In the Dominican Republic, visitor numbers
are up, road construction is under way and Donald Trump is
investing.
Foreign arrivals
increased by 16% in 2006, to a total of 4.4 million visitors. The
U.S. market accounted for 30.2% of the total, or more than 1
million arrivals, for the second consecutive year, according to a
report issued by the Dominican Republic Ministry of
Tourism.
In addition,
North American arrivals to the destination exceeded those from
Europe for the second consecutive year.
A separate report
from the country's central bank revealed that tourism receipts
contributed more than $3.75 billion in foreign exchange revenue to
the Dominican Republic's economy last year, up from $3.5 billion in
2005.
In other D.R.
news:
" The highway linking Samana on the
country's east coast and Santo Domingo on the south coast will be
completed by December, reducing driving time between the two points
to two hours.
" The Pomier Caves system in San
Cristobal, an hour west of Santo Domingo, has a new entrance,
thanks to a design team of students, architects and instructors
from the U.S. and the Dominican Republic who built the entrance in
January.
The caves are
considered one of the Caribbean's most important pre-Columbian
sites, prompting UNESCO to apply for their application for World
Heritage status.
" Cabarete on the north coast,
noted for its superb kiteboarding conditions of wind, water and
waves, will host the annual Kiteboarding World Cup from June 26 to
July 1.
Its famous Kite
Beach underwent a $3 million regeneration last December, which
widened the strand by 114 feet and added tons of white
sand.
Cabarete will be
the fifth of 11 stops in various countries as part of the
Professional Kiteboard Association's 2007 World Tour.
For details,
visit www.pkra.info.
" Donald Trump announced plans to
invest $2 billion in a luxury resort development within Cap Cana, a
mega-resort complex in Punta Cana. Trump's plan calls for a golf
course, villas, a beach club, a condo-hotel and private
residences.
The first stage
will be a gated community of 68 luxury residences called Trump
Farallon Estates at Cap Cana.
The homes will
sit 200 feet above sea level. Estate owners will have memberships
in a variety of clubs and amenities within the 30,000-acre Cap Cana
complex, including the beach club, golf course, pools and
marina.
For details,
visit www.capcana.com.
To contact reporter Gay Nagle Myers, send e-mail to [email protected].