Posts Tagged ‘Dominican’
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Dominican Republic Defies Tourism Market, Keeps Growing
Throughout the world, there has been a decline in tourism. That decline has, however, missed the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has managed to attract tourists year after year, and with plans from investors and new routes promised by airlines, it would appear the Dominican Republic is going to continue to grow in the area of tourism. With so many markets struggling, the Dominican Republic has managed to see a 6.55% increase in tourism for the first part of 2008. That increase is thanks to the 2.2 million people that traveled there in the opening months of the year. People continue to go to the area, despite tourism trends in other areas of the world. The world is noticing the strong tourism market in the Dominican Republic. Because of that, investors are getting in on the action. The first indication that tourism in the DR was going to exceed even current expectations was when a development group from the Balearic Islands decided they wanted in on the opportunity to invest. The group intends to invest 3.7 billion Euros over a four year time period in order to build up the tourism industry. With the money, they want to work on a railway linking Santiago and Santo Domingo. The railway promises to help the tourism market by making traveling in the region easier. With the railroad, Santiago, Santa Domingo and everywhere in between are expected to grow. They will be able to lure in more tourists, and they will then be able to offer even more development to the area. The area is already quite popular, and with the money being used, it will be able to become even more enticing to tourists. With the sound tourism market, along with the promise of more money going into the DR, airlines are making changes so they can bring even more tourists in. For the first time, JetBlue Airlines plans to launch an intra-Caribbean service. The service is going to start in the winter, and will have continuous, non stop flights between San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Also, Delta Airlines is going to be adding more flights to the DR this winter. It is believed these added flights will bring more people to the area, thus boosting tourism even more. It will be easier than it has ever been for tourists to get on a plane and visit the area. The growth in tourism has greatly helped the economy in the Dominican Republic, and it is projected to make the economy even healthier in the years to come. Right now, there are 550,000 jobs that were created by tourism in the DR. That number is expected to rise to 743,000 by 2018. The economy has become stable due to tourism, and it looks as if it will continue to strengthen as more jobs are created. As the economy strengthens, there is even more for tourists in the Dominican Republic. The area is able to continue to build because of [...]
The Dominican Republic Is An Exotic Caribbean Destination
If you are looking for an exotic location to enjoy a late summer getaway, or perhaps an autumn break, then you could do a lot worse than go to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. The island was named as “hot for 2007″ by the Association of British Travel Agents’ (ABTA) members, and this year alone, bookings have increased by nine per cent for the destination. ABTA’s Frances Tuke said: “The all-inclusive packages in particular have been a massive hit for families who know they have to stick to a budget as everything is paid for upfront, but the destination also offers so much more for the British holidaymaker. “Not only are there fantastic beaches and watersports on offer, but if you want to get away from the crowds, there is breathtaking scenery in the form of rainforests, mountains and waterfalls. The cities also offer a vibrant culture that has a Spanish colonial past.” The Dominican Republic is the second largest island in the Caribbean. It has the highest point in the West Indies, the Pick Duarte standing tall at 10,414ft, and also the lowest point in the West Indies, Lake Enriquillo which is 148 ft below sea level. Christopher Columbus first stepped ashore the island, which he called Hispaniola, in 1492. Consequently, the south side of the island boasts the oldest city of the New World, including the first hospital, first sugar mill, and first cathedral. The capital city, Santo Domingo has Columbus’ Palace, the Alcazar de Colon, the 22-room home of Don Diego Columbus and his family. It was built in 1510, and then underwent restoration in 1955, a wonderful mix of Gothic and Moorish architecture. The capital also has a buzzing street life, which is quite unique. The streets are awash with colour and music, the finest example of which occurs during the Domincan Carnival that takes place between February and March. The second largest city on the island is found on the cliffs above the Yaque River, called Santiago de los Caballeros or simply Santiago, but it is the island’s next largest city, Puerto Plata, located on the north shore of the island which has become the most popular tourist destination. Nearby Sosua, La Romana and Punta Cana to the east of the island also have a growing resort population. The Dominican Republic also has some stunning landscapes, with much of the island covered in mountainous terrain. There is plenty for nature lovers to explore, from semi-desert plains to green valleys and tropical rain forests. There is also the Cordillera Septentrional mountain range, which runs between the Atlantic coast and the Cibao valley. It was here that Spaniards used to search for gold. The Cibao Valley is also famous for growing, harvesting and marketing tobacco, and its cigars are an important income for the island. It is easy to arrange trips to soak up this nature from most of the island’s tourist centres. But [...]