Tourism on the Rise Compared to 2007

The number of international tourists arriving in the Dominican Republic continues to multiply at a rate significantly higher than last year. This increase, now in its ninth consecutive month, has raised prospects for a prosperous year for Dominican tourism, according to a press release from the Ministry of Tourism.

As of this past March 16, the number of non-resident tourists who visited the country by airplane so far this year has already surpassed the same time period last year by 8.6%. These Central Bank figures, released by Tourism Minister Félix Jiménez, strengthen the tendency registered for the first two months of the year when the number reached 725, 238 non-resident foreign visitors to mark an increase of 9.1% as compared to January and February 2007.

Speaking at a SECTUR press conference held to promote the DATE 2008 Fair organized by the Association of Hotels and Restaurants (ASONAHORES) in the Barceló Bávaro Beach Complex in Punta Cana, Jiménez emphasized the huge sum, more than $400 million US dollars, invested by the government in infrastructure projects in the various tourism areas around the country.

Among these projects, Jiménez mentioned the important avenue-boulevard currently being built which will connect the Punta Cana Airport with the main hotel areas. He also mentioned the upcoming project of Miches and Sabana de la Mar, two tourist areas with great potential where various projects are being undertaken. He talked about the construction in Sabana de la Mar, of a port that will connect with the Arroyo Barril Port of Samaná by ferryboat.

“With this we are saying that in the next three years we are going to have the Punta Cana tourism region connected to the Miches-Samaná-Las Terrenas region. And this will be a great revolution,” in the development of this area.

Undersecretary for the South Central Region, Magaly Toribio, emphasized the extraordinary tourism peak cruise ships are experiencing at the moment. He said that 60% more tourists have arrived this year in cruise ships than in 2007 which reflects the growing process of diversification of the local tourism industry.

Along with Minister Jiménez and Undersecretary Toribio, Bernardita Abbot and Ramón Guilamo undersecretaries of Higuey-Punta Cana-Bávaro, respectively, were also present at the press conference.