NPN News by Locals
The Dominican Republic produces vegetables under protected environment throughout the country, due to an impressive agribusiness park growth of more than 1.912 percent.
This greenhouse infrastructure growth has enabled the country to increase production significantly, and improve foreign exchange earnings thanks to vegetable exports. In 2004 the country had 26.9 hectares of greenhouses now it has increased by 504.2 hectares.
This has been proportional to the extraordinary growth that has occurred in the production of vegetables in greenhouses, obtaining more than 4.6 million pounds in 2004.
89,374,248 pounds in 2011, with an increase of 85,368,048 pounds. While in 2004 3,303,960 pounds were exported, in 2011 the volume reached 64,253,386, an increase of 60,949,426 pounds.
The amount of vegetables produced under controlled environments in 2004 had a foreign exchange income of just USD 1,318,873, while in 2011 profits reached USD 58,519,624, for a foreign currency increase of USD 57,200,751. In 2004 sales of vegetables produced in greenhouses were about 702,000,240 pounds, which generated 8.5 million pesos.
However, production in 2011 was of 25,120,862 pounds, for an increase of 24,418,622 pounds, with revenues of more than 539 million pesos. The increase was of 531 million pesos. This significant increase in vegetable production in a protected environment has been possible by the support of the government of President Leonel Fernandez, through the Ministry of Agriculture, to producers working under that mode of production.
This new agricultural production system has allowed to ensure high productivity with safe-quality items and good profitability.
Sustained growth in this period is evident in the number of square meters of greenhouse throughout the national territory, the volume of production, exports, foreign exchange earned for the country thanks to exports and local sales, as well as the generation of employees throughout the production process.
Among the items that are grown in greenhouses include bell peppers, cubanela, spicy, table and cherry tomatoes, cucumber, melon, among others.
Exports go to markets in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Australia, Belgium, and Caribbean islands.
Source: Dominican republic Live
Many of the country’s ecotourism and cultural products, as well as tourism services that fall under the “sustainable tourism” category, will be identified with a “Dominican Treasures” seal of approval.
The quality seal was created by the Dominican Tourism Competitiveness Consortium. The products and services that will receive the “Dominican Treasures” stamp will reflect the authenticity of local products.
This is important for both the national and international visitor that travel outside the country’s hotels and beaches, with the hopes of taking a closer look at the Dominican Republic, its people, culture and natural beauty. The Competitiveness Consortium, as the certifying agency, ensures that the seal is issued to all products and services that meet the quality standards established. The Consortium was created through the efforts of the country’s nine tourism and cultural clusters.
The organization brings together the efforts of many communities and businesses involved in the country’s tourism development, and that focus on sustainable efforts.
The seal will be issued to the most varied of products and services, such as tourist accommodations in rural areas, culinary experiences, guided tours, arts and crafts, hiking trails and transportation services that offer excellent customer service.
In the Caribbean region the Dominican Republic is the country with the most diverse ecosystems. It features the “Pico Duarte,” the Caribbean’s highest peak, green forests and sand dunes.
The country also has one of the region’s most diverse cultural heritage.
The Starwood Hotels & Resorts and the Punta Cana Group announced the opening of a Westin Hotel in Punta Cana, the country’s most important tourism region.
The facility will open at the end of 2013 at the Puntacana Resort & Club. The information was presented during a press conference at the XIIIth Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE), the annual tourism fair organized by the Dominican Association of Hotels and Tourism (ASONAHORES), co-sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism.
The Westin Puntacana Resort will operate through a franchise agreement with the Punta Cana Group.
Construction will begin this summer and the facility is scheduled to open at the end of 2013.
The 204-room hotel will include 16 suites, convention centers, wedding facilities, a large outdoor pool, poolside grill, lobby bar, cigar bar, kids club and walking trails. It will also feature a full-service spa, a 24-7 business center and a Westin Workout gym.
The Westin Puntacana Resort will be built in “Playa Blanca” and its guests will be able to enjoy the facilities offered by the Puntacana Resort & Club, including three miles of white sandy beaches, championship golf courses, nine restaurants, a Six Senses Spa, and a 1500-acre ecological reserve.
The hotel will be located just minutes from Punta Cana’s international airport.
Westin
“The new resort will feature all the programs and facilities that have made the Westin brand famous.
It will be designed to inspire wellness, sending guests home feeling better than when they arrived,” said Brian Povinelli, CEO of Westin Hotels & Resorts brand.
The Westin Puntacana Resort will be the second Starwood property to operate in the Dominican Republic.
The first is the Four Points by Sheraton Puntacana Village, another franchise agreement with the Puntacana Group, scheduled to open in October 2012. For more information, please visit: www.puntacana.com or www.westin.com.
Starwood Hotels
The Westin Hotels company operates more than 186 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories.
It is owned by Resorts Worldwide, Inc., a leading international hotel and leisure company that owns 1,090 properties in nearly 100 countries with 154,000 employees.
It is the owner of the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis ®, The Luxury Collection ®, W ®, Westin ®, Le Méridien ®, Sheraton ®, Four Points ® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft ®, and Element SM. In addition, Starwood Hotels owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high-quality fractional vacation resorts.
Source: Access Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo.- The opening of the Sambil shopping center on Kennedy Av., together with the other businesses popping up all over greater Santo Domingo, will jump start the city’s internal and external tourism.
The affirmation is from Alfredo Cohen Kohn, head of the Venezuelan company Constructora Sambil, which builds and will mange the project he revealed is part of its expansion plans in Dominican Republic.
Interviewed by newspaper Hoy, Cohen said the city of Santo Domingo has the advantage of being relatively close to the country’s most important tourism regions, which allow foreigners and locals to visit in two hours.
He said because Las Americas International Airport receives flights from various countries, especially the Caribbean and Latin America many tourists of the region can stay in the city to shop, making the new malls being built in the city an attraction for the tourism sector.
The business leader said in addition to its commerce, Santo Domingo has many other attractions such as the Colonial Zone and the Malecon.
Cohen added that if the country’s potential is analyzed the travel agencies would offer packages for tourists to stay in one hotel in the interior and another in the city.
Source: Dominican Today
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Santo Domingo.- More than 5,800 local and international observers will participate in the May 20 elections for president and overseas deputies, of which the Electoral Board (JCE) has accredited 5,500 local observers thus far.
Among those accredited figure more than 3,700 of the civic movement Citizen Participation, 96 from the ruling PLD party and around 60 of the opposition PRD party.
A total of 5,642 people will serve as observers during the course of the elections to choose the next President, and seven overseas deputies who’ll represent the Dominican diaspora abroad.
As to the voting abroad, the JCE had confirmed to 211 observers and guests as of yesterday, including representatives of international entities and ambassadors.
Source: Dominican Today
The “Casa de Campo” resort, one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive tourism destinations, recently announced that it is renovating its facilities at a cost of US$54 million.
Renovations will include the re-decoration of VIP suites and public areas, including the resort’s impressive lobby and the “La Caña” Restaurant & Lounge.
Other areas of improvement will be the outdoor terrace-bar, pool area, the installation of a new and modern gymnasium and trendy boutiques.
The reconstruction of the facility’s kitchen, following European standards, will cost some US$12 million.
“Casa de Campo” also announced that it recently inaugurated seven new golf holes at the world-famous “Teeth of the Dog” golf course.
This golf course currently occupies the 47th spot in the list of the “100 top golf courses in the world,” according to Golf Magazine (September 2011 edition).
Source: Access Dominican Republic
Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic.- The damages to the rustic 16 restaurants, bars and tourist shops in the village “Pueblo Pescador” charred by an early Monday blaze which left 250 people jobless was estimated at RD$61.0 million.
The Samaná Hotels and Tourism Companies Association stated its regret for the loss of the traditional wooden houses turned into quaint restaurants and bars, and called it the latest blow to Samaná’s tourism development. It said the situation must be dealt with urgently together and with solidarity.
We’re at the disposal of the government authorities and the private sector to support wherever possible to mitigate the effects of this event which has deeply consternated us all,” it said.
In that regard Tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia announced the site’s total reconstruction.
After inspecting the zone destroyed by the fire reportedly caused by a short-circuit, the official met with the owners of the businesses to discuss the ways to rebuild the Pueblo. “What’s most important is that there were no human losses, we in the Tourism Ministry pledge to rebuild this village as quickly as possible, with the same characteristics…,” Garcia said.
Source: Dominican Today
Internationally famous Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra will end his “AsondeGuerra” world music tour June 16 in Santo Domingo. The concert, to be held in Santo Domingo’s Olympic Stadium, will be sponsored by Orange Dominicana, the international communications company.
In Australia
During his recent stop in Australia, Juan Luis presented his special blend of Caribbean rhythms to thousands of fans in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. The Grammy award winner has sold more than 30 million albums during his career.
Source: Access Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic has become an attractive destination for Australians, whom despite the fact they live literally half away around the globe, are keenly aware that the quest for trade and investment knows no borders or distance.
The statement was made Thursday in presence of Australia Prime Minister Special Envoy John McCarthy, who headed a work breakfast hosted by the Roundtable of Commonwealth Countries, in which trade and investment was also on the menu.
The diplomat said despite the modest current investment of US$150.0 by Australians in the Caribbean nation, Dominican Republic’s growing and stable economy makes it attractive for any country
.
Roundtable president Fernando González Nicolas and secretary Roberto Herrera welcomed the Australian Envoy to the activity held in Hotel Embajador, attended by numerous prominent of the private sector and business associations.
McCarthy was accompanied by Karina Menday, Executive Officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Americas and Africa Division, and Adjunct Ambassador to Dominican Republic, Katrina Cooper.
The Roundtable of Commonwealth Countries in the Dominican Republic is an initiative which promotes bilateral relations between Dominican Republic and its 54 nations including Australia, which makes headway in the local mining, sugar, foods, beverages and education sectors, among others.
Source: Dominican Republice Live
