New tourism infrastructure, hotel and store openings, additional air service, a new festival and more
• DR surpasses Puerto Rico as number one Caribbean destination
• Playa Dorada entertains with new fiesta
• Funjet adds service to Punta Cana
• Central Region’s Damajagua tourism site gets a facelift
• Viva Wyndham offers discount to potential passport holders
• Government allocates US$1.2 million to improve Santo Domingo airport
• New shopping centre opens in Punta Cana
• Sosua’s Victorian House hotel receives international awards
• White Sands Golf and Beach Resort set to open in December
• Samana receives new tourism infrastructure
• Air travellers receive minor relief with passport extension
DR SURPASSES PUERTO RICO AS NUMBER ONE CARIBBEAN DESTINATION
The World Tourism Organization recently reported that the DR officially beat out Puerto Rico as the Caribbean’s number one tourism destination. The DR surpasses Puerto Rico, which held the number one title for 40 years, with nearly US$3.11 billion generated from its tourism activity in 2003 compared to Puerto Rico’s US$2.67 billion. Also fueling the DR’s success is its recent addition of 31,562 hotel rooms as opposed to Puerto Rico’s 4,345 rooms, along with the government’s multiple investments in the DR’s tourism infrastructure.
PLAYA DORADA ENTERTAINS WITH NEW FIESTA
The Playa Dorada Hotel Association announced that Playa Dorada, a resort community located on the DR’s north coast, will unveil the First Playa Dorada Festival this month. Created to increase tourism to the area, Playa Dorada’s first festival features a cigar night, sports competitions, a gastronomy event and music. It debuts on October 14 with a live concert by a local popular merengue artist and concludes on November 25.
FUNJET ADDS SERVICE TO PUNTA CANA
Beginning this winter Funjet will add charter service to Punta Cana from its Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St Paul and St Louis markets. From February 7 to April 6 the St Louis service will be offered on Fridays, while Sunday service begins on May 20 and lasts through August. Beginning February 2 until April 6 the Milwaukee service includes one charter per week, and from December 22 to March 30 charters will be offered from Minneapolis/St Paul.
In addition to Funjet’s charter service, scheduled year-round “value flights” have been added from Chicago and Washington DC. All scheduled “value flights” offer special pricing and seat inventory with United Airlines. Chicago flights will run through April (may be extended) and Washington DC flights run through December 13, 2007. Funjet also works with more than 20 airlines to offer scheduled service to Punta Cana. For additional information call 1-888-558-6654.
CENTRAL REGION’S DAMAJAGUA TOURISM SITE GETS A FACELIFT
Damajagua, home to the DR’s popular adventure sport called cascading, features 27 levels of natural pools and waterfalls. Recently renovated it received new facilities to enhance its safety, service and experience. The attraction now features certified guides; improved trails complete with new stairs, handrails and better water drainage; and a visitor centre with a gift shop, reception area, bathrooms with showers and a kitchen and beverage bar. For additional information visit the new 27charcos.com website.
VIVA WYNDHAM OFFERS DISCOUNT TO POTENTIAL PASSPORT HOLDERS
Inspired by the Caribbean’s new travel regulations, Viva Wyndham resort’s new Passport Promotion applies to guests looking for encouragement to obtain a passport. Visitors who book a stay at one of Viva Wyndham’s resorts by November 15, 2006 for a vacation between January 1 and December 31, 2007 will receive 15 per cent off of their stay at any of the resorts located throughout the DR.
GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES US$1.2 MILLION TO IMPROVE SANTO DOMINGO AIRPORT
The north terminal at the Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo recently received a US$1.2 million remodel featuring an improved level of functionality complete with a modern interior. In addition, AERODOM, the management company of the Dominican airports, announced that renovation of the Las Americas south terminal will begin immediately.
NEW SHOPPING CENTRE OPENS IN PUNTA CANA
The Paradisus Palma Real Shopping Center opens in Punta Cana this December. With 60 stores the shopping centre will feature such well-known names as Hard Rock Café, Tony Roma’s, Swatch and Rolex. Located two miles from the well-known shopping centre in Bavaro, the new centre at the Paradisus Palma Real presents a convenient shopping opportunity to guests of the resort and surrounding area.
SOSUA’S VICTORIAN HOUSE HOTEL RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Located on the DR's north coast, the Victorian House hotel in Sosua recently received international recognition for its quality and excellence when it was honoured with a Fodor’s Choice 2006 award and an award from Resorts Condominium International (RCI). A Starz Resort property, the Victorian House was also featured in Fodor’s as one of the best hotels in the world.
WHITE SANDS GOLF AND BEACH RESORT SET TO OPEN IN DECEMBER
With construction nearing completion, the White Sands Golf and Beach Resort, located in Bavaro on the DR’s east coast, is set to open this December. The resort features a boutique hotel with 125 rooms and a golf course designed by Jose “Pepe” Gancedo.
SAMANA RECEIVES NEW TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE
Samana, located on the DR’s northeast coast, is creating a stir amongst investors and tourists with its new tourism infrastructure. The region’s new developments include a highway that connects the DR’s capitol, Santo Domingo, with Samana, reducing the travel time to 1.5 hours; the new El Catey International Airport servicing the DR’s northeast coast; installation of a water treatment plant and sewers; and a new security program to deal with potential dangers such as natural disasters.
Although all tourism infrastructure developments are in progress, each has a different completion date. El Catey International Airport is scheduled to open in November 2006 and the Santo Domingo/Samana highway will be finished in 2008. The operation dates for the water treatment plant and new security program have not yet been announced.
AIR TRAVELLERS RECEIVE MINOR RELIEF WITH US PASSPORT EXTENSION
The US government has extended their Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative’s passport deadline by seven days. As of January 8, 2007, all persons travelling by air to the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda will require a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document to enter and/or re-enter the United States. US Congress delayed the deadline for land and sea crossings to June 1, 2009. For additional information please visit www.travel.state.gov.
Disclaimer: The information in this article/release was accurate at
press time; however, we suggest you confirm all details and prices
directly with vendors.
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