Begining to addresss tourism

I think we are beginning to address the real issues that negatively affect tourism and what is needed to improve it.

At a meeting held by the the association of hotels proprietors in Puerto Plata its vice president enumerated very eloquently the problems that are negatively affecting tourism in the Northwestern area. In attendance was the Secretary of Tourism Ramón A. Bordas.

Casoni, according to the El Siglo newspaper article, mentioned the needed amplification and construction and collection of residual waters in Puerto Plata, Sosua and Cabarete to avoid the contaminate of the beaches. He also mentioned several towns whose close vicinity to beaches its rivers are contaminating local beaches through its residuals waters.

Increasing trash collections; remodeling of Puerto Plata’s Victorian houses and infrastructure. Building entertainment like outdoors theaters, convention centers and the remodeling of local hotels.

Casoni also mentioned the construction of Puerto Plata’s ability to accommodate pleasure cruses. Tat issue is a reoccurring topic and something that I have been hearing though out the many governments, with several multimillion dollars of actual and planned expenses have been transiting through the years.

Sosua’s Iris Pérez, president of Sosua and Cabarete’ Hotels association however continued to mention some of the issues enumerated above but seemed to erroneously revert back to the blaming beach vendors for there decline. These goes in complete contradiction to President Mejía’s newly tourism advertising campaign that target the European tourism. The Europeans have had the pleasure of the friendliness of the DR people and for which many families continue to return. I have had the pleasure of meeting an immense number of families that continue to revisit Puerto Plata and know the vendors by name. Personally my wife and I have had the pleasure of taking my uncles, my parents, her parents and my sister, all families, to the island.

The POLITOUR is also making friends with the tourist, which is in line with the fact that learning about the culture is part of any foreign experience. That is recognized by the plans to remodel the Victorian houses the Morro and other forts, churches and the infrastructure. As Casoni mentioned there is a need to supplement the all inclusive offerings to external ones.

I think we are beginning to address the real issues that negatively affect tourism and what is needed to improve it. Take advantage of the customer’s wants, which include experiencing the culture of the land, mixing with the local population which should be capitalized and promoted because is one that is as friendlier than in any other part of the world including the Caribbean. I recall European children saying to their parents look daddy that is the vendor that we saw on the tape, referring to a promotional tape in which the vendors were shown with the typical chants or pregones. Look at the real issues, capitalize on the loans that have been offered and take care of the water treatment issues before it becomes to late for those areas that are presently in eminent danger but not irreversible so.

You keep harping at the subject of vendors, as if vendors are a cultural phenomenon in this country or any other country. See vendors for what they are, just plain salesmen on a beach.

These people do not afford any cultural value except being pests. They make you sick with their continued harassment of tourists. Yes, most people want these people out of the beaches. This is the only country in the world competing at a high level of tourism that allows this kind of aberration on our tourist grounds.

People go to the beach to sunbathe, swim, relax and play beach games. The last thing they need is a bunch of hustlers, whores, and pickpockets interrupting their conversations or quiet sleep under the sun. You must be a vendor or vendor representative who has a bunch of these people selling for you.

Let me first go back to my first statement the POLITUR or tourist police is doing a wonderful job at the beaches. That protection is also something vendors are participating hand in hand with the police because they make a living from the tourist industry.
With the presence of the police are you going to tell me that those illegal items, including extinct animals are being sold ?
I also already stated that they sell the same merchandise (souvenirs) as the hotels and plazas , perhaps that is the problem. The navy or marina is the authority that has jurisdiction in the DR of the beaches. Are you going to continue now to say that extinct marine animals are sold? I don’t think so as a mater of fact I know it is not so.
Those merchants, the vendedores are syndicated. Do you want the syndicates to throw themselves out. Do not make them crooks because they are not.
I have avoided the term pollution and will only say that I know you are not that naïve, to say the least, to believe that the pollution is cause by the vendedores. Look at the bay of Puerto Plata and come to reality and then look at the rivers and what they are used to construct or used for.
The hotels that are closing are mainly located in Sosua. And when the police attempted to dislodge the vendors from the beaches, as ordered by the navy or marina it was the tourist that protected them and requested that they be brought back. The citizens you claim do not want them, then tell me why half of the town of Puerto Plata peacefully march though the town and the mayor rendered them support? Newer hotels and the collusion i nside the tourist industry through exclusin is harming itsef. The exclusion is so major that the hotels in Puerto Plata are excluding tourist from tours. Can you imagine not advertising to those already there? How can you deprive yourself from selling your product? Does not make sense. Stop steeping on the little guy. Those vendors paid thousands of dollars to be vendors and pay monthly dues and self police their members though sanctions and fines for infractions as simple as sitting on a char or wearing clothing whose official colors have faded.

My friend the more you concentrate in control instead of competing and looking for opportunities the worst is going to get. I may agree with you on one thing, the vendors days may be numbered if we do not do what is correct. Look around because you know, and I will not list the real tourism problems. The people are beautiful and are not the problem.

I am sure that an intelligent exchange could be entered if all those insulting and unrealistic untrue degrading adjectives are deleted. Your interest about who I am and who I represent is precluding you from reading. If you did read, then you would have your answer. But to make it easier: no I am not a vendor, although would be proud of making a living as one. Not I do not have any one working for me but want to continue enjoing the island safely.

I can't believe the tone of this posting. I have been going to the DR, and Sosua specifically, for more than 10 years. I have never been harassed, pick pocketed or bothered. In my experience there is a simple one word response that the vendors respect - "no". I have enjoyed interacting, bargaining and visiting with the vendors. In my view they are just people trying to scratch out a living. Why does anyone have to look down on them for that?

Oh, by the way, I am a middle class lawyer living in Canada who loves travelling and has visited most continents. I do not represent any beach vendors in the DR or anywhere. I do realize however that by a lucky break in where I was born my life is infinitely easier than many others. I don't feel superior to anyone else who is not as fortuneate due to an accident of birth.

so sorry. I don't agree. Obviously you have never been to Jamaica. Most beach vendors in Sosua or anywhere on the north coast that I have ever met politely take no for an answer. Maybe you have an attitude problem?

Methinks the man doth protest too much!! Tourist Watcher MUST be trying to wind people up as there was absolutely no need for his agressivenes to Pepe's post - which I thought well considered & well put. Certainly it was informative on his point of view.

It would appear that Tourist Watcher is not as well informed as he tries to suggest that he is (see other posts he has written) because nearlly ALL coutries that have beaches & tourists, have beach sellers. England has, Jamaica has (as indicated above/below), Australia, Egypt, Lybia, West & East Africa - are all countries I have visited & have experinced beach sellers at (some with beach sellers a lot more aggressive than the nice guys here where a firm 'No Thanks' with a smile gets a BIG smile back & the seller moving on or wanting to have a general discussion about the world in general).

OK Tourist Watcher, we take your sense of humour in trying to wind people up & I for one will be responding in like manner. Have a good one - Grahame Bush.

Thanks Matt & Richard. Watcher, what's with this hostile attitude, huh ? You really can't stand these vendors, these honest working folk just trying to make a living, can you ? Seems to me you haven't travelled much, 'cause a stern "no !, gracias" has helped me everytime in the DR. Maybe you can enlighten this board why you dislike the vendors so much, but more importantly, why you're such a disruptive, negative contributor to this board.
BTW... I'm not a vendor. Pues, calmate ya.

i agree with matt and richard.. i guess tourist watcher never watch..acapulco and vendors..i worked as representative in DR for 5 years and tourist asked for that type of vendors because they enjoy dealing..and sharing with people.