Foreign tourism experts to be hired for Puerto Plata

[vewdew]

Tourism leaders on the North Coast have decided that the answer to the region's dramatic fall in visitors lies in hiring three foreign experts in tourism.
The Council for the Renewal and Promotion of Puerto Plata, chaired by the Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia, has decided to employ specialist consultants in the fields of communication, marketing and destinations.
The leader of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores), Jesus Almanzar, reported that the costs of these appointments will be met by the Ministry of Tourism.
Almanzar said that those selected should have experience in the revival of tourist destinations that have had problems with decreasing tourist numbers. He said they should be able to bring their specialist knowledge to bear on Puerto Plata’s problems.
The announcement was made during the meeting held last week at Hemingway's Café in Playa Dorada, which was attended by representatives of the tourist sector and media managers from Santo Domingo, Santiago and Puerto Plata. Those attending included; Roberto Casoni, José Natalio Redondo, Mitchel Musa, Jesús Almánzar, Patricio Vigoureaux, Lorenzo Sancassani and Jéssica Martínez and journalists; Manuel Quiroz, Luís José Chávez, José Monegro, Esteban Rosario, Osvaldo Soriano, Ricardo Rodríguez, Edgar Lantigua, Aridio Perdomo and Ney Zapata.
At the meeting it was agreed that Puerto Plata, despite being the most complete destination in the Dominican Republic, is not promoted in international markets and neither do tour operators mention this destination at international tourism fairs.

[princepointe]

They needed to HIRE people to tell them the problem? I'm gonna save them a million pesos and tell them myself.

THE WORLD ECONOMY IS SLOW SO YOU NEED TO MAKE THINGS CHEAPER. LOWER YOUR DAMN TAXES. lol. I know i'd be there alot if the taxes were lower.

[hugrad95a]

Tourism leaders on the North Coast have decided that the answer to the region's dramatic fall in visitors lies in hiring three foreign experts in tourism.
The Council for the Renewal and Promotion of Puerto Plata, chaired by the Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia, has decided to employ specialist consultants in the fields of communication, marketing and destinations.
The leader of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores), Jesus Almanzar, reported that the costs of these appointments will be met by the Ministry of Tourism.
Almanzar said that those selected should have experience in the revival of tourist destinations that have had problems with decreasing tourist numbers. He said they should be able to bring their specialist knowledge to bear on Puerto Plata’s problems.
The announcement was made during the meeting held last week at Hemingway's Café in Playa Dorada, which was attended by representatives of the tourist sector and media managers from Santo Domingo, Santiago and Puerto Plata. Those attending included; Roberto Casoni, José Natalio Redondo, Mitchel Musa, Jesús Almánzar, Patricio Vigoureaux, Lorenzo Sancassani and Jéssica Martínez and journalists; Manuel Quiroz, Luís José Chávez, José Monegro, Esteban Rosario, Osvaldo Soriano, Ricardo Rodríguez, Edgar Lantigua, Aridio Perdomo and Ney Zapata.
At the meeting it was agreed that Puerto Plata, despite being the most complete destination in the Dominican Republic, is not promoted in international markets and neither do tour operators mention this destination at international tourism fairs.

You know this really comical.. I can't believe its so obvious they need to lower the freaking Taxes. I can tell by this list they don't want the dollar they want the Euro..

First of all how is Puerto Plata the most complete destination in the DR.

[Ram]

You know this really comical.. I can't believe its so obvious they need to lower the freaking Taxes. I can tell by this list they don't want the dollar they want the Euro..

First of all how is Puerto Plata the most complete destination in the DR.

It was 20 years ago. It is hard to compete with beautiful areas like Samana and Punta Cana.

[hugrad95a]

They needed to HIRE people to tell them the problem? I'm gonna save them a million pesos and tell them myself.

THE WORLD ECONOMY IS SLOW SO YOU NEED TO MAKE THINGS CHEAPER. LOWER YOUR DAMN TAXES. lol. I know i'd be there alot if the taxes were lower.

Word, they don't want to give me that job man. I'll turn it around within 3 years on the up and up.

[Mr Hillbilly]

My cousins go to Cancun

All those Huge AI hotels south of there are awesome.

It doesn't take tourism expert to figure that out.

[weyland]

I can tell by this list they don't want the dollar they want the Euro.

Possibly true but how on earth do you come to that conclusion from the paragraph quoted? I cannot see any mention made of either currency or of tourists' countries of origin.

First of all how is Puerto Plata the most complete destination in the DR?

I guess they mean that Puerto Plata is the only place with beach AIs and a fair-sized town adjacent so it has the potential. The AIs could be refurbished without too much investment but to turn the city into an attractive tourist town needs a complete change of attitude by its inhabitants. Would take at least a generation if not two to change their mindset.

For example, an educated and reasonably intelligent middle-class Dominican posted on DR1 (in a discussion on this very matter) that Puerto Plata was "litter free". He clearly believed that was actually true. Dominicans simply do not see with gringo eyes. They have no standards, either in products, services or social interaction.

[weyland]

THE WORLD ECONOMY IS SLOW SO YOU NEED TO MAKE THINGS CHEAPER. LOWER YOUR DAMN TAXES. lol. I know i'd be there alot if the taxes were lower.

The taxes are a problem but nowhere near the main one. The extra amount paid in taxes is relatively small when amortized over the complete cost of a family holiday, starting with putting your dog in kennel thru to paying the taxi from the airport back to your home. Maybe adds, what, less than 5%?

Most families would be happy to pay an extra 5% for a successful holiday which is at present denied to them in the DR because of the appalling incompetence of Dominicans at customer service. Surveys repeatly show that holiday makers don't return to the DR because of poor customer service, persistent hassle by vendors, poor quality food (spoilt by service and presentation rather than cooked badly), few interesting outings, etc. I don't remember high taxes being high on the list though it is certainly one more issue.

Of course high taxes hit the lone traveller short-stay visitor proportionately more, which is why they get attention here, but they are not the sort of tourists the DR is looking for.

[Jimmydr]

My cousins go to Cancun

All those Huge AI hotels south of there are awesome.

It doesn't take tourism expert to figure that out.

There are 500 different places to go, who ever gives the best value wins. DR just woke up from its coma?

[weyland]

There are 500 different places to go, who ever gives the best value wins. DR just woke up from its coma?

No, I don't think it has woken up at all. These noises come out of the establishment every year. Just a bit of political window dressing and a chance to set up a few more quangos and give the cousins and brothers-in-law a well paid job doing nothing.

The very few truly educated Dominicans who have seen the rest of the world and how things work in First World countries, like Leonel, are doing very nicely, thank you. They don't want things to change or only enough to give an illusion of progress for them to talk about before elections.

[Jimmydr]

Colombia is making a major play for the Tourism market. Cuba will open up soon as well.




DR lacks in customer service where as most other countries know how that works, in addition to much lower taxes.

[Si_Poppi]

The taxes are a problem but nowhere near the main one. The extra amount paid in taxes is relatively small when amortized over the complete cost of a family holiday, starting with putting your dog in kennel thru to paying the taxi from the airport back to your home. Maybe adds, what, less than 5%?

Most families would be happy to pay an extra 5% for a successful holiday which is at present denied to them in the DR because of the appalling incompetence of Dominicans at customer service. Surveys repeatly show that holiday makers don't return to the DR because of poor customer service, persistent hassle by vendors, poor quality food (spoilt by service and presentation rather than cooked badly), few interesting outings, etc. I don't remember high taxes being high on the list though it is certainly one more issue.

Of course high taxes hit the lone traveller short-stay visitor proportionately more, which is why they get attention here, but they are not the sort of tourists the DR is looking for.

You are wise Sir Weyland.

Toronto's Pearson airport has some of the highest fees in the world.
Combined with the DR's fees and we pay $330 in taxes, including the tourist card and departure tax.

I look at the bottom line and really don't give a fuck how much of it they want to call fees or how my money is distributed.
I can go solo to Playa Dorada for a week for usually between $700-$800 all in which is cheapy cheapy and the resorts make very little of this, maybe $200 or so for the week.

The great recession hit the area hard, as it did most places, and resorts couldn't afford good maintenance and some couldn't even stay open.
Poor maintenance and cut back services and dead resorts turns off many of the remaining customers which leaves them even less money and it snowballs on and on.

They have a nice fun golf course there that is usually very empty.
The summer greens fee used to be $40 which was reasonable and you had to take a caddy for $15 plus tip of 500 pesos or so but this was good for 2 players if you had a cart which was $25 so say $70 each total.
Now the summer greens fee is $54 and the winter fee is $77 which is just not worth it.
The course is there and being maintained anyways and there is tons of excess capacity so you might as well have deals for the guests to get some more money coming in that otherwise wouldn't.
http://www.playadoradagolf.com/rates.aspx

Having ripoff scams like Progressive Roulette and Keno in the casinos is also not very bright.

It is kind of late in the game to turn this ship around.
I don't see it happening any time soon.

Departing From: Toronto (YYZ) to Puerto Plata (POP) Departure Time: 16:20 November 05, 2010 (Flight#: C6 786) Returning To: Puerto Plata (POP) to Toronto (YYZ) Return Time: 22:20 November 12, 2010 (Flight#: C6 787) Hotel/Resort: 4*GR PARA PLAYA DORADA RM Occupancy: S (SINGLE OCCUPANCY)Adults(1): 1 x $397.00 Taxes: $331.16 Total Insurance: $0.00 Total Price: $728.16

[weyland]

DR lacks in customer service where as most other countries know how that works, in addition to much lower taxes.

It is not just customer service in the sense of shop and hotel staff training. It goes a lot deeper that that. They have no standards in any walk of life. Defective products, bodged services, broken promises, price gouging, are all standard for them. They don't know there is another way. Their attitude if they get screwed is to screw someone else to make up for it. Students graduate from university at about the educational level of a 13-year-old in the UK. Part of the trouble is that there are no real political parties with real political programs. Just gangs (rather like mafia families) who squabble among themselves for the rich pickings but close ranks when anyone outside (a journalist, an academic, a visiting foreign advisor) suggests any radical change.

[Jimmydr]

It is not just customer service in the sense of shop and hotel staff training. It goes a lot deeper that that. They have no standards in any walk of life. Defective products, bodged services, broken promises, price gouging, are all standard for them. They don't know there is another way. Their attitude if they get screwed is to screw someone else to make up for it. Students graduate from university at about the educational level of a 13-year-old in the UK. Part of the trouble is that there are no real political parties with real political programs. Just gangs (rather like mafia families) who squabble among themselves for the rich pickings but close ranks when anyone outside (a journalist, an academic, a visiting foreign advisor) suggests any radical change.

Its sad because they get trained by Americans and or Europeans and just go back to their old ways while if you ever go to other countries, they practice what they have been taught.

I noticed that the staff at American airlines counters in DR know exactly what customer service is and use it.

[weyland]

Its sad because they get trained by Americans and or Europeans and just go back to their old ways while if you ever go to other countries, they practice what they have been taught.

I noticed that the staff at American airlines counters in DR know exactly what customer service is and use it.

Yes, there are a few exceptions, of course. The Caribe Tours and Metro bus companies offer an excellent service at very cheap prices. (Could be improved by platform indicators. I remember Thunderstar packing us onto a bus travelling in the wrong direction. Good thing there was another stop in Santiago or we would have ended up in the capital instead of Puerto Plata. The naïve fool thought that because the bus had a big sign in the driver's window saying "Sosúa" that is where it was going. No, that was where it had just come from, dummy!)

I cannot think of much else offhand, but I only know the North Coast.

La Sirena is better but still absurdly inefficient compared to any First World home goods store. I can guarantee that there is a price query or problem at the check-out with about 10% of the items I buy, which usually results in either someone wandering off into the store for ten minutes to check a price or a meeting of four or five staff round the till. Meanwhile the customer held up behind impatiently pushes their articles into mine which causes further confusion because they don't use those dividers like most supermarkets.

[JuanElGriego]

I can guarantee that there is a price query or problem at the check-out with about 10% of the items I buy, which usually results in either someone wandering off into the store for ten minutes to check a price or a meeting of four or five staff round the till.

Meanwhile the customer held up behind impatiently pushes their articles into mine which causes further confusion because they don't use those dividers like most supermarkets.

Never imagined there existed a supermarket without dividers for goods.

[questner]

Taxes matter a lot and some o them are beyond DR's control. Family of 4 going to Cuba will save $500 in taxes over DR. 4 x $125 = $500. No brainer for sun and soak.

Then starting November 1, 2010 there will be new exit taxes in Great Britain and some other countries which will add around 100 GBP for a long haul flight. Research shows it will impact family vacations to up to 25% decrease. North Coast gets 12.5% of all DR incoming passengers - half of them from Europe. So knock a point down for Europeans.

AI resorts? Just go on tripadvisor or debbies and read reviews
- horrible bland food/stomach bugs
- time share selling/hustling inside resorts
- rampant thefts/ no electronic safes
- 'tomorrow' attitude
- no hot water/ no water/ plumbing issues/ no water pressure
- flooding in the units
- rip off prices for day trips
etcetera etcetera

How about a national airline? ( I know, Mexicana - R.I.P)
How about working AC in POP?
How about beaches open after 7 pm?
How about reasonable flight rates to other LA countries?
How about working on rack rates prices? (meaning there should be no case when one can book same hotel for $10 per day from abroad and $70 from within DR)

I can go on and on (OK cheap advice is worthless, because it is free...but for 10 billion USD in loan guarantees things actually may go in right direction)

[JD426]

Seems like Mongers are the only ones willing to put up with all the inconstencies, and poor customer service,price gouging etc. yet they want to piss us off as well.
The Dominican business model should be taught in Harvard as exactly what NOT to do if you want to be successful.

Its like they need Homey the Clown from In living color to crack them over the head with a SOCK filled w/Beans.. like when he was teaching the kids about Dignity.

" Homey, what is dignity"?
Homey whacks the kid over the head with the Loaded Sock
"how do you feel right now"?
"really DISSED Homey"
" well .. Dignitiy is the OPPOSITE of THAT" ...

[princepointe]

You are wise Sir Weyland.

Toronto's Pearson airport has some of the highest fees in the world.
Combined with the DR's fees and we pay $330 in taxes, including the tourist card and departure tax.

I look at the bottom line and really don't give a fuck how much of it they want to call fees or how my money is distributed.
I can go solo to Playa Dorada for a week for usually between $700-$800 all in which is cheapy cheapy and the resorts make very little of this, maybe $200 or so for the week.

The great recession hit the area hard, as it did most places, and resorts couldn't afford good maintenance and some couldn't even stay open.
Poor maintenance and cut back services and dead resorts turns off many of the remaining customers which leaves them even less money and it snowballs on and on.

They have a nice fun golf course there that is usually very empty.
The summer greens fee used to be $40 which was reasonable and you had to take a caddy for $15 plus tip of 500 pesos or so but this was good for 2 players if you had a cart which was $25 so say $70 each total.
Now the summer greens fee is $54 and the winter fee is $77 which is just not worth it.
The course is there and being maintained anyways and there is tons of excess capacity so you might as well have deals for the guests to get some more money coming in that otherwise wouldn't.
http://www.playadoradagolf.com/rates.aspx

Having ripoff scams like Progressive Roulette and Keno in the casinos is also not very bright.

It is kind of late in the game to turn this ship around.
I don't see it happening any time soon.

Departing From: Toronto (YYZ) to Puerto Plata (POP) Departure Time: 16:20 November 05, 2010 (Flight#: C6 786) Returning To: Puerto Plata (POP) to Toronto (YYZ) Return Time: 22:20 November 12, 2010 (Flight#: C6 787) Hotel/Resort: 4*GR PARA PLAYA DORADA RM Occupancy: S (SINGLE OCCUPANCY)Adults(1): 1 x $397.00 Taxes: $331.16 Total Insurance: $0.00 Total Price: $728.16

HOLY SHIT. Let me go ahead and retire my Texas flight cost bitching.lol. I am a lot closer though. lol

[Hemp]

Pretty much!!!!

Colombia is making a major play for the Tourism market. Cuba will open up soon as well.




DR lacks in customer service where as most other countries know how that works, in addition to much lower taxes.