North Coast turn around is near.

Paul Thate · #1 09-24-2002, 05:10 PM

the turnaround for the northcoast is not that far away any more .

Just heard the LTI sol de plata has a new management will rebuilt and restore by an american out fit (Super Clubs). This means no longer cheap german tourist but rich americans that usually spend more.
2 more hotels in Cabarete changed hands will also be refitted
for the north american market.
The increasing popularity of kite surfing will attract a new group of tourist in addition to regular surfing.

An imminent cleaning up of Sosua.
The goal family type holidays.
Also the cleaning up of the bay.

People that are involved in longterm villa renting report they
are all sold out.

Realestate sales are taking place with an increased frequency.

We might just have reached the bottom and are on the way up.

Ken · #2 09-24-2002, 07:19 PM

Only time will tell, but I certainly hope you are right. The new hotel complex in Sosua has the potential to do a lot for that town. When fully completed, the complex will also include a casino.

MommC · #3 09-24-2002, 07:32 PM

Let's hope the south coast turnaround is at hand also. Seems to me also what has happened it that the north coast developed first....over built and then the south started to develop drawing the tour companies to the newer resorts which in turn became overbuilt so smaller properties started to decline. Then the Punta Cana/Bavaro area started to develop and the tour companies again moved to the newer/bigger/better resorts. That left both the north coast and the south coast "dead". The events of the past few years- first the tech stock meltdown and then 9/11 further dampened tourism to the detriment of all areas. Also the Dr started to become more expensive in terms of available AI's in places such as Venezuela and Cuba so much of the "cheap" tourist trade moved to those areas. Cuba countered with better resorts and service with a higher price tag which has attractedd the more discerning yet budget minded traveller and apparently via the rumour mill Venezuela is trying to "catch up". It seems only the DR has failed to improve (ie. garbage littered higways, properties only now being upgraded etc.) however there are encouraging signs that this may be changing.

Paul Thate · #4 09-24-2002, 07:36 PM

the Sol de plata project will have a casino as well
also its rumored a meeting hall handeling 1000 people.
Looks like they have some plans.

Ken · #5 09-24-2002, 07:49 PM

Hopefully all these plans for Cabarete and Sosua will come to fruition, Paul. But if they really want to get the American market, they must do an awful lot of PR work. The DR doesn't have too good a reputation as a tourist destination in the US at present. One reason for this is the heavy involvement of Dominicans in the drug scene in New York. Also, publicity like the article recently on "riots" in the DR give the impression this is a dangerous place. They also have to clean up the streets, etc. Europeans getting a low priced AI will put up with a lot that Americans or upper middle class clients of any nation will not. I say "upper middle class" because I think this is the best we can hope for. I don't think the North Coast will ever be the destination for the really rich vacationers.

Paul Thate · #6 09-24-2002, 08:05 PM

Its getting to be known . Only last year when my children came to visit , Their friends used to say You go to The DR? Why/ What's there.
Allready now it has changed, They are getting a positive reaction.
Now when I go out at night I hear more and more
american spoken around me.
Last year that would have been only german and french.

MommC was right with the different travel trends.
I think Punta Cana better watches out.
Because beside some resorts PC has really nothing going for it.
When the north Coast has it act together it is an unbeatable
travel destination.

MommC · #7 09-24-2002, 08:29 PM

I think you nailed it on the head Ken......Outside of Casa de Campo maybe the DR is not for wealthy vacationers however middle to uppermiddle class, especially those within a 4-5 hour flying time could be a major market if conditions were more favourable.

jdiaz · #8 09-24-2002, 08:45 PM

I can back paul on that......When I entered the corporate world 5 years ago here in the states and talked about my plans to vacation in DR I would get a dear in headlights look. But as of the last couple of year that's changed though. As more 1st and 2nd generation Dominicans penetrate the corportate world, society and become more "Americanized" old negative beliefs about dominicans and DR in general are broken down. Last time I went on vacation to DR I brought back pictures. My co-workers were amazed. Many had this perception of DR as a ghetto waste land. On the contrary, much to their amazement. Consequently, I've had a few friends at work vacation DR and come back believers.
I agree with Ken DR needs to do a little bit more in the way of PR. Most vacation commercials here about the carribean are on Puerto Rico and Jamaica and in my opinion those 2 have got nothing on DR. I think I can say that as I have visited all 3 islands. Puerto Rico is nice. But, it's basically an American state with an almost all hispanic community in the carribean and Jamaica, well it's Jamaica.

Escott · #9 09-24-2002, 10:11 PM

Paul, that is old news. Did you hear that they are building a 6000 sq. ft. casino by the road as well? Vince from the Casino in Sosua is going to be running it.

Regards,
Escott

Paul Thate · #10 09-25-2002, 01:52 PM

so the big hotel on sosua bay gets one, Sol de plata gets one ,
are you talking about a third casino or one of the above two.