| October
28,
2003 |
- DR stand wins in Moscow show
- Travel up 16.6% Jan-Sept
- Air Canada flights to PUJ and POP
- Air Canada winter season direct
flights
- Antigua-Santo Domingo flight
|
DR stand wins in Moscow show
The Ministry of Tourism stand won the first prize for best stand in the
Otdykh-Leisure 2003 Russian travel market trade show held at the Olympic Sport
Complex in Moscow, 12-17 October. The Dominican stand won for its originality.
This was Russia’s 9th International Trade Fair for Tourism.
The Dominican pavillion work area was a small village of colorful typical
countryside houses with palm trees. The pavilion was also decorated with posters
showing off the beaches, golf courses, water sports and diversity of the
destinations in the East, South and North of the country.
Deputy Minister Ana Rita Tejeda received the award for the Ministry. Hans
Dannenberg Castellanos, international marketing advisor of the Ministry of
Tourism and executive director of the Puerto Plata Hotels Association also
traveled to Russia for the event.
The DR is increasing in popularity with Russian travelers. Tejeda said that six
tour operators are selling the DR and this year the first direct flights are
expected to start to La Romana, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana.
During the trip, important contacts were made with new source markets, such as
Czech Republic, Rumania, Ukrania, Kazhastan, Latvia and Bielorusia. There are
good prospects for Transero, Aeroflot and Ural Airways to provide new
connections to the DR from Moscow.
The Leisure 2003 fair attracted 59 countries and more than 950 exhibitors from
the world over.
http://www.msi-fairs.com/ol02over2.htm |
Travel up 16.6% Jan-Sept
The Central Bank statistics show that air arrivals increased 16.6% during
the first nine months of the year. A record number of foreigner travelers –
2,116,450 visited from January to September 2003. The Central Bank attributes
the record number of visitors to the good value of Dominican vacations, more so
following the steep depreciation of the Dominican currency. For Europeans, this
is enhanced by the appreciation of their currency to the US dollar.
Foreign travel for the January-September period was 1,899,388 arrivals in 2000;
1,939,367 in 2001; and 1,739,143 in 2002 due to the effects of 9/11. |
Air Canada flights to PUJ and POP
Air Canada begins scheduled service into Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)
from Toronto, Canada this coming Sunday, 26 October. The flight marks the return
of the Canadian carrier to the Dominican Republic. Air Canada first serviced the
DR in 1986 with flights from Toronto to Puerto Plata and Las Americas. Service
to the DR (SDQ) was suspended in late 1988 and shortly after scheduled service
was discontinued to Puerto Plata (POP).
Since 2001, Air Canada Vacations, the airline’s tour operator subsidiary, had
been operating charter flights to the DR. The success of the flights, and the
surge in Canadian traveler demand spurred the restart of the flights to the DR.
The airline’s Montreal-Punta Cana charter flight, will become scheduled service
starting 1 November, twice weekly winter season departures (Fri and Sat/Sun),
with year-round Sunday departures effective 21 December 2003. The airline also
announces that its Toronto-Puerto Plata charter will also become scheduled
service starting 1 November, with twice weekly service on Wednesdays and
Saturday departures, with year-round Saturday departures effective 1 November.
The airline is overall adding 68 more non-stop flights per week this winter to
the Caribbean from Canada, or 37% more seats than last winter. |
Air Canada winter season direct
flights
In addition to the year round Punta Cana to Montreal and Toronto
connections, and the Toronto-Puerto Plata direct flight, Air Canada announces
several winter season connections to Punta Cana from Ottawa, Winnipeg, London,
Halifax and Moncton.
Punta Cana-Ottawa. Saturday departure. 20 Dec 03- 24 April 04.
Punta Cana-Winnipeg. Sunday departure. 21 Dec 03- 28 Mar 04.
Punta Cana-London, Ontario. Tuesday departure. 23 Dec 03- 30 Mar 04.
Punta Cana-Halifax. Saturday departure, 7 Feb 03- 29 May 04.
Punta Cana-Moncton. Thursday departure. 12 Feb 04-27 May 04.
And the airline announces its first direct scheduled link to the La Romana
International Airport. The La Romana-Toronto flight will be a weekly Saturday
departure from 20 Dec 03 to 24 Apr 04. |
Antigua-Santo Domingo flight
Liat has requested permission to fly the Antigua/Santo Domingo/Antigua
route. The flight would offer passenger, cargo and mail service. In addition to
Liat, BWIA (Trinidad-Santo Domingo) and Air Caraibe (St. Martin-Santo Domingo)
also connect the DR to the English and French-speaking Caribbean. |
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