APRIL 2009

Las Terrenas, emblem of the community harmony

Each nationality present will build its symbol

BREAKING NEWS: A decision taken by the Dominican Ministry of Culture regarding the increase in the different communities present in the town of Las Terrenas; since it counts now more than twenty nationalities such as Spanish, German, Swiss, Belgian, English, American, Canadian, Russian, Argentinean, French, etc, is to symbolize in an architectural way this harmony, with the construction in the main streets of the emblems, buildings and statues representing internationally each country.

Thus, the Statue of Liberty would be elevated at the corner of the Main Street and the Carmen Street and the Eiffel Tower a little further on the River side.

The Chinese having just arrived, we can imagine the walls in the Lomas and why not the Red Square at the plaza Rosada.

The beginning of work was not specified yet, on the other hand we already know that the realization of the works will be paid by each community.

Las Terrenas Live, 01.04.09

A guide to discover the Peninsula of Samaná

Tourism

BREAKING NEWS: The Dominican tourist destination of the Province of Samaná has the support of many companies.

Centro Cuesta Nacional (CCN) belonged to those, and it recently published a tourist guide devoted to Samaná, this making part of the project « Pride of My Land ».

The edition includes approximately 100 thousand copies with 90 pages of color and 15 sections which gather the different attractions and the tourist resources, as well as the services of residences, the gastronomical and the complementary offers which this privileged zone of the country proposes.

Vicky Malla, vice-president of the Social and Corporative Responsibility of the company, declared that one of the objectives of the project « Pride of My Land » is to contribute to the reinforcement of the internal tourism and this guide meets this aim by motivating the people who read it to visit this province.

Learning to like our country while knowing it better is the principal reason for this guide than we put today between the hands of the Dominicans.

Published by Asalvo Communications, this guide will be also distributed on the national network in numerical version.

Las Terrenas Live, 02.04.09

Work of the aqueducts

Water for Las Terrenas

BREAKING NEWS: The Government announced yesterday the beginning of work of termination and extension of the aqueduct of Samaná and the renovation of that which will supply water to the province of Hermanas Mirabal with its communes of Salcedo, Tenares and Villa Tapia.

That of Samaná will be wide in order to supply water to the communities of Las Terrenas, Cosón and to the other rural communities of this province.

The work of the two multiple aqueducts will be under the responsibility of the Brazilian consortium Odebrecht through their representative in Dominican Republic, the Consortium Bahía Samaná. The work will be completed in 18 months.

The multiple aqueduct of Samaná was started with an investment of 115.2 million dollars in year 2006.

The work was stopped and with the convention, an addendum was made to increase the loan of almost 50 million pesos, which makes a total of 165 million dollars.

It was subscribed between the Dominican Sate and the National Economic and Social Development Bank of Brazil.

It will have interest of 1% per year and three years of tolerance.

Las Terrenas Live, 03.04.09

Preparing for Holy Week

Initiative focused on Las Terrenas

BREAKING NEWS:The Ministry of Tourism has organized a Holy Week initiative focused on keeping some of the nation’s most frequented vacation spots clean.

The initiative, which involves at least 500 volunteers, will be focused on Las Terrenas, Juan Dolio, Guayacanes, Boca Chica and Andres.

The program will extend to other vacation spots throughout the country during the Holy Week holidays.

Holy Week is the time of year when most Dominicans visit vacation spots nationwide.

DR1, 06.04.09

Dominican authorities prohibit jet skis and horses

During the Easter break

BREAKING NEWS: The Ministry of Tourism, trough its Resolution 87-2009, has prohibited the use of jet skis and any type of motorboats, as well as horses and any type of equipment that might put beachgoers at risk during the Easter break.

The ministries of Environment, Tourism and the National Board of Beautification reported that 68 beaches and 96 swimming areas had been cleaned up for the vacationers before Easter Week.

Nicolas de Jesus Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez called on Dominicans to cherish the Christian message of the Holy Week and avoid excesses.

Dominican Today, 08.04.09

Holy Week in Samaná

Foreign tourists in mass in Las Terrenas

BREAKING NEWS: The beaches of Los Gringos and Poza de Bojolo in Nagua, remained clean, had stations of information, and could count on the active presence of the aid organizations of the Red Cross and the Civil Defense, in addition to SEDEFIR.

In Las Terrenas, the presence of foreign tourists was massive, as well in Playa Bonita as in Playa Las Ballenas, just like in front of the Colibri residence.

The beaches remained clean and the authorities of Tourism prevented the access to the quads and the motor bikes transporting more than two people.

The operation of Sectur in the North-eastern area was coordinated by Elsa de León and Altagracia Fernández, under-secretaries of Tourism, and was supervised by José Gabriel Rodriguez, collaborator of the secretary of Tourism, Francisco Javier García.

On Playa Bonita and Punta Popy in Las Terrenas, two tents were placed, each one on a beach, and these last were occupied by personnel of Sectur.

The Anadel beach, near to the town of Samaná, was filled at full capacity and the bathers enjoy it during the whole Easter break.

Las Terrenas Live, 13.04.09

Internal tourism changes the reservations of the Holy Week for May

The Dominican Republic is obliged to maintain competitiveness

BREAKING NEWS: Many Dominicans used to spend their days off in a hotel center during the Holy Week decided to postpone their reservations for the end of April and the beginning of May, when the hotel offers are « down », and thus to save more than 30% on the price of the tariff per night.

This change prejudiced the forecasts of the sector to offer more places to internal tourism during these festivities to compensate the reduction of foreign visitors.

The executive director of the Hotels Association of Puerto Plata, Manual Finke, explains that May is the month which is by tradition the period with the lowest occupation in the country, just like November and October.

He affirms however that some hotels have a high occupation of foreigners, and that others will supplement with national tourists.

On a world tourist market where new destinations already penetrated in force with attractive offers combined to fair prices, the Dominican Republic is obliged to maintain competitiveness with improvements in its offers to face the threat of the crisis which could occur during this summer season.

Las Terrenas Live, 14.04.09

Tourist flow down

First quarter of 2009

BREAKING NEWS: 1 million 175 thousand 812 Dominicans and foreigners not resident in the country arrived by air in the various airports of Dominican Republic during the first quarter of year 2009, which means a fall of 5.25% compared to the same period of the last year, during which 1 million 240 thousand 930 people moved, an official report indicates.

In the Tourist Flow report published by the Central Bank, it is stated that the arrival of non-resident foreigners in the country which underwent a fall of -5.04%, is the product of the economic crisis.

With regard to the arrival of the tourists coming from the transmitting markets during the period January-March 2009, the Central Bank supports that the main market continues to be North America with a participation of 60.42%, followed by the European market with 32.70%, while South America, Central America and the Caribbean, Asia and the rest of the world represented together 6.88 percent.

Las Terrenas Live, 15.04.09

The OPT Brazil promotes the Dominican Republic

One of the principal tourism fairs

BREAKING NEWS: OPT Brazil made the promotion of the Dominican Republic destination at the time of the 31^st edition of the Braztoa Commercial Meeting, in São Paulo, Brazil, considered as one of the principal tourism fairs of Brazil, and which joined together more than 3.200 professionals of tourism.

The attractions of the Dominican Republic were exhibited on a stand where publicity material on the destination of the Caribbean was distributed to the travel agents.

The Dominican stand, one of the 140 of the fair, received numerous professionals of tourism of Brazil.

The collaborator of promotion of OPT Brazil, Nodalia Arias, affirmed that the participation in Braztoa was very useful and produced positive results for the promotion of the destination.

We had a representative number of travel agents of the State de São Paulo who received information on our country, in addition to the informative material that they will be able to present to the future travelers, indicated Arias.

The participation of the Dominican Republic in the principal fairs of tourism of Brazil, is part of the strategy of promotion of the destination, with an aim of reinforcing the country as place of excellence for the travels and the holidays of the Brazilians.

Las Terrenas Live, 16.04.09

Sarkozy invites Dominican par to visit France this year

To bolster bilateral relations

PARIS. - France president Nicolas Sarkozy invited Dominican par Leonel Fernandez to visit the European nation this year, to bolster bilateral relations.

France Foreign Relations Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier confirmed the report in a press conference on international topics related to France and the European Union, in which three Dominican journalists took part, invited by his Government.

Foreign Ministry and European topics Assistant Press director Romain Nadal, said there’s still no agenda for the meeting between Sarkozy and Fernandez, because the later hasn’t confirmed the date to visit France. However, it shows the French willingness to have and widen a relation with his country, the Dominican Republic, and with president Leonel Fernandez.

France, as part of the European Union and with strong interests in the Caribbean, has its sights set on Cuba and Dominican Republic, two countries of the region in which French private investments have increased lately.

Each year 350,000 French tourists visit Dominican Republic, and have increased in the last few months as the result of the extensive strike affecting its Caribbean possessions Guadalupe and Martinique.

Recently the European Union, including France, signed an Economic Association Agreement with Dominican Republic, aimed at increase trade between the Central American and Caribbean countries. France plans to provide 194 million Euros in aid to Dominican Republic this year.

The French have taken note of Dominican Republic’s impressive economic growth and development in the last few years, and are interested in bolstering their presence on the island, despite the serious institutional and political difficulties with Haiti, its colony in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Dominican Today, 17.04.09

To enjoy the coastal waters of Las Terrenas

First and unique sailing club

BREAKING NEWS: Las Terrenas has the first and unique sailing club with international monitor approved by the Dominican Federation of Sailing, institution which invites to come to enjoy the water of this community.

Las Terrenas Sailing Club offers to its partners, its members and the public in general various options to enjoy navigation on Optimist, sailing ships for children from 7 to 12 years. Or on Lasers, Catamarans, Windsurf or performing Kite Surfing, for young people and adults, as to enjoy the beauties of the sea floors with a marine platform equipped for this adventure.

Located on the Las Ballenas Beach, Las Terrenas Sailing Club is one of the preferred destinations as well of national tourists as of foreigners who visit the community in full expansion that is Las Terrenas in Samaná, famous at the international level for its beautiful beaches and its coconut trees plantations.

With the construction of the Juan Pablo II Highway which shortens the distance between Santo Domingo and Samaná, Las Terrenas saw increasing the quantity of visitors who require a full range of options to have fun during the week-ends or to spend some holidays.

Las Terrenas Live, 20.04.09

The country enters into the list of the « Vertuoso » destinations

Elite travels’ advisors

BREAKING NEWS: The Dominican Republic entered the group of destinations supporting and selling by the « Vertuoso » Consortium targeting the segments of the high incomes in various countries of the world, but especially in the United States and Canada.

The Secretariat of Tourism informed yesterday through a press document that to insert the country in the list of the luxury « Vertuoso » destinations, the holder of this institution, Francisco Javier García, approved a plan of marketing with this international consortium, in order to place the Dominican Republic as a destination of great luxury.

Patricia Pérez, director of the Dominican Office of Tourist Promotion in Chicago, supported that the action plan included the public recognition of the country as one of the preferred destinations of « Vertuoso ».

She said that this promotion will appear in publications like the exclusive reviews and in the most important luxury fair which is carried out in the United States.

A very exclusive network

« Vertuoso » is a network of more than 6.000 elite travel advisers in connection with more than 300 agencies in 22 countries and in North and South America, in the Caribbean, in Australia and in New Zealand.

Las Terrenas Live, 21.04.09

The first school bus is coming to Las Terrenas

School bus service for the pupils

BREAKING NEWS: To ensure the school bus service from La Barbacoa (departure 7:00) to Hoyo Cacao (7h30) while crossing by the main street and then coming back to the village to drop off the last pupils to the escuela publica, beside the supermarket Tanguy, a school bus will start to circulate in Las Terrenas.

Thanks to the initiative of the Town council of Las Terrenas and supported by sponsors such as S.O.S Medicos, the Atlantis Hotel, the Pedro Mota Foundation and Las Terrazas de Cosón, this school bus will avoid to the young people of Las Terrenas and the neighborhoods to cover by foot or in « motoconcho » the way to go to school and thus to avoid dangers.

The beginning of this free service is planned for tomorrow morning.

Las Terrenas Live, 22.04.09

Promotion of various sectors of the country

Exhibition dedicated to the North-eastern area

BREAKING NEWS: The Ministry of Environment is setting up an activity during the Book Fair of Santo Domingo during which the promotion of various areas of the country will be made.

On April 30 (Thursday) and on May 1 (Friday), there will be a special exhibition devoted to the North-East of the country which will present the provinces of Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís), María Trinidad Sánchez (Nagua) and Samaná.

Any material referring to Las Terrenas, including promotional materials of Tour operators is being collected.

Between Friday and Sunday, a meeting with Mr. Erich Espinal, provincial director of the Environment will be organized, where more details will be revealed, this in order to elegantly represent the Province of Samaná during the Book Fair, national cultural event par excellence.

Las Terrenas Live / José Bourget, 23.04.09

« Surf de primavera Las Terrenas 2009 », to start !

The competition starts tomorrow in Cosón

BREAKING NEWS: LAS TERRENAS.- Today is officially starting the so awaited sports activity « Surf de primavera Las Terrenas 2009 », which will last until Sunday April 26, on Cosón Beach of this commune.

This surf contest is organized by the Dominican Federation of Surf (FEDOSURF) and will join together experienced surfers of all the country and Las Terrenas: Santo Domingo, Bahoruco-Barahona, Boca Chica, Nagua, Cabrera, Río San Juan , Cabarete, Sosúa, Puerto Plata etc….

The event is completely opened to the public and free for the spectators who will be able to enjoy a friendship and festive atmosphere during these two days.

Although the competitors will start their activities today, the contest in Cosón will begin on Saturday at 08.30 a.m.

Don’t miss it !

CONTEST GENERAL PROGRAM

SURF DE PRIMAVERA LAS TERRENAS 2009, Cosón-Samaná

FRIDAY:

3:00 P.M.: Visit of the athletes of the year and of other people to the (10 surfers) to the Biblioteca Anacaona- Mahatma Gandhi Fondation

8:00 P.M.: Welcome Cocktail and contesters and special guest registrations at Zingaro Café.

8:15 P.M.: Fruits Cocktail Toast and Special Recognitions for children of the Mini-Junior Surf category.

SATURDAY:

7:30 A.M.: The bus will pick up all the contesters and staff members at the Casablanca whcih will be the meeting point and will make the transfert to “Playa Cosón”.

8:30 A.M.: Contest to start.

3:30 P.M.: On Cosón Beach, come back to the beach and Welcome Cocktail aboard of the Catamarán, and travel to MARINA POPY over the Ocean, for the Staff and all the contesters.

5:30 P.M.: Arrival to MARINA POPY and transfert to the hotels.

9:30 P.M.:Welcome Cocktail at the Syroz Bar. Utopia and will present its artistic show “Atabales del Caribe”. This party is opened to everybody and to the contesters and to the Staff.

SUNDAY :

7:30 A.M.:The bus will pick up all the contesters and staff members at the Casablanca whcih will be the meeting point and will make the transfert to “Playa Cosón”.

3:30 P.M.: End of the Contest and Prizes on the Beach.

8.30 P.M.: Closing Cocktail and Party at the MOSQUITO BAR.

Las Terrenas Live / FEDOSURF, 24.04.09

Internal tourism is growing in Samaná

Increase in the operations of the tourist sector

BREAKING NEWS: Various tourist company managers of Samaná, positively evaluated the impact on internal tourism of the project Pride of My Land and Discover Samaná, initiative developed by the Centro Cuesta Nacional (CCN), which declared that the request for services on behalf of the local tourists who visit the zone, had tripled in comparison with the previous years.

During a press conference which took place within the framework of the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange fair (DATE) 2009, Natacha Quiterio, director of the Corporative Market of the CCN, declared that they received information of the organizations and of company managers of the tourist sector of Samaná, and that they ensured that their operations increased, after the launching and the development of the mentioned project.

The tourist executive of the CCN explained that this increase in the flow of national tourists towards this zone, allowed that the company managers of the sector do not feel the effects of the reduction in foreign visitors.

In the same way, Jose Oscar Orsini, of the Alliance of the Tourist Service Companies of Samaná, stated, that as well as the impact of the project as the new Santo Domingo Samaná Highway allowed to have many people during all the week-ends, this compensating the fall of flux of the international tourists, which substantially decreased since November 2008.

During the press meeting, one informed that the bay of Samaná postulated in an international contest which rewards the most beautiful bays of the world, activity which will take place this month in Portugal.

This reward evaluates the conservation of the natural and cultural resources developed in these zones, at the same time it contributes to the international recognition of the universal value of the inheritance of each bay.

Las Terrenas Live, 27.04.09

The swine flu epidemic benefits tourism of Dominican Republic

Alternatives

BREAKING NEWS: MADRID, Spain. - Some travel agencies are already offering alternatives to the people who had reserved travels to Mexico, ensured the President of the Spanish Association of Travel Agencies (AEDAVE), José Manuel Maciñeiras.

After the recommendation of the Spanish government to not travel to Mexico because of the swine flu epidemic, the agencies contact the customers to inform them of the situation and to offer any type of alternatives according to the flexibility of their dates ; Maciñeiras added.

Some tour operators already began this activity, as Globalia and Marsans, which pay back the amount of the travels to Mexico, or make a change of destination for the Dominican Republic or Cuba.

In fact, Iberia will allow modifications of dates and destinations to the customers who acquired tickets for flights to Mexico with tariff which does not allow changes, even if they did not cancel their flights.

On the contrary, the German TUI cancelled its travels to Mexico until May 4.

In this way, the president of the Confederation of the Consumers and Users (CECU), Fernando Móner, is convinced that the swine flu epidemic in Mexico is a case of absolute necessity; this is why neither the airline companies nor the travel agencies have the right to perceive cancellation fees to the travelers who decide to postpone their travels.

Las Terrenas Live, 28.04.09

Surf de Primavera Las Terrenas 2009 a huge success

Puente, Pérez and Santana champions

BREAKING NEWS: Cosón Beach, LAS TERRENAS. - With the participation of more than 50 surfers of all the country, the paradisaical Beach of Cosón, a great assistance of the local public, a vast cover of the local press and an important support of the official and commercial institutions and of the employers of the locality, the event of Surf de Primavera Las Terrenas 2009 was a huge success the last weekend.

During this event, the feats of the Athletes of the Year of Fedosurf were very noticed and those disputed the first places during the final of the Open Surfcategory.

Jesmarín Puente (Athlete of the Year 2006), Junior Gómez (Athlete of the Year 2007), Brandon Sanford (Athlete of the Year 2005) and Iván Herrera (Athlete of the Year 2003), made stand up the public thanks to spectacular high level figures which caused applauses and standing ovations.

Jesmarín Puente of Santo Domingo was champion for his excellent performances on the waves, Junior Gómez of Rio San Juan was rewarded by the second place and Brandon Sanford of Cabarete and Iván Herrera of Santo Domingo obtained the reward of the third and the fourth position.

The performance of Carolina Gutiérrez Guzmán from Las Terrenas (Athlete of the Year 2004) as coordinator of the event was also determining for the success of this last.

Another important moment was that of the participation of the Mini-Juniors (girls and boys) who caused the admiration of all the public present and the support of their parents.

In the girl category, the first place was won by Ámbar Florers followed by Lola Ares and by Mariluz Ares and in the boy category, the first place was obtained by Nolan Charlier, followed by Bastien Barbero, Lucas Margin and Pablo Foucault. All are living in Las Terrenas.

In the Open Bodyboard categor, Martín Pérez of Nagua is champion, followed by Edwin Then, also of Nagua, Carlos Barry of Cabrera and Pascual Silverio of Sosua.

In the Junior Surf category, Eduard Papito Santana won the first place, Yaneuris Acevedo of Cabarete the second, followed by Jules Gurrier and Glen Willensz of Las Terrenas.

FEDOSURF thanks the public for its massive participation as well as the people and the institutions which did everything so that this Surf de Primavera Las Terrenas 2009 event was a success.

Many thanks to Carolina Gutiérrez Guzmán and Román, Lindo Supermarket, José Bourget and the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, Adipalmer Photo Surf, Zingaro Cafe, Kari Beach Hotel, Lomita Maravilla, Mosquito Bar, Pura Vida Surfing School, Fuerte Sound, Oasis Hotel, Atlantic Sud, Azul Inmo Caribe, Canal 10 Las Terrenas, Surf Shop Sunvalley, Fort Knox and Jornada Semanal.

FEDOSURF – Las Terrenas Live, 29.04.09

Crisis generates closing of two hotels

They will take the opportunity of the low season to close temporarily their doors

BREAKING NEWS: The fall of the tourist flow in the country started to cause closing of hotels and the resorts Viva Wyndham Playa Dorada, in Puerto Plata and Bahía Estela by Viva, in Las Terrenas - Samaná announced that they will close their doors because of the lack of clients.

In a press note, Amanda Santana, vice-president of sales and marketing of the chain Viva Wyndham, informed that they take the opportunity of the low season to temporarily close their doors and to carry out restructuring and current maintenance works, in order to be ready for the high season with a renewed offer.

In the case of Bahía Estela in Las Terrenas, closing is planned for the beginning of May with an aim of concluding some restorations which will enable it to start again its operations with a different concept aiming to the real estate market.

Recently, the president of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores), Haydee Kuret, announced the closing of some hotels for the low season, which is alarming because it will be the first time that occurs in the tourism industry and that will generate job losses.

Las Terrenas Live, 29.04.09