Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange conference speakers announce new tourism projects, official travel statistics, and plans for 2016 regional developments.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Tourism industry executives at this year's Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) conference announced several developments to the future of the country and expressed great enthusiasm for the projects to come. Radhames Martinez-Aponte, Technical Vice Minister of Tourism, opened the event with a number of updates pertaining to Dominican Republic's overall tourism health and news in each major sector within the country.
Tourism Growth
Dominican Republic announced a growth of 5.8 percent in overall tourism to Dominican Republic, a number alone growing faster than the Caribbean's overall rate of 3.7 percent. Simon Suarez, President of the National Hotel & Tourism Association (ASONAHORES), added that growth rates in the country are double the world average, tracking at a median growth of 5.1 percent over the last 5 years. The country is projected to reach 6 million total visitors in 2016 – based on numbers thus far, the country is on track to meet the targeted 7 percent growth needed to achieve this. Both speakers also noted that the United States remains the largest source market for Dominican tourism with 2 million visitors in 2015, and Canada following with 780,000.
Hotel Announcements
Dominican Republic's hotel occupancy rate was also greater than that of overall Caribbean numbers, with 75.5 percent of hotel rooms occupied in 2015 and an expected average of 80 percent in 2016. Punta Cana leads accommodations in Dominican Republic, currently offering 37,000 rooms in the area. Its lead is followed by Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo, boasting 18 percent and 10 percent of rooms available in-country, respectively. Dominican Republic is pleased to see an increase in interest of hotel chains coming to the country and reports a boom in both the development of new properties – such as those by Barcelo, Intercontinental and Hard Rock – as well as in remodeling and expansion projects, such as those occurring at Santo Domingo's historic Hotel El Embajador. By 2019, it is expected that 18,000 new hotel rooms will open in the country, thanks to more than 55 new hotel projects and investments worth $2 billion coming into the tourism pipeline.
Air Arrivals
Officials announced that plans are underway to offer preclearance facilities at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) for U.S. travelers returning from Dominican Republic to allow a bypass of U.S. customs after their return to the States, slated to begin in May 2017. PUJ continues to be the main point of entry into Dominican Republic – welcoming 66 percent of travelers – followed by Santo Domingo's Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) and Puerto Plata's Gregorio Luperon International Airport (POP). Together, the three airports represent 92 percent of foreign air travel into DR. Dominican Republic currently has an open-sky policy, allowing for a large influx of flights – nine nationalities do not require a tourist visa, while 145 others (including the US and Canada) need only to purchase a tourist card upon landing. It is the country's dream to eliminate the need for visas entirely and allow all to freely enjoy the variety of attractions offered in the country.
Cruise Arrivals
With Amber Cove in Puerto Plata opening in 2015, cruise arrivals increased by 64 percent, coming in at 550,000 visitors. Since Amber Cove's inauguration, an average of 5,000 cruise visitors arrive weekly to the area, shifting by season. The country plans to expand its cruise market beginning in December 2016 in Cap Cana, signing contracts with 11 providers and continuing discussion with six others.
Diversification of Offerings
Numbers show that tourists are continuing to look for vacations beyond the beach and are showing greater interest in multi-destination travel – 80 percent of all visits to Dominican Republic's protected areas are by foreigners, demonstrating that visitors are increasingly looking to explore beyond their hotel.
MITUR is committed to expanding the country's multi-destination offerings and diversifying its segmentation. With more than 8,000 kilometers of roads created or expanded within the past three years, all major touristic areas are now connected and most are accessible within a 2-hour drive. With opportunities for a wide range of tourism on the same island, Dominican Republic continues to hold a large advantage over other destinations and is positioned to expand the diversity of its offerings, with MICE, ecotourism and luxury travel among the largest niches of focus for the coming year.
While sun and beach remain the country's most sought attractions, Dominican Republic continues to work to expand its competitive offerings in the tourism marketplace. Between adventurous Puerto Plata, lush Samana, sunny Punta Cana, luxe La Romana, historic Santo Domingo and more, the country prides itself on offering something for every type of traveler and budget.
Dominican Republic Tourism Officials Announce Samana Updates and Developments
Tourism industry experts at the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) conference expressed great enthusiasm toward the changes and updates coming to the Samana peninsula, one of Dominican Republic's most lush and verdant areas frequented by travelers looking to immerse themselves in nature.
Representatives of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Companies of Samana (AHETSA) noted a growth in tourism traffic to the area through local El Catey International Airport (AZS) – which welcomes approximately 57,000 annual visitors – and projected an increase of 5.5% in the number of travelers this year. Samana has also become more accessible by land to multi-destination travelers within Dominican Republic thanks to a stunning panoramic highway connecting it to the remainder of the country, with most other key destinations now within a 2-hour drive. To further connect the area, Dominican Republic infrastructure development officials are considering the construction of a new port to facilitate ferry arrivals, connecting Sabana de la Mar to the peninsula of Samana, bordering a part of the treasured protected area of Los Haitises National Park.
Officials also presented the high-value ecological destination's hotel statistics, announcing that 1,000 new rooms will be added to the area's existing portfolio of more than 3,650 rooms by 2017, with an additional 1,000 to come between 2017 and 2018. Samana prides itself on ensuring that hotels in the area create the lowest possible impact on the environment, taking great care at even the smallest levels to put specialized services in place to protect natural surroundings, such as the use of green-certified cleaning services, solar power, locally sourced construction materials and locally grown organic foods. Various projects supplementary to hotel construction – such as new marinas and golf courses – are also underway.
Two hotel and real estate development companies voiced their support of Samana's ongoing development, announcing plans for continued investment in Dominican Republic's northeastern corner. Amhsa Marina hotel officials released news of their development of a 5-star, 386 room Kaaeni Beach Hotel after a $50 million investment. Kaaeni is projected to open in September of 2017 and will be the largest luxury hotel in the Las Galeras area of Samana. Similarly, Xeliter announced the success of its luxury units in the area, highlighting that they have seen great value in Las Terrenas, calling out its Balcones del Atlantico property, recently acquired into the brand's property portfolio.
Dominican Republic tourism representatives speaking on behalf of the National Hotel & Tourism Association (ASONAHORES) announced at DATE a growth of 5.8 percent in overall tourism to the country – a number alone growing faster than the Caribbean's overall rate of 3.7 percent. Dominican Republic is projected to reach 6 million total visitors in 2016 – based on numbers thus far, the country is on track to meet the targeted 7 percent growth needed to achieve this.
AHETSA, in collaboration with the Tourism Cluster of Samana (CTS), is pleased to launch their new GoSamana.com website – a tourism-oriented showcase of activities and a full catalog of hotels in Samana, presented in English, Spanish and French.
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She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
