AI resorts - Do they offer anything good to the economy?

[CommTHOR]

After taking my third trip to the D.R. in an AI, (2 of them won!) I was wondering how most people feel about the huge jump in the number of AI resorts.

I'm aware that most do not bring a lot of revenue to the local economy, and many people are quite angry at this fact. But, out of all these people filing through the resorts, what sort of percentages of people actually get outside the AI, find out how great the D.R. is, and become regulars? I'm sure a large percentage of THOSE people would've never thought of visiting the Dominican Republic, but the AI vacation opened up a door to them.

Do you think the AI resorts have any value? How can they be welcomed to increase the number of tourists that will inject money into the local economy?

I'm sure a few people will say that those that go to AI resorts are idiots, but as a person who has made 3 so far, (with more to come) some people LIKE to be pampered. If I wanted to "rough it," I'd stay in Canada and go camping. I'll go outside the resort at every opportunity, but I happen to like the opulence provided at the AI's.

[Hlywud]

commthor:

Here is a good read for you
Dominican Republic Tourism - Anne Fuller

[drtampa]

Our introduction to the DR was with an AI. We wanted to return to Mexico as we had every Christmas since the early 70's, but we waited until too late to book. Our travel agent found a package to POP. That was 1999. We have returned at least once each year and now intend to retire in Jarabacoa.
We have many friends at the AI we initially visited, we continue to return there (we have a very good rate and book directly), and I am certain that we will return there quite often while we live in the DR.
We ventured out of the AI as soon as we arrived and found a beautiful country with warm and gracious people. More visitors should do the same.
Perhaps our experience is not the norm but it worked.

[planner]

Originally Posted by Hlywud

commthor:

Here is a good read for you
Dominican Republic Tourism - Anne Fuller

It is an interesting read. I'd like to see it updated personally.

To the OP, I think that there is a lot the AI's bring to this country. My opinion - without the AI option we would not see tourists in any kind of numbers. There has not been the infrastructure to support non AI tourism and without the "value /price" option offered by the AI we would NOT attract tourists. We began as a low cost alternative. In the beginning it was the only way we competed. Yes the country is beautiful but it was too scary to many and too unknown. Many potential tourists here want to return to what they know, Mexico, Bahamas etc. We could not compete with them unless we started with price. It appears now the industry is expanding and becoming much much more then that. I think it is fabulous.

Now we have to get more tourists out of the AI, into the cities and towns, into the restaurants etc. We need to get tourists spending their money here. Believe me - the AI hotels do not have any problem with their clients going to town to eat, to shop to play tourist......

I also believe a lot of fault can be laid at the feet of tour operators. Some are very guilty of fear mongering to tourists to:

a. Keep them on the resort where they don't get into trouble
b. Sell them excursions to see the "real" Dominican Republic allowing them to earn their commissions.

I don't know of any other country where exorbitant commissions are paid like they are here for selling excursions. IN fact in some jurisdictions there is a legal cap on the amount of commissions allowed.

As the overall tourism industry gets increasingly competitive we will see more and more price adjustments and we will see more reliance on commission sales to create the profit lines needed. It is a shame that representatives of tour operator companies are paid so badly and have to rely so heavily on commissions!

My 2 pesos worth....

[Malibook]

Originally Posted by CommTHOR

I'm aware that most do not bring a lot of revenue to the local economy, and many people are quite angry at this fact.

What do they expect?
People will come and they can all turn their homes into bed-and-breakfast rooms for rent?

I think the AI add a hell of a lot to the local economy.
First of all just building them is a huge infusion of cash that would not otherwise be there.
They hire several thousands of people.
They buy local food and drinks.
Infrastructure like power and roads create jobs and pump more money into the economy.
Numerous restaurants, stores, tour companies, taxis, and individual entrepreneurs all make a living from the AI.
A lot of people who stay in local hotels or buy property might not have even come if they didn't have an AI to start out in.
I would assume they pay their share of taxes too.

Most AI customers are extremely cheap but even they are helping out in some ways.

Again, what do these whiners expect?

[CommTHOR]

Hlywud: Interesting read.

I think Planner nailed it when she said the tour operators are guilty of a lot of fear mongering.

Admittedly I didn't get out of the resort anywhere near the amount of times I had planned on this last trip, (Sorry BTW Planner - I packed the night before, and forgot your # to give you a call and meet up) but I certainly didn't stay holed up in "the compound" due to fear tho.

Does the AI cause more of a delta between the rich and the poor? People tend to create their own cliques, and those in one industry (tourism in this case) tend to stick together with others also in the industry. Is this common?

Can a poor person "make it" in a society that has a large number of workers making (comparatively) larger wages?

Sorry if I'm not clear here - having a difficult time finding the right words to my questions.

[Steve Costa Azul]

Originally Posted by CommTHOR

After taking my third trip to the D.R. in an AI, (2 of them won!) I was wondering how most people feel about the huge jump in the number of AI resorts.

I'm aware that most do not bring a lot of revenue to the local economy, and many people are quite angry at this fact. But, out of all these people filing through the resorts, what sort of percentages of people actually get outside the AI, find out how great the D.R. is, and become regulars? I'm sure a large percentage of THOSE people would've never thought of visiting the Dominican Republic, but the AI vacation opened up a door to them.

Do you think the AI resorts have any value? How can they be welcomed to increase the number of tourists that will inject money into the local economy?

I'm sure a few people will say that those that go to AI resorts are idiots, but as a person who has made 3 so far, (with more to come) some people LIKE to be pampered. If I wanted to "rough it," I'd stay in Canada and go camping. I'll go outside the resort at every opportunity, but I happen to like the opulence provided at the AI's.

Surely you must be joking!
Do your home work and you will realize the importance of tourist $$ coming to the DR!
Steve

[gary short]

HaHa......look at the malecon in POP............A1's killed it......

[CommTHOR]

Originally Posted by Steve Costa Azul

Surely you must be joking!
Do your home work and you will realize the importance of tourist $$ coming to the DR!
Steve

But who gets those tourist dollars? If it goes to mainly the upper tier/caste of Dominican society, is it really benefiting the Dominican Republic?

I certainly am not joking - I am genuinely interested. Just because I am ignorant in the field of economics doesn't mean I am trying to joke around.

[hifiman]

Originally Posted by CommTHOR

But who gets those tourist dollars? If it goes to mainly the upper tier/caste of Dominican society, is it really benefiting the Dominican Republic?

I certainly am not joking - I am genuinely interested. Just because I am ignorant in the field of economics doesn't mean I am trying to joke around.

CommTHOR.. I am not an expert in economics either but you can't deny the huge impact that AI and tourism has had on the economy no matter where the bulk of profit goes to.
Just the trickle down from that economy is huge.

Just think what the face of the DR would look like today without tourism or AI's.

hifiman