JULY 2010
Officials of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources hold a meeting
In Hotel Aligio, Las Terrenas
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- Friday, July 2nd, The Hotel Aligio was the location of an important meeting between the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and representatives from a considerable number of economic and social institutions from the community of Las Terrenas.
Such groups include the United Association for Las Terrenas, Representatives of the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA), the Association of Builders, the Association of Transport, the Neighborhood Association, Association for Development, the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores), the Association of Tourism in Samaná, Representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, as well
The meeting will address the issue of the stoppage of several construction projects in the area by the Ministry of Environment, for lack of permits. According to Rafael Emilio Gomez, a representative from the ministry of the Environment in Samaná, builders are starting projects without permits or certificates. For their part, the residents of Las Terrenas are demanding the opening of the projects, since the situation is critical to the construction sector and tourism in the area.
Las Terrenas Live, 02.07.10
American Chamber of Commerce urges a joining of forces
To improve the competitiveness of the country
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- Alejandro Peña Prieto, president of the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham-DR), wishes to combine efforts to structure a strategy to improve the competitiveness of the country and support the creation of new jobs.
Prieto Peña said that in this current era companies face the challenge of responding to innovation, competition and competitiveness and as a way to confront this the country has to follow a three-pronged strategy of competitiveness based on; trade liberalization, a defensive strategy to cope with the practice of unfair competition and to balance the growth that empowers companies to innovate and develop.
Mr. Peña Prieto spoke about the National Development Strategy (END) 2010-2030
project, which was formulated by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development to strengthen the economy in a coordinated, innovative and environmentally sustainable manner. He added that, Amcham-DR understands the need to improve competitiveness, attract foreign investment, while taking advantage of the opportunities of the new global economy.
Finally Mr. Peña Prieto mentioned the need to strengthen the institutional capacity of governmental agencies, and that the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) must continue the process of good corporate governance and also must undertake more investment.
Las Terrenas Live, 05.07.10
Legislators from Tourism and Environmental Departments meet with representatives of Las Terrenas
Rule out the possibility to question Jaime David Fernández
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- Legislators from the commission of Tourism and the Environment of the House of Representatives held a meeting with investors, workers, transporters and traders in the town of Las Terrenas, Samaná, in order to learn about the conflicts that have sprung up there with the authorities of the Ministry Environment.
The meeting, held at the hotel Aligio, was organized by the sectors of the tourism community, who have complained that the Environmental Department takes to long to grant permits, which adversely affects developers.
The lawmakers included Mario Fernandez, president of the Environment Committee, and Juan Maldonado of the commission of Tourism.
Mr. Fernández stated that there has been, allegedly, some thirty projects paralysed, which has caused high unemployment and declining sales in hardware stores and other construction related retailers.He added that there have also been allegations of extortion.
The meeting was not attended by any representative of the Ministry of Environment, despite being extended an invitation.Fernandez said he would now hold a meeting with representatives of the Environment to hear their explanation for the stoppages.
He noted that although the meeting raised the possibility of question Environmental Minister, Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal, that there still hasn´t been a reason to use that procedure.
Both Fernández and Deputy Minister of Environmental Management, Ernesto Reyna, have stated that in Las Terrenas there have been cases of counterfeit environmental permits and that many promoters do not want to comply with Environmental Law.
They have denied that they are 30 projects that are paralysed, after showing a list of 20 that are in the assessment system and that most already have the required permits.
Charges repeated
Litvinoff Martinez, project consultant in Las Terrenas, said the environmental staff have become hustlers
and blackmail many developers to pay their tolls in order to expedite permits. He noted that while there are unscrupulous promoters, they act in complicity with local authorities. At the rate we’re going, there is increasing legal certainty for shady deals
, said Martinez.
Las Terrenas Live, 06.07.10
Law for regulating alcohol hours
The National Association of Hotels and Restaurants rejects the initiative
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- The National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores) rejected that the sale and the regulation of hours of alcohol be made law, because of the drastic affect on tourism.
The Police and Interior Ministry announced a bill on Thursday to control the sale of alcoholic beverages.
The law will prohibit the sale of alcohol after 10:00 p.m. in colmados
, liquor stores, and supermarkets, in an attempt to reduce crimes that occur in public places.
The business sector, labor, and tourism sectors met in the National Congress. During public hearings, workers called for the elimination of the initiative.
Las Terrenas Live, 07.07.10
Annual Patronale
festival begins in Las Terrenas
Basketball games attract local public
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- On Wednesday, July 7th, the annual festivities began in honor of Virgen del Carmen, the Patron Saint of Las Terrenas. The week long fair is one of the most highly anticipated happenings of the year for the local people.
The celebrations take place every year on the grounds surrounding the multipurpose arena of Las Terrenas. A large number of stalls offer visitors food, drinks, jewelry, clothing, children’s toys and books. The traditional vendors sell popcorn, hot dogs and angel hair
to the delight of the townspeople, who take this opportunity to spend time with their families.
The fairgrounds also feature a ferris wheel, a carousel, and other rides, as well as a concert stage, for musical performances. Misael Mercedes, a Bachata artist, is expected to perform this Wednesday.
Basketball Tournament
At the same time, inside the multipurpose arena, there is a basketball tournament, featuring: Los Mulos, The Wes, The Bad Boys and The Kings.
Las Terrenas Live, 08.07.10
Visitors from emerging markets offset lower traditional tourism
Tourist arrivals increase for nine consecutive months
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- The void in the number of tourists from traditional markets, has been filled by visitors from emerging markets like Russia, said Arturo Villanueva, executive vice president of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants.
The phenomenon was due to an effective job of promoting the Dominican Republic abroad, led by Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier Garcia, together with the private sector, he said. He emphasized the promotion of domestic tourism and the improvement of access roads to tourist destinations.
Mr. Villanueva explained that the absence of tourists from countries like Spain and France, which have been affected by the economic crisis, has been filled by visitors from nations like Russia, Brazil and other European and South American countries.
He cited that before the global economic crisis, only two flights per week arrived from Russia, and at the current time flights arrive at a rate of one per day. This is because of the effective advertising that has been done in these countries in showing the Dominican Republic as a destination for tourism.
He claimed that the country has become the leader in tourism in the Caribbean and that the last 9 months have seen an increase in the number of tourist arrivals.
Las Terrenas Live, 09.07.10
The tourism boom in the Dominican Republic causes changes to the economic model
With the support from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- Technicians from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are working on a series of regarding the reformulation of the current economic model in the Dominican Republic, according to the general secretary of the institution and the Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Temistocles Montas.
Mr. Montas, during a meeting with Angel Gurria, secretary general of the OECD, an institution that brings together the 32 most developed countries in the world, has stated that this reformulation is necessary, in light of the fact that for the past 30 years the Dominican economy has been based solely on tourism, free zones and the construction sector.
Since the decade of the 90s the country has been seen sustained economic growth along with political stability and social progress. Mr. Montas noted the need to diversify the current model and formally requested that Mr. Gurría lead a number of studies that will serve as inputs to the reformulation.
The Economic minister is part of the official delegation accompanying President Leonel Fernández on a tour that began in Germany and continues in France, which will culminate next week in Washington, USA.
Las Terrenas Live, 12.07.10
Tourism strengthens ties between the Dominican Republic and the United States
27% of foreign investment comes from the United States
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- The story that the United States is the main trading partner of the Dominican Republic has its foundations in various economic areas where the bilateral relationship is greater than one third of the total.
Income from family remittances, foreign visitor arrivals to the country, foreign investment, export destination and source of imports, are the areas or activities that link the Dominican-American economies. In the case of the exports of goods, the U.S. market is the target of 52 percent of Dominican products.
Haiti is the second destination, with12.8 percent and Europe is third with eight percent. But when it comes to exports of free zones, the proportion rises to 85 percent, according to figures from the Dominican Center for Export and Investment.
In FDI, the proportion from the United States is currently second with 27 percent. The largest investor in the Dominican Republic is Canada, with 37 percent of foreign capital entering the Dominican economy.
The Canadian position is closely linked to the Barrick mining project, a Canadian owned company, developing a large gold mining project in Pueblo Viejo, Cotuí, which receives an investment of about US $4,000 million.
In all other activities that impact the balance of payments, the United States topped the list.
Las Terrenas Live, 14.07.10
More than 5,000 French in the Dominican Republic
2.000 are based in Las Terrenas
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- The French embassy in the country has 3,000 French registered as living in Dominican territory, according to Ambassador Roland Dubertrand, who believes that the number is closer to 5,000 because not all are registered with the embassy.
About 2,000 are based in Las Terrenas, Samana, which even operates a school approved by the Ministry of Education of France, where 150 students study basic education.
According to Mr. Dubertrand this number represents 8% of the population of that area,
The French interest in the area began during the 1970s, when some Parisians became enchanted with this coastal tourist destination and unspoiled environment. Word was then spread mouth to mouth.
The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean country that has the highest influx of Frenchmen, more than Haiti, which is a former colony France, explained its diplomatic representative at the Corripio Communications Group Luncheon.
The ambassador explained that the obsession with the area began with the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte, who tried to create a military stronghold on the peninsula from which he hoped to control the whole Caribbean.
Las Terrenas Live, 15.07.10
Market del Paseo opens this Saturday July 17th
Singer Miguel de la Bahía perform
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- Tomorrow, Saturday, July 17th, is the grand opening of the Market del Paseo, a new tourist attraction in the town of Las Terrenas.
Throughout the day, the Plaza El Paseo de la Costanera will play host to merchants offering visitors a multitude of products such as seafood, fruits, vegetables, breads from around the world, candy, cakes, chocolate, flowers, liquors, cheese, art, crafts, sculptures, photographs, decorative creations etc…
With the support of the various sponsors of the event, six green garbage cans have been placed in the square to ensure cleanliness.
President Beer donated umbrellas, tables and chairs for the event.
There will also be a concert by singer Michael Bay, from Samana, starting at 10 a.m. For more information call 809/854/91/55.
Las Terrenas Live, 16.07.10
Progress
program in Las Terrenas
Guidance on dengue, and ophthalmic and dental operatives
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- The Office of the First Lady is taking action aimed at controlling the spread of dengue, bringing guidance to 135,000 families belonging to the Progress
program, who in turn spread the information to the residents of the communities where they reside. The training was made at two levels, one was given to 109,000 families this year and focused on tropical diseases in the Family Schools.
Dengue Prevention begins with proper storage of water in the homes. To achieve this, you must make sure to put chlorine on the walls of the tanks or containers stored above the water level and keep these containers covered
, says one of the flyer’s which members of each community receive.
Azua, Barahona, Bani, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, Jarabacoa, La Vega, La Romana, Las Terrenas, Sabana Grande de Boyá, Santiago Rodríguez, San Cristobal, Villa Altagracia, Valverde Mao and are some of the communities along the sectors Villa Duarte, Villa Mella, Capotillo, Cristo Rey, Los Alcarrizos and Los Tres Brazos participated in the orientations.
Operating Look and Smile Happy
More than 3,613 persons belonging to the families of the PROGRESANDO
program, of the Office of the First Lady, received medical attention from a team that specializes in ophthalmology and dentistry. These families were also provided with physical and health education in order to help change their quality of life.
Furthermore, contact lenses were distributed, free of charge, to visually impaired people, as well as performing diagnoses in ophthalmology and dentistry in order to pursue treatments.
The calendar of medical conferences planned for the remainder of the year includes the provinces of Hato Mayor, San Juan de la Maguana, Barahona, the communities of Sánchez, Las Terrenas, Baitoa and Guayabal and the Barrio de Los Tres Brazos, Santo Domingo East.
Las Terrenas Live, 19.07.10
Opening day of the Outdoor Market in Las Terrenas, a big success !
Visitors enjoy the fresh products
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- On Saturday, July 17th, the Paseo in Las Terrenas had the inaugural celebration of its new outdoor market.
Many traders were present from different villages in the area to offer their products to visitors, who apparently greatly enjoyed this new weekly shopping option.
A wide range of products were presented, fresh fish, homemade jams, fruits and vegetables, crafts etc…The diversity was not only apparent in the products offered, but also in the different nationalities present taking the opportunity to share a beautiful day.
The outdoor market of the Paseo in Las Terrenas will be open every Saturday. Those wishing to participate can call 809/854/91/55.
Las Terrenas Live, 20.07.10
The tourism sector captures the highest amount of loans
According to a report on financial sector performance
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- Compared with the levels in June 2009, the sectors that grew most in the amount of loans were tourism with 75.9%, real estate and business activities with 43.8%, and finally, financial intermediation with an increase of 35.2% in its loan portfolio.
According to figures from the report on the performance of the financial sector, published by the Superintendency of Banks, the tourism industry has had a significant increase in the uptake of loans compared to other productive sectors of the Dominican Republic.
Besides tourism, the rest of the finance portfolio is distributed among the sectors of financial intermediation, education and other services, construction, real estate, transportation, agriculture and electricity, gas and water.
Las Terrenas Live, 22.07.10
The French school in Las Terrenas has new facilities
Donations, Funds and Assistance are needed
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- The french school of Las Terrenas gives a french education to its pupils. It is involved in the comfort of the parental standard of living and so contributes to the development of the village.
Without the school, would you feel so good here ? Would you find all shops, restaurants and activities that make your day so pleasant ?
The french school is growing and is undergoing a transformation in its new premises in order to open its doors to those of you who want a french education.
THE FRENCH SCHOOL IS GIVING US A LOT ! ! ! NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO GIVE A HELPING HAND. Do your bit to equip the new school. With your donations in cash, your in-kind donations or simply with your practical skills.
Contact us by phone 829 898 99 50 or by mail esc.francesa@yahoo.fr
Website www.ecolefrancaiselasterrenas.com
Las Terrenas Live, 23.07.10
Juan Lladó points to the growth of tourism in the Dominican Republic
The country offers the largest hotel inventory in the Caribbean
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- The tourism expert and business consultant, Juan Lladó, said that the tourism industry is one of the brighter aspects contributing to the national economy.
He said the sector balance is positive, because growth has been satisfactory. We have the largest hotel inventory in the Caribbean we and are the most popular destination in the region
.
When interviewed, Mr. Llado added that the country receives more than 4 million foreign visitors per year, due to the marked diversification of the industry, not only in territorial terms but also in the products that it offers, including the real estate industry and golf courses.
He stressed, however, that the tourism industry should not be allowed to have a quarter of a million hotel rooms in the next ten years, noting that the country lacks the institutional framework to secure and ensure that this rapid growth does not harm the environment and result in other disorders to the national life.
Las Terrenas Live, 26.07.10
Construction starts on the pedestrian walkway in Playa Bonita
By the Infrastructure Executing Committee of Tourist Areas
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- Work began on the construction of a promenade on Playa Bonita in the municipality of Las Terrenas, Samana Peninsula.
The goal is to construct a pedestrian path that runs along the beach from the entranceto the Hotel Atlantis , passing in front of the many hotel establishments located on the seashore.
Therefore, from now on, no vehicles will allowed to operate on the path that will be exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists. Motor vehicles may travel on an alternate route parallel to the beach.
This project is being undertaken by the company EDCONSA, under the supervision of the Infrastructure Executing Tourist Areas of the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR).
Las Terrenas Live, 27.07.10
Dominican Republic to develop diversity in its touristic offers
To continue to attract French tourists
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- The Dominican Republic’s ambassador in France, Laura Faxas, said that the challenge facing the Dominican Republic is to give itself a different type of visibility in the French region, as well as strengthening bilateral relations, exchanges and understanding between these two countries.
Mrs. Faxas claimed that around 300,000 French visit the Dominican each year, making it one of the most important destinations for the European nation, and so it is necessary to open new spaces in this market through an innovative range of cultural and ecological offerings.
The diplomat pointed out that in the first step is to promote cultural tourism among the French, to expand the vision of sun and beach tourism that they have of the country.
In that sense, Faxas has reported that the Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier Garcia, met with Secretary of State for Overseas Relations, Madame Penchard, with whom he discussed the possibility of agreeing to the sale of a multi-destination Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe and Martinique. But also showing the riches of the Dominican intellectual debate, reflection on world problems today, and inform them of the role the Dominicans are playing in Central America and Caribbean.
France is a country with a humanist tradition, concerned with the economic and political stability of the region. President Leonel Fernandez, seeks a consensual and a common agenda for Central America and the Caribbean, whereas the French have an obligation to Guadeloupe and Martinique.In this regard, we have the vocation to be a strategic partner of France in this part of Latin America to address, as privileged partners, the transformations that is taking place in the Caribbean today
, stated the ambassador.
Las Terrenas Live, 29.07.10
Ministry of Tourism seeks to increase the number of European visitors
A study to assess promotional techniques
BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas.- Dominican Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier García, announced that his ministry will adopt new strategies to increase the number of European visitors and attract tourists from new markets in this region for the next season.
The official announced that there will be a study to assess the promotional techniques and marketing strategies that are currently being used to sell the destination.
Mr. Garcia spoke of this new initiative during a meeting with the directors of the promotion of tourism in Europe, with those who assessed the current market situation, growth prospects and plan strategies to attract tourists from new markets in the face of upcoming season.
We should review what is being done now and the type of tourists we receive, to open niche markets and redefine our tourism offers, emphasizing the human factor that distinguishes us from other destinations
, he said.
Las Terrenas Live, 30.07.10
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