DR News
Four Russian airlines serve nine cities in Russia and bring tourists on direct flights to Dominican beach destinations. One recent flight even set a global first. The Nordwind Airlines flight N4-1541 flew 14 hours and 40 minutes direct from Krasnoyarsk International Airport in northern Siberia to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). Ambassador Hans Dannenberg Castellanos explains that it was the first time that Russian authorities authorized direct flights on the North Pole route from Siberia to the Americas. The Krasnoyarsk flight set a record for the longest direct flight into any airport in the Dominican Republic with passengers. Krasnoyarsk is the second-largest city in Siberia.
On the same day that the Nordwind Airlines record flight was set, another direct flight by Azur Air landed in La Romana International Airport (LRM) also direct from Siberia in Russia but this time from Novosibirsk, capital of Siberia.
While a new record was set for the 14:40 hour flight from Krasnoyarsk, what is most extraordinary is the outcome of the marketing efforts of the Ministry of Tourism, its tourism promotion office in Moscow, and the team at the Dominican Embassy in Moscow, Russia. There is now an unprecedented boom in demand by Russian tourists for Dominican vacations, surpassing even pre-pandemic Russian travel numbers.
Nordwind Airlines Flight N4-1541 was the charter with 440 Russian passengers headed to Punta Cana beach resorts that landed after the 14:40 hour flight time from Krasnoyarsk International Airport in Siberia. The plane traveled a distance of 11,550 kilometers by the shorter North Pole route, setting a new record on 11 October 2021. Most of the passengers that came with the record-setting flight from Krasnoyarsk Airport to Punta Cana were from Siberia.
Ambassador Dannenberg Castellanos explains that the intention originally was to book the flight from the Novosibirsk, the capital of Siberia. But he said the people demanded another flight and that is how the Krasnoyarsk flight came to be. Krasnoyarsk is the second-largest city in Siberia. Tourists arriving on the flight booked air and hotel stay with Pegas Touristik tour operator.
On the same day, 11 October 2021, Azur Air landed in La Romana International Airport with the second plane full of sun-seeking Russian tourists from Novosibirsk, the capital of Siberia. This plane landed to bring sun-seeking tourists to Bayahibe, La Romana, and Dominicus beach hotels. These passengers traveled a shorter distance because Novosibirsk is located in southern Siberia.
Those who traveled from Novosibirsk came by way of the traditional Moscow route that is slightly more to the south of Siberia, about an hour and a half less.
Dannenberg Castellanos said he personally met in Novosibirsk with tour operators and produce buyers to sell Dominican tourism and export products. He explains that now there is an agreement with cargo to export Dominican products reaching the Asian part of Russia and Central Asia. “These flights open not only the market of Russia but also that of Central Asia,” stressed the ambassador.
As mentioned above, it is the first time there are direct flights from Siberia to the Americas. The first flight was that of Krasnoyarsk to Punta Cana. The second flight was Novosibirsk to La Romana. Novosibirsk is the capital of Siberia.
Dannenberg Castellanos stresses the opportunities for Dominican produce exports to reach markets in Central Asia and the Asian part of Russia. “There had never been a direct connection,” said Dannenberg Castellanos. He stresses the importance of opening trade with Russia. He says the direct flights open doors to export to Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand for Dominican produce. Dannenberg is very knowledgeable of Asian matters. He was previously Dominican ambassador in India, dean of ambassadors, and concurrent to several other countries.
Ambassador Dannenberg Castellanos says that fresh produce area already arriving, including avocados and pineapples. This week, the Royal Flight from Moscow to Punta Cana returned to Russia loaded with pineapples, mangos, and avocados from the Dominican Republic. The ambassador explains that the country’s recent participation in the Moscow World Food Produce Market resulted in negotiating attractive air cargo deals for the local exporters to use the cargo space on the direct flights that bring tourists from Russia.
The Krasnoyarsk flight was a complete surprise,” said Dannenberg Castellanos. He said it happened when permission to fly via the North Pole was authorized. “It is the first time there is a flight to the Americas from either of these two points. There has never been a flight, even from New York,” he explains.
Aeroflot has also begun flights from Russia to the Dominican Republic. Aeroflot is flying direct flights from Moscow to Punta Cana since 1 October 2021. The importance of the Aeroflot scheduled flights is that they also offer connections with SkyTeam’s Aerolineas Argentinas, Delta, and Aeromexico for people to connect in Punta Cana to Asian cities in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Israel, and Turkey, among others.
Since Russian travel to the Dominican Republic was resumed in August 2021, the number of passengers has been climbing. In August, 6,818 Russians came, on September 22. The number of arrivals in September 2021 compares to 17,295, the peak number of arrivals in pre-pandemic September 2017.
The forecast is for Russian arrivals to surpass in October, November, and December 2021 the peak arrival totals set in December 2016 of 25,534.
The demand for Dominican vacations in Russia is extraordinary. Several airlines are involved – Azur Air, Nordwind, RoyalFlight, and Aeroflot.
Azur Air: seven flights from Moscow to LRM per week; two flights every 10 to 12 days from St. Petersburg to LRM; 1 flight every 10 days from Novosibirsk to LRM; 2 flights every 10 days Yekaterinburg to LRM, 1 flight every 10 days from Kazan to LRM; 1 flight every 10 days from Kazan to LRM, 1 flight every 10 days from Rostov on Don to LRM; 1 flight every 10 days from Ufa to LRM.
Nordwind Airlines: 6 flights per week from Moscow to PUJ, Samana (AZS), and Puerto Plata (POP)—two each. 1 flight every 12 days from St. Petersburg to PUJ. 1 flight every 12 days from Novosibirsk to PUJ. 1 flight every 12 days from Yekaterinburg to PUJ. 1 flight every 12 days from Kazan to PUJ. 1 flight every 12 days from Ufa to PUJ.
RoyalFlight Airlines: 2 flights from Moscow to PUJ per week; 1 flight per week from St. Petersburg to PUJ. 1 flight per week from Yekaterinburg to PUJ. 1 flight per week from Kazan to PUJ. 1 flight per week from Samara to PUJ. 1 flight per week from Ufa to PUJ.
Aeroflot. Three scheduled flights per week from Moscow to PUJ.
Source: DR1
Oct 22, 2021
This spacious 2 story villa with a nice view over the hill is located in the popular residential area “La Mulata 1”, Sosua
Constructed in 2013, the villa is a perfect option for a big family vacation or living. It has a free-standing house in case you want to bring extra guests.
- 8 bedrooms
- 6.5 bathrooms
- 3 kitchens
- pool and jacuzzi
- large parking area
- 5 aircon units
- 1 inverter and 4 batteries
- own well (water supply)
- gas stoves
- large bbq area with a bar, a billiard table, and ample seating
- carport
If you are renting this villa a maintenance person and two maids will cater for you.
The villa is situated close to the town center of Sosua (2-4 minute drive), 2 minutes to the private clinic, 2 minutes to the supermarket, or within walking distance to a small grocery store (colmado), walking distance to the International School.
Price for rent: $3500,- a month
Priced to sell: $550,000,-
Contact details:
Tel: +1 809-696-9820
Travelers to and from the Dominican Republic need to file an E-ticket with the Migration Agency. The form and the filing are free online.
People are alerting that there is a scam of companies that offer to sell you the e-ticket for a charge of US$79 on your credit card.
There is no charge for the requirement that consolidates the customs, migration, and health information all in one document.
The document needs to be filled out before getting to the airline counter to process luggage and boarding.
Once the information is filled out in the online form, a QR code is generated. This is what the airlines require for checking in.
To depart the Dominican Republic, present the e-ticket, passport at least six months before expiration, and some airlines may ask for proof of vaccination. Some countries will require an antigen or PCR test.
For travelers to the United States, as of early November 2021, it is expected that the US authorities will require international travelers to prove they have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test within three days of boarding a US-bound flight. The US has said it will accept vaccinations that have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). Most Dominicans have received the first two doses of Sinovac, and almost a million have received a Pfizer booster shot. The Dominican vaccination stations will inoculate people with a second Pfizer shot upon showing proof (travel ticket) of travel plans for the future.
In the coming weeks, the US authorities are expected to issue the new guidelines.
Source: DR1
Oct 7, 2021
Aeroflot has begun its flights from Moscow to Punta Cana on 1 October 2021. Flights are on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Travelers gain almost a full day on arrival. The airline is using an Airbus A350-900XWB, configured with 316 seats. On the departure, the flight SU157 leaves Punta Cana (PUJ) at 1:35pm arriving in Moscow 7:35 am +1.
The flight SU156 departs Moscow (SVO) at 6:30am arriving in Punta Cana at 11:15 am.
The last operations between Moscow and Punta Cana had been in March 2020, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: DR1, Aeroflot
Oct 7, 2021
The Puerto Plata city cruise ship port Taino Bay is scheduled to open to cruise ships this winter season. The port joins Carnival Cruise’s Amber Cove terminal, located about half an hour drive to the south, along the same northern coastline.
Taino Bay is located right in the provincial capital and the city’s cultural and historic attractions are comfortable walkable distances. Nevertheless, cruise ship passengers will be able to use a trolley service.
Virgin Voyages, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships are expected to dock at the new port.
Taino Bay port has a welcome area, transport hub, stores, beach club, food, and beverage outlets and will offer continuous free trolley service to Puerto Plata’s historic center. A second phase, due about 12 months after, will complete an experienced village themed on the pre-Columbian Taino culture.
Puerto Plata is now a mature cruise destination after Carnival has been bringing thousands of maritime tourists through its Amber Cove port since 2015. The city offers water sports (kite, surf, windsurfing), beaches, hiking, water park (Ocean World), gastronomy, colonial history, Victorian architecture houses, ecotourism excursions, and much more.
The director of the Dominican Port Authority Jean Luis Rodriguez presented the availability of Dominican ports at the recent International Seatrade Cruise Global trade show held in Miami in late September 2021. At the event, Rodriguez said that the Taino Bay port would “soon” be inaugurated.
Source: DR1, Hoy
Oct 7, 2021
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Contact details:
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Sosua-Cabarete
A bill that would ban the consumption of alcohol in vehicles has passed in the Senate. The bill was submitted by senator Santiago Jose Zorilla (PRM-El Seibo) and passed on Tuesday, 21 September 2021 in the Senate. The bill seeks to regulate the sale, supply, and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
The bill establishes many conditions that will be difficult to apply and others that could serve as loopholes.
The bill establishes that businesses that sell alcoholic beverages cannot be less than 100 meters from hospitals, schools, churches, parks, and other places identified as “sensitive places.”
The bill also establishes that alcohol selling businesses must be located in places that do not obstruct public roads and at a distance of 150 meters from each other.
According to the bill, closed bottles can be transported in the trunk of a vehicle. The bill also allows for open liquor bottles to be carried in the trunk of the vehicle.
The bill bans the consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons transported in vehicles. Those found with alcoholic beverages face fines of five to 10 public sector minimum wages.
Motorcyclists are banned from transporting alcoholic beverages, even if unopened.
The bill also would instill a license for businesses to sell alcohol. The Control of Alcoholic Beverages Agency (Digecoba) would issue the permits. Digecoba is a dependency of the Ministry of Interior & Police.
The bill also limits the hours of sale of beverages from 6 am to 12 midnight from Sunday to Thursday and Fridays and Saturdays from 6 am to 2 am, except for hotels, which will not be restricted.
Businesses that incur in violation of these provisions may be fined with a cash payment or closure of the premises depending on the seriousness of the infraction.
Source: DR1, N Digital
Sep 29, 2021
There are about 20,000 vehicular accidents in the Dominican Republic. Most times, the fault is assessed, and insurance claims are filed. Sums in the millions are sometimes involved, and because nobody wants to pay for someone else’s mistakes, the vehicle title transfer is a must. If you sell a vehicle, make sure to get your name off the vehicle’s title.
A recent case presses for the need that the seller makes sure that the title is transferred properly when selling a vehicle. This is essential to avoid being involved in a legal case if the vehicle in the future is involved in a traffic accident.
The law establishes that whoever is the titleholder of the vehicle is the person the insurance companies and the judicial authorities will go after to settle claims.
In the hypothetical case that you sold the vehicle to a person of your trust and that person sold the vehicle to a third party, you can also carry out what is known as a “vehicular discharge.” This can be obtained at the Tax Agency (DGII) and is as per Taxes Law 492-08. It can be done online and does not involve much money.
This prevents a person who has sold a vehicle to someone else and the buyer has not put the vehicle in his name, from being charged for damages from accidents or traffic citations issued to the car.
A lawyer outlined the proper sequence of events for self-protection after the sale of a vehicle. First, the sales agreement must be legalized in the Civil Registry and the mortgage archives at the local municipal government, and then downloaded to the DGII. This goes with a copy of the car’s registration and the IDs (cedulas) of the buyer and the seller.
Without these steps, it is possible for you to face a judicial process that has nothing to do with you, but because your name is still on the registration, you must go to court. The discharge document allows the judge to free you of any liability. It costs RD$300 at the DGII and 0.05% of the value of the vehicle paid at the Civil Registry. A word to the wise.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
Sep 29, 2021
World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September 2021 brought with it the eye-opening news that there are 90,000 Dominicans who suffer from neurodegenerative disease. Having a relative who is losing memory and cognitive abilities is becoming more common.
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, degenerative brain condition that gradually affects memory and thinking skills and the ability to do even the most basic tasks, and the ability to move.
For the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day, the Mental Health Department of the Ministry of Public together with the Dominican Alzheimer’s Association participated in a talk on the disease to raise awareness among the entire population.
The Department of Mental Health of the Ministry of Public Health reports that at least 8% of the population over 60 years of age in the country lives with dementia, equivalent to some 90,000 cases. According to data provided by the Department of Mental Health, in the past 50 years the number of people over 65 years of age suffering from the disease has increased from 3% to 6%, evidencing a trend towards an increasingly aging population.
Alzheimer’s is also very costly to treat, explained geriatrician and medical advisor of the Dominican Alzheimer’s Society, Dagoberto Güílamo, as reported in Diario Libre. He said one has to add to the direct cost of the treatment of the disease, the cost of abandonment of the work of the caregiver, the payment to the caregiver, and all the complimentary extras and adjustments that have to be made in the home, said Dr. Güílamo on the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day.
Dr. Alejandro Uribe, director of the Mental Health Department, said that Alzheimer’s has no cure. The specialists explained that knowing the warning signs of dementia allows people to seek more information before the acute symptoms appear.
The president of the Dominican Alzheimer’s Association, Dr. José Modesto, said that the organization is committed to disseminating knowledge on Alzheimer’s and supporting and providing guidance to the families of patients. The association helps with face-to-face talks and provides training for caregivers, among other actions.
Dr. Daisy Acosta, a psychiatrist specializing in dementia, said that memory loss is a sign of aging but could also be a sign that something is wrong. People should check for personality changes and irritability. When people hide things and cannot find them, studies should be carried out.
While Leonor Rivas, daughter of a mother with Alzheimer’s, said: “It is a life experience with a lot of responsibility, love, sacrifice and family solidarity. It can unite or separate the family.”
On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day, doctors Marcia Castillo, and Ivett Joga and Jocelyn Duran launched their practical guide for Alzheimer’s caretakers in an event held at the Academy of Sciences.
Source: DR1, Hoy
Sep 29, 2021
Aeroflot offers an introductory US$698 round trip fare on flights to Russia purchased in the Dominican Republic before 8 October 2021. The departures are for flights before 14 November and with a return before 17 December 2021.
Visas are not needed for Dominican nationals to travel to Russia.
Aeroflot is operating two weekly direct flights on Airbus 350s with a capacity for 316 passengers.
Russia authorized direct flights to the Dominican Republic to resume as of 9 August.
In addition to Aeroflot, Azur Air is another airline now flying direct from Russia. The new Azur Air frequencies start 1 October from St. Petersburg, 2 October from Ekaterinburg, 4 and 5 from Kazan and Ufa, 9 October from Rostov del Don and 11 October from Novosibirsk.
The Aeroflot flight connects passengers and cargo to all cities in the Russian Federation. Dominican ambassador to Russia, Hans Dannenberg Castellanos stresses that travelers can use the Russian flight as a gateway to Central Asia. Likewise, he said the new flight is a travel alternative for those flying to Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Delhi, Hanoi, Tel Aviv, Almaty, Yerevan, and Belgrade.
The direct flights open up a new world for exports of Dominican products to Russia, the Dominican ambassador stressed during his participation in the WorldFood Moscow 2021 fair held 21-24 September 2021.
Dannenberg Castellanos met recently with executives of Aeroflot to discuss issues related to the new flight from Moscow to Punta Cana, which starts on 1 October 2021.
Source: DR1, Aeroflot
Sep 29, 2021
