The Dominican low-cost carrier, Arajet is the first local airline to eliminate the US$10 tourist card fee charged to Dominican nationals and residents. Now local residents that fly with Arajet will be exempt from the charge. At present, local residents need to request a reimbursement. The law establishes that only tourists should pay the tax.
The Dominican airline Arajet is the first to adapt its computer system to eliminate the US$10 tourist card fee charged to Dominican users, as stipulated by a resolution of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) for airlines transporting passengers to and from the Dominican Republic.
The Civil Aviation Board (JAC) has given international airlines until 1 March 2023 to apply the resolution and selectively apply the charge only to foreign tourists.
The Spanish travel conglomerate Meliá introduces “resortainment” to Dominican tourism experiences. President Luis Abinader was in Punta Cana last week to inaugurate the first phase of the Katmandu Park Punta Cana. Melia promotes the amusement park as Latin America’s most modern theme park. The park opens to the general public on 15 March 2023.
Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Meliá Hotels International, the leading investor, said that the first phase of Katmandu Park has called for an investment of US$80 million. US$90 million more will be invested in a second phase, for a total of US$170 million.
The amusement park offers interactive walkthrough attractions, 3D and 4D cinema with special effects, zip-line, slow-moving carrousel, and mini-golf… to guests staying at the Falcon’s by Meliá Punta Cana, the country’s new “resortainment” facility. Among the attractions is the Venture into the Himalayas with explorer Kilgore Goode activity, including a face-to-face encounter with a fearsome yeti and the mythical Desirata. Legend of the Desirata is a 4D dark ride that heaves, tilts, accelerates, and spins.
The park is located adjacent to the Falcon’s Resort by Meliá – All Suites Punta Cana, resulting from an investment of US$10 million in a redesign and rebranding of the Melia resort.
President Abinader was in Punta Cana accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje; Minister of Tourism David Collado; and top executives of Meliá Hotels International, headed by Gabriel Escarrer Jaume and business partner Scott Demerau of the US company Falcon’s Beyond.
Also present were Mark Hoddinot, chief real estate officer of Meliá Hotels International, Álvaro Sans, architect of Meliá Hotels International, and Francisco Camps Orfila, managing director of Meliá Hotels International in the country, and the governor of the province of La Altagracia, Martina Pepén.
Melia also announced the remodeling of the nearby Paradisus Palma Real, an investment of US$55 million.
The last Shen Yun performances in the Dominican Republic are scheduled for 6 and 7 February in Santiago de los Caballeros at the Gran Teatro Cibao. What is promoted as a Chinese original dance spectacle is surrounded by controversy.
The Embassy of China protested the performances, saying it was part of a cult not allowed in China. Epoch Times, a publication started by a Chinese citizen who migrated to the United States after the Tiananmen Square tragedy, defends the performances. The New Yorker shares insights into the controversy.
After two years on hiatus due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, La Vega was once again filled with color and joy with the start of the La Vega carnival on the first Sunday in February. Around 150 groups are parading this year. Thousands of people came from all around the country to watch the start of the legendary carnival that parades the main streets of La Vega city.
Kelvin Cruz, mayor of La Vega, said that the La Vega Carnival is one of the best in the world. “We have a country brand in terms of carnival in the Dominican Republic and we are honored to preside and be the capital of this cultural tradition,” he told the press.
With floats, dancing groups, and the most colorful and varied characters of Dominican folklore, this important tradition starts around 3 pm on Sundays with the appearance of the cojuelo devils, a symbol that for decades has showcased the talent of the artisans of that city.
Martin Duquela, president of the Unión Carnavalesca Vegana (Ucave), invites Dominicans and foreigners to enjoy the show on all Sundays in February. He announced this is the first year the government is offering financial support to the organizers. Travel companies sell tours to La Vega to see the carnival.
In addition to Sundays 5, 12, 19, and 26 February, there will be a grand closing on Monday, 27 February 2023, a national holiday, announced Roberto Rodriguez, general director of Grupo Medrano, a major sponsor of the carnival.
Rodríguez said all the events of the Carnaval Vegano 2023 will be televised to reach homes all over the country through Microvision Channel 10 of Telecable Central and on the radio through Super K, Channel 105, Radio La Vega and Radio Olímpica, all Grupo Medrano media.
In addition to the carnival characters, another attraction is the performance of popular music groups. This year, Toño Rosario, Omega, Alajazá, Don Miguelo, Bulin 47, Mozart La Para, Chimbala, Angel Dior, Raulín Rodríguez, Frank Reyes, Héctor Acosta (El Torito) and US rapper Eladio Carrión are hired to perform after-carnival entertainment.
The Vegan Carnival began in 1520 when residents dressed up as Muslims and Christians, but it was not until 1947 that it became a tradition in the town of La Vega.
On 6 January 1977, the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic recognized the Vegan Carnival as the Folkloric Patrimony of the Nation.
In 1983 the Unión Carnavalesca Vegana (UCAVE) was formed as an institution for the organization and preservation of the values of the cultural and artistic event.
President Luis Abinader attended the Miami Travel Roadshow on 30 January 2023 to promote travel to the Dominican Republic. He spoke of how the Dominican Republic had promptly recovered its tourism industry after Covid-19 and of the new developments at the leading destinations.
He described the new development at Punta Bergantín, a beach and film site, going up next door to Playa Dorada in Puerto Plata. He announced the country’s first star memorabilia-styled Planet Hollywood hotel would open at the site. Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts has been nominated for Travel and Leisure’s 2023 World’s Best Awards. There are others in Cancun, Mexico, and Costa Rica in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Punta Bergantin is the newest development in Puerto Plata, where resort tourism in the Dominican Republic got its start. Punta Bergantin is promoted by movie actor Vin Diesel, as a Silicon Coast, destination with academia, and a Planet Hollywood resort.
During his presentation, President Abinader reviewed the steps the Dominican Republic took for a fast recovery of the tourism industry in the aftermath of Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021. He thanked the travel vendors for their trust in sending the tourists.
The President told his audience that he had studied economics and had done his thesis on the development of tourism and its impact on the Dominican economy. “I believe in tourism and I believe in the impact of tourism on the country and the people who work in the industry,” he told his listeners.
He spoke of the launching of the Pedernales beach destination with its exceptional shallow beaches, where low-density tourism is contemplated in a province where 60% of the land is located in national parks. He announced the start of construction of the Pedernales cruise ship port and the first hotels this year He also spoke of the expansion of the Amber Cove and Taino Bay cruise ship facilities in Puerto Plata given the successes of the ports in attracting cruise lines.
During his presentation, he highlighted that the government in 2020 understood that tourism is vital to the economy, and its recovery was key. He spoke of the success of the free travel insurance foreign tourists booking hotel packages were offered to encourage them to risk catching Covid-19 when traveling to the country. At the same time, the government made mass purchases of vaccines, giving priority to vaccinating hotel staff, and was the first to make available the third booster vaccine. He said that only 0.3% of those who traveled during the crucial Covid-19 impacting months used the insurance. The World Tourism Organization would name the Dominican Republic the country to recover its tourism industry best.
President Abinader also spoke of improvements to the La Isabela historical site in Puerto Plata, new developments in Punta Cana, and in the Colonial City of Santo Domingo.
“We are here to tell you that you are very important to us, you are our partners, and that the best times for tourism are ahead, the best times for the DR are coming. Thank you for believing in us, the Dominican Republic is waiting with open arms and smiles to receive you!,” said the President.
The Dominican government signed a new air transport agreement with Canada on Thursday, 2 February 2023 that will expand flight operations between the two countries. Tourism will benefit but also trade and connectivity.
The agreement authorizes airlines to operate beyond the currently established frequencies. More airlines, flights, and new destinations will soon be announced.
The agreement establishes that market conditions will determine the frequencies and capacity of the agreed services. Traffic rights up to the Sixth Freedom are granted for passenger, cargo, and combination flights.
The agreement covers charter or non-scheduled flights and provisions for code-share operations and ground handling services.
Airlines and airports of both countries will be able to operate direct flights and connections from any airport in the Dominican Republic and Canada.
For his part, the head of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), José Marte Piantini highlighted the agreement will boost tourism and trade.
Canadian Ambassador Christine Laberge spoke of how this agreement will contribute to excellent bilateral and commercial relations between the Dominican Republic and Canada. “These relations will bring great economic benefits not only in tourism but also in areas such as mining, financial services, energy, and manufacturing for Dominicans,” said the ambassador.
The diplomat reported that in 2022, approximately 715,000 Canadians traveled to the DR from Canada to enjoy its beaches, good weather and the warmth of its people. “We are proud to be able to contribute to the tourism sector of the Dominican Republic and, therefore, to the economic well-being of all Dominicans”.
Tourism Minister David Collado celebrated the agreement, saying it will strengthen the ties between both countries.
Canada is the second most important country in goods exported by the Dominican Republic. Last year, 9.2 million kilograms of cargo were exported by air to Canada, valued at US$37.2 million. 94% of the total weight of the product exports was in vegetables, with 8.6 million kilograms.
This agreement was reached after negotiations and technical agreements carried out through the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) as of 18 February 2021, when President Luis Abinader granted full powers to the president of the Civil Aviation Board to negotiate for the country.
Also present for the signing of the agreement were Presidency Minister Joel Santos and Foreign Relations Minister Roberto Alvarez, as airport and airline representatives.
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Puerto Plata governor Claritza Rochette, the regional director of Tourism for Puerto Plata Atahualpa Paulino, and the Mayor of Puerto Plata Diomedes Garcia welcomed the Wonder of the Seas cruise ship to Puerto Plata on 2 January 2023. The biggest cruise ship in the world docked at Taino Bay. The cruise ship arrived at 8:30 am at the Puerto Plata city cruise ship terminal.
The ship has a capacity for 6,988 passengers and 2,300 crew. Hoy reported on board were 6,370 passengers and 2,394 crew.
The Wonder of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The ship is 362 meters long and 64 meters wide. It began its cruises in March 2022.
The Taino Bay port is operating since 15 December 2022.
Frank Elias Rainieri, CEO of the Puntacana Group, announced a new record for the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). On his Twitter account, Rainieri announced the airport had topped the eight million passenger mark for the first time on 30 December 2022. In 2021, the Punta Cana International Airport handled 4,252,518 passengers.
The more than eight million arrivals in 2022 compared to the previous record in pre-Covid 2019 when traffic reached 7,106,248 travelers, according to Civil Aviation Board statistics.
The Punta Cana International Airport handles the most traffic of the six international airports in the Dominican Republic. Around 65% of all air arrivals land in Punta Cana. The airport is served by most airlines in the Caribbean and Central America.
Punta Cana International is the first Dominican airport to break the eight-million mark. “This achievement is evidence of the advances and growth of the country and the Dominican tourism industry,” wrote Rainieri on his Twitter account.
The record-breaking total comes when the airport celebrates its 39th anniversary. A major expansion is underway at the airport with US$80 million invested in Terminal B that primarily caters to US travelers. Once completed, the terminal will cover an area of approximately 25,000 m² and will have seven boarding gates with the capacity for handling three million passengers a year.
Terminal B is prepared for pre-clearance immigration services that are yet to go into effect. Pre-clearance means that travelers headed to the United States from Punta Cana clear US Customs in the Dominican Republic. The measure awaits a ruling from the Constitutional Court.
