OCTOBER 2008

Crisis in US and tourism in DR

Asonahores thinks that the crisis obliges the country to be more creative

The vice-president of the National Association of the Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores), Arturo Villanueva, affirmed that to face the financial crisis which affects the United States, the Dominican tourist sector and the country must be more aggressive and creative.

Villanueva recognized that the crisis puts the whole world on burning coals and not only the Dominican Republic which has an economy highly dependent on the United States.

He expressed that despite of these facts, this situation occurs during a convenient period because in Dominican Republic, to face the oil prices increase, we sought to diversify the tourist offer, by signing agreements of open sky policy and by directing tourist promotion towards new markets.

The representative of Asonahores said that the country and the tourist sector must be attentive to any innovation, to take the necessary measures in order to resist to a possible negative impact, by saying that the American financial crisis exploded during a period of « low season » for the Dominican tourism, and that « played a favorable role ». The crisis struck us with a Government which made great investments on the infrastructures level, he said.

He estimated that the adopted measures will allow to face possible problems in « a well prepared » sector.

Villanueva explains that the success of the Dominican Republic is that the country knew how to diversify its tourist offer but he insists on the fact that we must be attentive to the movements which can occur, through the influence of the United States on the worldwide market.

Caribepreferente.com, 01.10.08

Photo Los Ojos de Denis - All rights reserved

Continuation of the work in Carmen street

The sidewalks will be terminated at the end of the month

The Public Work Ministry and the Town council of Las Terrenas continue the realization of the sidewalks, crossing by the Carmen street, this from the beginning of September.

Today, half work is carried out and the totality is awaited for the end of this month going to the Fishermen village.

Last week the sidewalks were terminated in the Hospital street and the way was cleaned.

The seaside road to Las Ballenas was also levelled on about an half portion, the rest will be made when the passage of the three-phase lines of Bonita Village will be finished.

The Codetel company is in full reorganization of its network with the installation of new posts and an increase of its lines number to ensure the Internet connection of the new real estate projects.

Sylvain MAUFRAIS, Las Terrenas Live, 02.10.08

The Tourism Minister in Las Terrenas

Visit of Francisco Javier GARCIA this weekend

The awaited visit of Francisco Javier GARCIA, Tourism Minister of Dominican Republic newly elected, will take place this Sunday October 5, in Las Terrenas.

All the subjects concerning the works in progress, the development and the future of the village of the Samaná peninsula will be covered, in particular the interruption of various real estate projects on this zone and the roads and streets asphalting.

For this occasion, on Saturday October 4 at 08:00 p.m., a meeting will take place in the Multiuso of Las Terrenas with the principal responsible persons concerned in order to elect the representatives of each economic and tourist sector who will attend the meeting the following day with the Minister.

Sylvain MAUFRAIS, Las Terrenas Live, 03.10.08

Meeting with Francisco Javier GARCIA, Tourism Minister yesterday in Las Terrenas

The improvement process of the tourism development conditions in Las Terrenas is moving

Las Terrenas held this weekend two very important meetings for its future development.

The first one took place on Saturday evening, during which the pilot urbanization and reorganization plan was presented by engineer Marcelo ALBURQUERQUE, plan on which we devote a special page of exclusiveness on Las Terrenas Live (see Urbanization Plan Las Terrenas).

The second crucial meeting took place in presence of the Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier Gacíia, on Sunday October 5.

During this meeting, several topics were discussed like the implementation of measures so that the tourist and real estate projects which are stopped can continue to develop.

The Tourism Minister reported that:

We spoke about what relates to the problem of the streets as well as the pollution of the rivers. Regarding these problems, we planned to come this week here in Las Terrenas, in company of the Public Work Minister, in order to make an assessment of the various zones, to carry out a redistribution plan in order to define which work is carried out by the Public Work Ministry , and which work, will be done by Sectur.

We will develop a capital spending program in the infrastructures zone, this program includes the streets asphalting, the cleansing of the rivers which are polluted by the dustbins thrown in water, a plan of signs which will be put in all the province and in particular in Las Terrenas.

We also commited to ensure cleaning and repair of Las Terrenas Sanchez road, moreover, approximately 19 kilometers of additional roads will be built to facilitate traffic which is sometimes very dense in Las Terrenas.

All these projects are linked within the scope of the Reorganization Plan for the province of Samaná and particularly Las Terrenas, which was set up during the management of Felíx Jimenéz, and which we will endeavor to apply in a complete way.

From now, the only thing that we request from all those who are in relation with this improvement process of the conditions for the Tourism development of Las Terrenas, it is that we all walk in the same direction.

Sylvain MAUFRAIS, Las Terrenas Live, 06.10.08

Meeting in Las Terrenas, the national press was there

Big investments will be made in this tourist pole

LAS TERRENAS. - Samaná. - The Tourism Secretary, Francisco Javier García, proclaimed that the time is coming for Las Terrenas to change in a radical way to become a model tourist pole.

He also announced important works which will be carried out by the Executive Committee of Tourist Infrastructures (CEIZTUR).

During the meeting with the authorities, contractors, promoters and representatives of tourism, and after having listened to the opinions and the proposals of the sectors, the Minister announced a vast investments plan in infrastructures in order to emphasize and to benefit from the great potential of this tourist pole.

He indicated that the resolution 02/2008, of which the emission in last July had suspended approvals of real estate projects in some sectors of Las Terrenas would be abolished in the coming days.

All these initiatives will proceed within the framework of the Reorganization Plan (Urbanization and development plan of Las Terrenas) which was elaborate with the assistance of SecTur, of the authorities, tourist employers and other representative sectors of Las Terrenas.

García underlined his commitment to manage in front of any other governmental institution which will have a relationship with Las Terrenas, the government actions which will be necessary to the execution of the projects required by this community.

He informed that during this week, it will cross all the sectors of the commune with his counterpart of Public Works, Víctor Díaz.

Among the authorities who attended the meeting, which took place in the Alligio hotel, they were the ambassador of France in the country, Roland Dubertrand; the under-secretary of Tourism for the Northern Area and principal assistant of the Tourism Minister, César of los Santos; Prim Pujals and Miguel Bezi, Senator and Governor of Samaná, among other personalities.

(see complete article by Sylvain MAUFRAIS, Las Terrenas Live, of 06.10.08)

Al Momento, 07.10.08

Photo Los Ojos de Denis - All rights reserved

Dominican Republic provides eco-friendly tourism

Eco-systems’ preservation

Since 1962, the Dominican Republic has been dedicated to providing eco-friendly tourism by preserving sensitive inland and coastal eco-systems through partnerships with leaders like the Nature Conservancy, the United Nations and the Smithsonian.

The country’s preserves and sanctuaries, like the Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic, the first whale sanctuary in the world located along the coast of Samana, are a vital tourism draw to the country’s fabled lush green surroundings.

Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier Garcia said, By setting aside 20 percent of our land for preservation, the Dominican Republic has taken a very systematic approach to ensure our natural beauty remains unspoiled. This dedication has led to the development of 83 protected areas including 19 national parks, 32 natural monuments, six reserves and two marine sanctuaries.

The Dominican Republic provides a plethora of eco-tourism opportunities which connect visitors with the environment in sustainable ways, granting access to the unimaginable beauty of the land.

The Whale Sanctuary in Samana provides safety for 3,000 to 5,000 breeding humpback whales each winter.

Dominican Today, 08.10.08

Many tourist projects approved

« It’s time to make a jewel of Las Terrenas »

Yesterday, the Tourism Minister expressed that it was the first time that there were so many great tourist projects planned in the country.

Francisco Javier García explained that he underwent in this moment an extraordinary pressure on behalf of the company directors having outstanding investments and who want to start the carrying out of their projects immediately.

He said that for this reason we created within the Tourism Ministry a mechanism which will allow accelerating the process of all the pending projects.

He referred to the Council of Promotion of Tourist Investments (Confotur), to which 24 new projects were subjected last week, which involves an investment of 3 billion 442 million dollars.

The civil servant estimated that these projects would generate more than 15 thousand jobs and 14 thousand new hotel rooms.

He regarded as fundamental developing in the country a massive investment plan in tourist poles infrastructures.

In this way, he announced the creation, in partnership with the Public Work Ministry, of a special unit maintenance of the access roads to the tourist poles.

He also announced that it is time to make of Las Terrenas a precious like crystal place.

He referred to the infrastructures, cleanliness and the order relating to the public ways. We cannot allow any more one only pothole on the roads by where the tourists travel.

He thinks that with two or three vehicles devoted to maintenance in each tourist pole, one will be able to solve this problem.

Hoy Digital, by Aleida Plasencia, 09.10.08

Creation of a Strategic Center of Tourist Development

Four next years planned

The Tourism Ministry will concentrate his efforts during the four next years in order to continue to attract the foreign investment, to conquer a greater quantity of tourists and to invest in the development of the tourist poles.

The Tourim Minister, Francisco Javier García, announced the creation of a « Strategic Center of Tourist Development » to study the competitors (like Mexico for example), to improve the infrastructure of the tourist areas and to implement strategies which will allow that the country penetrates and is known on other markets (as that of Russia which has a great purchasing power).

Among the quoted specific actions, there are the cleansing and the rehousing of the people who live at the river bank of the Cosón beach, the repair of the roads of the commune of Las Terrenas in Samaná, of Bávaro and of those of the East zone in general as well as a plan of indications ans signs in several languages in the tourist areas.

Other announced projects are the setting up of a promotion tourist office in Russia, to work out an official guide of tourist attractions, to raise the percentage of tourists who come back to the country, an educational plan for the sector and the construction of amphitheatres.

Francisco Javier García also expressed that he has the intention to work jointly with the private sector.

Listín Diario, by Denisse Cepeda, 10.10.08

Tourism and Development, the beginning of the change in Las Terrenas

Francisco Javier GARCÍA: after the promises, the acts

Three days after the first meeting of the Tourism Minister in Las Terrenas, whereas he spoke about a will of radical change for the village, of cleaning work, of asphalting, plan of indication of the roads and streets, the inhabitants had the surprise to see the energetic arrival of the workmen of the highway maintenance.

In less than two days, the Hospital and Sánchez streets were leveled, the first layer of AC-30 was covered with gravels and then the steamroller terminated the work.

On Friday afternoon, the Tourism Minister made his second visit to Las Terrenas, accompanied by the Public Work Minister, in order to evaluate the pending work to be carried out and to check the good order of the work in progress.

The financial investment will be ensured by the Tourism Ministry and the total cover of the infrastructures from the deviation Las Terrenas - El Limón, the roads and streets of the village as well as the Sánchez - Las Terrenas section will be repaired.

The Public Work Ministry will take care of the road Las Terrenas - El Catey whose layout is not yet well defined.

The Tourism Minister seems decided to put a term to a situation which lasted too much and we have to expect that work continue without stopping during the coming weeks.

Las Terrenas Live, by Sylvain MAUFRAIS, 13.10.08

Power cuts in Las Terrenas, work of Luz y Fuerza

Network and power increasing

For last Friday, the Company Luz y Fuerza, electricity provider for Las Terrenas and El Limón, carried out the replacement of the high voltage cables of the main suppliers. Work began from the generators to continue over the totality of the Hospital and Principal streets.

These new cables have now a section three times superior than the precedents to face the increasing consumption generated by the new real estate projects in construction and the installation of public lighting.

The posts were changed and the fixing height of the lines increased by two meters.

The technicians of Luz y Fuerza took the opportunity to also prune the trees in order to avoid any risk of electrocution.

The exceptional character of these daily cuts should not affect any more the interior of the village from the end of the week.

Las Terrenas Live, by Sylvain MAUFRAIS, 14.10.08

Bills on the Marine Biodiversity and Resources

Safeguarding of the Environment

The Standing Committee of the Environment and the Natural Resources of the Senate of the Republic continues the study process of the bill on the biodiversity, the coastal and maritime resources and on the biotechnology safety, handed over by the Executive Power.

Senator Felix Nova, president of the commission, declared the interest of the senators to listen to the opinions of the various sectors in order to balance them and to obtain a consensus for then carrying out its approval.

Nova, who was accompanied by Senators Felix Vásquez and Prim Pujals Nolasco, indicated that these initiatives have a vital importance for the country because they will contribute to the environment safeguarding.

The purpose of the bill on the Biodiversity is to develop, regulate and apply the principles and the provisions to the biodiversity and to establish the legal framework necessary to the recovery and the maintenance of viability, of natural evolution and of sustainable use of the latter at the national level.

This project also seeks to regulate the conservation and the sustainable use of the habitats and the ecosystems associated with the biodiversity like the access and the use of the genetic resources and biochemical derived from the biodiversity.

The bill on the Coastal and Maritime Resources seeks to serve of instrument for the administration, conservation and the sustainable use of the goods of the terrestrial and maritime public domain and the coastal and marine natural resources which includes biotic ecosystems, landscapes and resources, biotic communities, abiotic populations, species and genetic resources as well as the biotic resources of interior waters.

On its side, the bill on the Safety of Biotechnology aims to guarantee, through the biosecurity, the safe use of modern biotechnology, while contributing to reach an adequate level of protection for the use of the modified living organisms and their derivatives.

In the same way, to prevent the unfavorable effects on the conservation and the sustainable use of the biodiversity, on human health and environment in general, the use of the modified living organisms and their derivatives and to establish the general precepts which control them.

Luís Carvajal, member of the Science Academy, Rafael Nino Felix, vice-chancellor of the UASD; Daneris Santana, under secretary of the Environment, among other personalities of various organizations, attended this meeting.

El Nuevo Diario, 15.10.08

Average of the occupancy rate

Increase by 10,9% in the Samaná Peninsula

The avrage rate of hotel rooms occupation fell from 1% in Dominican Republic with regard to the beginning of this year, from January to August, since the rate was of 77,1% last year to go down to 76, 3% this year.

However, a newsletter of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores) allots this fall to the growth and the diversification of the rooms offer.

Among the various zones where the principal rooms hotels are located, like Santo Domingo, Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, La Romana, Bayahíbe, Bávaro-Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Sosúa, Cabarete, Samaná and Santiago one observes that in Samaná, this indicator went from 58.6 percent in 2007 to 65.0 percent in 2008, which represents a growth rate of 10.9 percent.

Caribepreferente.com, 16.10.08

The basketball tournament of Las Terrenas started

With an opening ceremony

This Thursday October 16, 2008, started in Las Terrenas the SUPERIOR 2008 Basketball Tournament, dedicated to José Oscar Orsini Bosch and the doctor Rodríguez.

The event took place at the polideportivo under the eyes of tens of supporters who discovered on this occasion the work carried out inside the sporting structure.

Among this work, we can quote the total restoration of the painting of the interior part, new restrooms and changing rooms for the athletes, the reorganization and the embellishment of the outdoor part decorated with a garden and a staircase, work carried out by the architect and landscape designer Maura Leonardo.

The tournament was inaugurated with a ceremony to which several representatives of the Community of Las Terrenas assisted, as well as national representatives of the Sport.

Among them, they were the Under-secretary of Sports, the Mayor of Las Terrenas, José Alexis Martínez, the president of the Luz y Fuerza Company, José Oscar Orsini Bocsh accompanied by his wife, Doctor Rodríguez and Camilo Medina, the president of the Sports association of Las Terrenas (ASODLAT), Omar Anderson, and Porfirio Leonardo, vice-president of the ASODLAT that supported financially the works, among others.

Commemorative plaques were delivered to the various personalities who made possible the realization of the best organized tournament having never taken place in Las Terrenas, according to the speaker who directed the ceremony, Vladimir Delmonte.

Four teams will face each other during this tournament: Los Bad Boys, sponsored by Agua Thiana, Los Mulos, sponsored by Banca Platinium Sports, Los Wes, sponsored by the Leonardo Center and Los Kings, sponsored by the Municipal Town hall.

The first game saw Los Wes versus Los Bad Boys, followed by a second game between Los Mulos and Los Kings.

The next games will take place on October 17, at 07:00 pm, and the tournament will end on december 6th.

LTL, 17.10.08

Environment dismantles fences in Los Haitises

It seizes wire fences and coal contraband in the area

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources realized an operative to dismantle fences in lands of the Los Haitises National Park, during which 12 linear kilometers of wire fence and seven contraband coal bags were seized.

The wire fences were mounted around mangrove swamps. The mangrove, being or not in a protected area, cannot be affected because the country is signatory of the RAMSAR Convention, ratified in 2001.

The operative that responds to a denunciation of the Hoy newspaper of last week, was realized on Friday between technicians of the Undersecretary’s office of the Protected Areas and the National Service of Environmental Protection.

Among the infractions stated by the Environment Minister, we can quote the cut down of about 20 trees per tareas in a surface of 200 tareas in six parcels of El Arroyón. Cutting down of trees was also discovered in Trepada Alta .

The institution informed that these infractions are violating Laws 64-00 and 202-04, and that they will perform pursuit operatives.

Hoy Digital, 20.10.08

Photo Los Ojos de Denis - All rights reserved

Tourist development of Las Terrenas

The holders of Sectur and SEOPC assume work as promised

At the time of a recent meeting with company managers, authorities and community representatives of this powerful locality of the North-East, the Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier García, crossed the tourist areas and the principal communities of Las Terrenas (Samaná), in company of the Minister of Public Work and Communications (SEOPC), Víctor Díaz Rúa.

During the course, the civil servants reviewed the principal infrastructures whose this emergent pole needs for its conversion into « mode » tourist pole development.

Among work which will be assumed by both organizations, there are the addition of 19 kilometers in Las Terrenas-Sánchez road as well as repair work and setting up of pillars and nettings on the edges of the way; asphalting of the streets, cleaning of the gutters and the rivers, among other work which will have a great impact as well as on tourism as on the quality of life of the inhabitants of Las Terrenas.

El Nuevo Diario, 21.10.08

The Atlantic Boulevard

The Executive Power asks the Senate to approve the contract

The Executive power asked yesterday the Senate to approve the contract which assigns in concession the construction of the Nagua-Samaná road to Boulevard del Atlantico Company, at a cost of 160.6 million dollars.

This infrastructure is the Atlantic Boulevard public highway and it will connect the communities of Nagua - Rincón de Molinillo – Sánchez - Samaná - El Limón - Las Terrenas – El Catey International Airport, over a 124 kilometers length, of which 99 kilometers correspond to the readjustment, the rebuilding and the rehabilitation of the drainages and the paving of the road; while 25 kilometers will correspond to the construction of a new road connecting Las Terrenas and El Catey International Airport.

A correspondence sent to the president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Pérez, signed by President Leonel Fernández, establishes that the company will bring during the stage of construction a venture capital of 20.6 million and a bank credit or an emission of titles on the market of local or international capital for 140 million dollars.

Article twelve of the concession contract establishes that the Dominican state will grant the minimal receipt for concept of deficit contingent, to guarantee the financial balance of work and activities to be carried out.

This construction constitutes the second stage of the Santo Domingo - Cruce Rincón de Molinillo (Samaná) road and will allow to the users of the latter the best and faster access to the tourist destinations of all the area of the peninsula of Samaná and of Sánchez Ramirez, indicates the document.

It specifies that the users of this road will make a significant saving in terms of travel time and fuel, while contributing to the development of the zone, the safeguarding of the environment and to the sustainable growth of the national tourism industry.

It ensures that the execution of this work will allow that the agro-industrial zone of the Bajo Yuna and of Monte Plata develops, while allowing that the agricultural produce is directly transferred in the centers of consumption, at a smaller cost for the producers.

Listín Diario, by Pilar Moreno, 22.10.08

Exclusive penthouses signed by Patricia Read

In the exuberant Balcones del Atlántico complex

Definitely, the paradisiacal zone of Las Terrenas, Samaná, is a fashion place.

The opening of the El Catey airport and constant constructions of hotel complexes placed it as favorite at the time of investing.

In this way, the recognized company Bisonó Enterprises joined the tendency and built, with the creativity of the famous designer Patricia Read Baquero, 12 exclusive penthouses located in the exuberant Balcones del Atlántico real tourist complex.

The apartments, which are named Signature Package by Patricia Read Baquero are entirely decorated by the artist who has a long experience in the field of summer spaces decoration.

These penthouses are proposed to customers who desire to enjoy the wonders of Las Terrenas.

The atmosphere was created for people who appreciate good taste and exoticism in decoration.

The president of the project, Máximo Bisonó, emphasized the assets of the complex, as well as of a beach club which should be inaugurated soon.

Patricia Read Baquero, interior decorator, is a Caribbean lover. It is one of the most famous interior designers in our country.

Patricia carried out important contributions to spaces, by reflecting our tropical environment.

Hoy Digital, 23.10.08

The Dominican Republic wants to reinforce the business tourism

Coming from Spain

The Dominican Ministry of Tourism adopted as promotional strategy for the year 2009, the reinforcement of the business tourism, to face the conjuncture of crisis lived on a world level.

According to the declarations of the director of the Tourism Office for Spain and Portugal, Paola Dimitri, in spite of the situation, the country was maintained as a favorite long distance destination for the Spanish people and for the period January-August 2008, one registered a growth of visitors by 3.62%.

Dimitri explained that the holiday budget is generally one of the most sensitive in economical situation of crisis, since the persons who move belongs to the middle-class.

This bad economic situation is more felt in the middle-class, traveling in family and generally making holidays in summer she commented.

To face this situation, the ministry will diversify its strategy of market, while being focused on a public having a greater purchasing power, like the companies which perform promotion travels for their employees, as well as business tourism and conventions.

The Dominican Republic is well connected in the area through the air lines and has the best system of telecommunications of the zone .

The civil servant stressed that, as for the segment holidays and leisure, it will be highlighted by making the promotion of the golf courses available in the country, as well as of the protected sectors and the adventure tourism.

Dimitri informed that in a general way, the Dominican Republic is focused on the fortification of the new emerging markets coming from the Eastern Europe.

In this way, the tourist strategy of promotion is betting on the Eastern Europe, where one noticed an increased marked in the numbers of travelers comimg to the Dominican Republic she concluded.

Caribepreferente.com, 24.10.08

Photo Los Ojos de Denis - All rights reserved

Beaches cleaning days in Las Terrenas

The nature needs you !

We invite you to take part in the next days of the Las Terrenas beaches cleaning which will take place:

• On Sunday November 15
• On Saturday November 29
• On Sunday December 14

Appointment: Mouth of Río de Las Terrenas, Caño Seco -Time: 8:00 a.m to 12.a.m.

Come to join us to clean the sea fronts and that thus little by little to have the most beautiful and cleanest beaches of the country.

The festive season is coming soon and we want to welcome the visitors during this beautiful period of the year with splendid beaches.

Let’s work together for the good of each other !

For more information: Ivonne Butler de Quiñones, (809) 756-5505

Las Terrenas Live, 27.10.08

Photo Los Ojos de Denis - All rights reserved

Las Terrenas, next hot spot ?

Developers eye Samaná as the Caribbean version of St. Tropez

The beach town of Las Terrenas, already home to a community of European expatriates, is part of the Samaná peninsula, which some developers view as the country’s next hot spot, the Caribbean version of St. Tropez

In July the government imposed a ban on new building permits, citing the need to stem the sprawl. But the ban was lifted earlier this month, after new infrastructure guidelines were imposed.

The time has come for Las Terrenas to radically change and become a model tourism resort new tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia told the local press. The more vigorous planning effort could be good news for the area, developers say.

The government really wants to turn Las Terrenas into a more organized resort development said Greg Breitbart, who is helping to market « Las Terrazas de Cosón », a collection of 72 villas on a pristine hillside outside the town.

Although relatively undeveloped compared to the fast-growing Cap Cana region, Samaná is expected to get a boost from a new highway cutting the travel time from Santa Domingo from five hours to two. And last year the El Catey International Airport opened, offering the promise of direct flights to the Peninsula.

Dominican Today, 28.10.08

Thousand three hundred baccalaureates in the Province of Samaná

Graduation ceremony in 16 colleges

Province of SAMANÁ. - The Secretariat of Education will deliver, for the first time of the Dominican history, more than 100 thousand baccalaureates in all the country, announced the holder of the portfolio.

Melanio Paredes gave this figure at the time of the graduation ceremony of more than 1300 bachelors, students of the 16 colleges of the province of Samaná.

The civil servant, while making the speech, said that this is demonstrating the progress of the educational system.

Paredes directed the ceremony in company of the governor of the province, Miguel Bezi, and of the president of the Dominican Foundation of Integral Development, engineer Felix Bautista, among other personalities.

Hoy Digital, by Erica Guzman, 29.10.08

The Minister meets with Tour Operators of Miami

From Florida to Dominicana

MIAMI. - The Secretary of Tourism (Sectur), Francisco Javier García, met with important American Tour Operators to negotiate cooperation agreements guaranteeing the flow of the visitors coming from North America to Dominican Republic.

García, who is in business travel in the United States, met in Miami with managers of MK Travel Plan, Bahía Príncipe USA and The Vacation Store, big companies which every season bring the largest flow of visitors from Florida, said a press release of the Tourism Ministry.

The civil servant conversed separately with the president of MK Travel Plane, Amelia Cachaldora; the executive of Bahía Príncipe USA, Henry Pérez and the president of The Vacation Store, Rossanna Metz, to whom he guaranteed support and co-operation of Sectur for joint marketing actions in order to maintain tourist flow from Florida to Dominican Republic.

During his meeting with the tourism representatives in the United States, the minister reiterated his interest to work with innovating strategies directed towards niches like the Hispanic population of the US market.

Sectur will diversify the Dominican tourist product in the United States, in order they know, thanks to an impacting publicity campaign, that our destination is more than sun and beaches, and that we can offer a big diversity of tourist resources, different that them of other competitors, affirmed García, according to the press release sent to Al Momento.

Al Momento, 30.10.08

The village of Las Terrenas in the American press !

Luxury residences for million dollars

Following the upheavals of these last months concerning the law coming into effect in July which prohibited all new constructions, following many oppositions of associations of the village and following the visits of the Ministers of Tourism and of Public Works, and finally following the recent lifting of this law, the village of Las Terrenas succeeded in making noise as far as the United States.

Article published in The Global Edition of the New York Times of Friday, October 24.

Las Terrenas Live, 31.10.08