism Magaly Toribio. "JetBlue's new flights to our capital city, Santo Domingo, will help meet the growing demand of visitors and enhance our collective economies."

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Hotels, 9/10/2008

OTTAWA - The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and the Honourable Michael M Fortier, Minister of International Trade, today announced the conclusion of a new Blue Skies bilateral air transport agreement with the Dominican Republic.

The agreement allows airlines of both countries to serve any cities in both Canada and the Dominican Republic with their own aircraft and code-sharing services, for both passenger and all-cargo flights. Air carriers can freely decide the frequency of services and prices to be offered.

"This agreement is another step forward in the implementation of this government's Blue Sky international air transportation policy which was put in place to open air transport markets," said Minister Cannon. "It will be beneficial for travellers and shippers, airports and airlines of both countries."

The Dominican Republic is one of Canada's largest air travel markets and an important tourism destination for Canadians. In conjunction with flights between the two countries, services may also be offered to and from third countries.

"This agreement is part of our ongoing efforts to deepen our engagement in the Americas and will facilitate growth in trade, investment and tourism for Canadian business," said Minister Fortier. "Canadian travellers will also benefit from the strong safety and security provisions as well as the increased flexibility in flight availability."

Canada is also engaged in bilateral free trade agreement negotiations with the Dominican Republic. In 2007, bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and the Dominican Republic totalled $311 million, with Canadian exports accounting for $198 million and imports totalling $113 million. From 2006 to 2007, Canadian merchandise exports to the Dominican Republic increased 21 per cent.

The new rights are likely to result in a greater range of travel options for passengers and businesses. Airlines are currently reviewing the new agreement to determine what new services may be offered.

Transport Canada September 5, 2008

By BRADLEY S. KLEIN
Senior Writer

PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Course architect Tom Marzolf normally is an understated fellow. But here on the 18th tee of Corales Golf Club, perched on the Caribbean shore, the senior design associate of Tom Fazio is not even pretending to contain himself. "This could be one of the great holes anywhere," Marzolf gushes.

As he and his entourage survey the scene, a large passenger plane crosses above them on its descent into nearby Punta Cana International Airport. It’s the world’s only privately owned international airport - built and operated by the same Dominican consortium that developed Punta Cana Resort and Corales GC.

The airport handles scheduled flights from Charlotte, Philadelphia, Newark and Chicago as well as Montreal, Madrid, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and London, bringing nearly 1 million passengers annually. Here in the Dominican Republic, golf development and tourism are booming.

The weather’s great, except for the occasional hurricane. The labor force is abundant and diligent. The waterfront settings are ideal. It helps that the federal government has made a major push for tourism, including road construction linking the airport to resort areas.

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Golfweek.com September 8, 2008

Kathryn Folliott Special to the Star

Fans of the Dominican Republic's white sand beaches are legion in this country.

Since the start of this year, the Dominican Republic. has seen double-digit increases out of Canada, and already 2008 is on track to surpass last year's record-setter of close to 600,000 Canadian arrivals. International arrivals, meanwhile, almost topped four million.

With numbers like these, it's no wonder the Dominican Republic government is spending $1 billion (U.S.) on tourism infrastructure over the next four years.

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Toronto Star, August 28, 2008

SANTIAGO, Chile. - "Latin America continues growing despite the deterioration of the international economic context," said Cepal, the United Nation’s regional economic organization today, which also expects 5.5 percent growth for the Dominican Republic.

Latin America’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will expand 4.7 this year, the entity said in its "Economic study of Latin America and the Caribbean 2007-2008."

Although the organization’s figure is one point less than the region’s 5.7 percent growth in 2007, Cepal executive secretary Alicia Bárcena, upon presenting the report, said in 2008 Latin America and the Caribbean will have reached five years of sustained GDP increase per inhabitant in a rate of more than 3 percent, a similar economic period found only as far back as 40 years ago.

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DominicanToday.com 27 August 2008