Clients can go beyond the beach in the DR
IAN STALKER
The Dominican Republic is eager to revamp its image in this country, wanting to dispel any beliefs that it’s simply a destination for those seeking inexpensive beach vacations.
Jacqueline Mora, the country’s vice-minister of tourism, said during a recent Toronto visit that not only does her homeland offer both budget and upscale beach stays, it has many other sides for vacationers that aren’t related to the Caribbean Sea at all.
“It’s much more than a beach destination,” she said during a recent Toronto visit, citing scuba diving, coastal Cabarete’s popularity with the windsurfing crowd, and many golfing opportunities, with the eastern coast alone having at least 18 golf courses.
About 15% of Canadian tourists and 18% of overall tourists visit the capital of Santo Domingo, which Mora labels the “first city in the Americas”, having among other things the first church and the first university in this hemisphere.
“Everything started in the Dominican Republic,” she stated, adding Santo Domingo’s old quarter is seeing restoration.
Tourism authorities are upbeat about drawing more Canadians to Santo Domingo, thanks to Santo Domingo carrier Arajet’s plan to begin linking both Montreal and Toronto with its home base next month. Santo Domingo is a hub for a carrier that has a network reaching into South America.
Dominican tourism is on a roll, with the country last year seeing 7.2 million air visitors and a further 1.4 million arriving by sea, leading to a record year for the country’s tourism trade and Mora is predicting 10 million people will visit her homeland this year, crediting the strong performance in part to the Dominican Republic reopening quickly to travellers after Covid eased.
She said her country is increasingly reaching out to those seeking an upscale vacation, citing the recent opening of luxury hotels and upcoming additions in that category. A Hyatt is expected to open in Santo Domingo this year, while Punta Cana-area Cap Cana will see a St. Regis open in January.
The newish northeastern coast destination of Miches has seen the arrival of Club Med and Temptation properties, while other hotels are in the works, including a Four Seasons and a Ritz Carlton, with the latter expected to open in 2025.
The north coast destination of Puerto Plata used to see large numbers of Canadian tourists, but has been overshadowed by Punta Cana in recent years. Puerto Plata-area project Punta Bergantin will eventually see 7 hotels, among them a Hyatt; golf; and a film studio, with actor Vin Diesel playing a role in it. The building of the Hyatt is expected to start in December
“We are a diverse destination, a secure destination and an affordable destination,” Mora said, adding the country can host people on different budgets.
Slated to open next month in Cap Cana is an arena for concerts that will be able to host thousands of people and be next to the largest waterpark in the Caribbean.
Mora said her destination is also committed to sustainability, adding hotels will soon be unable to use throw-away plastic bottles and plans call for Punta Cana to run entirely on renewable energy before the end of the decade.
