Santo Domingo - tourist destination?

[Chirimoya]

Santo Domingo is definitely worthy of being a tourist destination, but still hasn't fulfilled its potential. In practice the beach resorts are still the country's main attractions although there are moves to "diversify" tourism beyond this.

Gregg, PC airport was developed by the PC Group on the initial airstrip constructed by the Club Med which had the area's first resort. Because the road connections were so bad, their guests would fly to Las Americas and were then shuttled to Punta Cana. The government was never involved.

[FireGuy]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Gregg, PC airport was developed by the PC Group on the initial airstrip constructed by the Club Med which had the area's first resort. Because the road connections were so bad, their guests would fly to Las Americas and were then shuttled to Punta Cana. The government was never involved.

I understand, more or less the development of PUJ and how it proceeded. My point is that in some way, shape or form the government of then day failed to realize the potential. PUJ is one of a very, very few private, international airports in the world (some reports I see say it is the only one but I am skeptical about claims of being unique).

Gregg

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Santo Domingo is definitely worthy of being a tourist destination, but still hasn't fulfilled its potential. In practice the beach resorts are still the country's main attractions although there are moves to "diversify" tourism beyond this................

Santo Domingo is a great city but NOT a tourist city. Very seldom have I seen tourists in SD. The only type of tourism I have seen are the bus tours. The bus tours make a stop at El Conuco restaurant, a brief stop at El Conde, and a few other quick sight seeing stops. Santo Domingo does not have what it takes to attract tourists. When people plan a vacation on an "island" they are generally seeking a white sandy beach. If SD had a decent beach things would really be different.

mountainannie your list is great but geared for those who have extended time in SD.

Has anyone ever seen a family with small children vacationing in SD?

[jrhartley]

do the cruise ship passengers not bother getting off the ship ?

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by jrhartley

do the cruise ship passengers not bother getting off the ship ?

I forgot about that little group which does an afternoon walking El Conde. I doubt if the cruise ship passengers make it any further than Parque Independencia. When the cruise ships arrive traffic is terrible, much worse than normal on the Malecon. If you spend time in SD you can go days on end and not see more than a handful of tourists.

[Dragonfly32837]

Just because it does not have as many tourists as Punta Cana does not mean that it is not a tourist destination...

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by Dragonfly32837

Just because it does not have as many tourists as Punta Cana does not mean that it is not a tourist destination...

OK, Santo Domingo is not a major tourist destination in rep dom. My guess Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Cabarete, and Sosua, all rank higher than SD.

[Chirimoya]

That's because the DR is marketed as a beach destination. There is a different market out there for tourists who are interested in history and culture and Santo Domingo has the potential to attract these.

[RonS]

While SD may be the starting point for most tourists, I doubt that it's the tourists 'destination' in the DR. I agree with Annie regarding all of the great things the capitol has to offer, and I spend some time in the capitol touring and enjoying the city when I am on vacation. However, most tourist I know, including yours truly, look for a beach, sun and sand. Because of its close proximity, Boca Chica would help make the capitol a true tourist destination if it could get its act together, but there are problems with BC, which have been discussed on this board ad nauseam.

[FireGuy]

Originally Posted by jrhartley

do the cruise ship passengers not bother getting off the ship ?

With respect to your point, the number about which you make the point are minuscule when compared to the nominal 4,000,00 annual tourists which visit the DR.

Gregg