More "GREAT IDEAS" to speed the demise of the Dominican Tourism industry

[ROVER]

From Dominican Today

Proposed US$30 departure tax stokes tourism sector woes




Zoom Picture


Santo Domingo.- The Internal Taxes Agency on Wednesday proposed to increase the departure tax at ports and airports from US$20, to US$30, levied on all travelers, national or foreign.
For the tourism sector the request to raise the tax feels like a bucket of cold water, who say the increase would add to the already spiraling cost of airfare.


Although the proposal top the Executive Branch had included the elimination of the US$10 tax of the tourist card to fuse it with the $ 20 departure tax in the case of foreigners, the draft of the bill cites only the US$30, without distinction.


Seems these Dominicans just can't help pushing that Big Red button that says "Self Destruct"

[Hanzo]

From Dominican Today

Proposed US$30 departure tax stokes tourism sector woes


Click to see pic

Click to see picZoom Picture


Santo Domingo.- The Internal Taxes Agency on Wednesday proposed to increase the departure tax at ports and airports from US$20, to US$30, levied on all travelers, national or foreign.
For the tourism sector the request to raise the tax feels like a bucket of cold water, who say the increase would add to the already spiraling cost of airfare.


Although the proposal top the Executive Branch had included the elimination of the US$10 tax of the tourist card to fuse it with the $ 20 departure tax in the case of foreigners, the draft of the bill cites only the US$30, without distinction.


Seems these Dominicans just can't help pushing that Big Red button that says "Self Destruct"

If I'm not mistaken you only pay that tax when you're in the country for more than 30 days, how many tourist go on vacation for more than a month anyways?

[Seville]

If I'm not mistaken you only pay that tax when you're in the country for more than 30 days, how many tourist go on vacation for more than a month anyways?

Those are separate issues. There is an exit tax but it is usually included in your ticket price so you don't notice it. Not the same as the fine for overstaying your 30 days.

[ROVER]

From Dominican Today

Proposed US$30 departure tax stokes tourism sector woes


Santo Domingo.- The Internal Taxes Agency on Wednesday proposed to increase the departure tax at ports and airports from US$20, to US$30, levied on all travelers, national or foreign.
For the tourism sector the request to raise the tax feels like a bucket of cold water, who say the increase would add to the already spiraling cost of airfare.

If I'm not mistaken you only pay that tax when you're in the country for more than 30 days, how many tourist go on vacation for more than a month anyways?

The way I read it its the departure tax that's included in the ticket for everybody

[ROVER]

O.K. let me see if I got this right ... ..... This is the PLAN or as some call it the VISION ...


#1. Clean up the place by getting rid of all the whores and by default destroy the sub economy that
has for 20 years been built up around this and has been supporting the whole area.

#2. Raise the departure tax so that any investor (AI or otherwise) that was considering investing in
the DR will now at very least pause to consider the effect that this new added tax will have on the
bottom line after pricing in for airline tickets and package deals.


That's it right ??? That's the plan ...


Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

I think the cow may start to run dry after this tax hike.

[greydread]

None of this will make a fuck. We'll still book the trips and buy the tickets and fuck the Ho's and drink the rum and move on to the next bullshit to complain about. It's $10 for shit sake!

[whynotme]

None of this will make a fuck. We'll still book the trips and buy the tickets and fuck the Ho's and drink the rum and move on to the next bullshit to complain about. It's $10 for shit sake!

but combined with the 5 cent raise in beer prices that adds up.......... to some

[WickedWillie]

With this proposal there is NO net increase in what you guys as tourists pay for entrance and exit to the DR.

Read that clearly...ZERO...NADA...NIL...ZILCH...increase. Got it???????

Everybody pays the US$20 departure tax usually included in your ticket price.

The proposal is designed to eliminate the ridiculous scenario of buying a US$10 tourist visa on arrival, with the sometimes very long lines to do so, and then hand the damn thing back in 5 minutes later. Very sensible IMO.

The only people that this MAY affect are legal residents who do not pay the US$10 tourist visa........and that affects about 0.00001% of people on this board. SMFH

[Westy]

With this proposal there is NO net increase in what you guys as tourists pay for entrance and exit to the DR.

Read that clearly...ZERO...NADA...NIL...ZILCH...increase. Got it???????

Everybody pays the US$20 departure tax usually included in your ticket price.

The proposal is designed to eliminate the ridiculous scenario of buying a US$10 tourist visa on arrival, with the sometimes very long lines to do so, and then hand the damn back in 5 minutes later. Very sensible IMO.

The only people that this MAY affect are legal residents who do not pay the US$10 tourist visa........and that affects about 0.00001% of people on this board. SMFH

Not according to the draft bill.

Although the proposal top the Executive Branch had included the elimination of the US$10 tax of the tourist card to fuse it with the $ 20 departure tax in the case of foreigners, the draft of the bill cites only the US$30, without distinction.

Hmmm ... $10 to come in, $30 to go out ... that adds up to a ST with a street-rat ...

[WickedWillie]

Not according to the draft bill.



Hmmm ... $10 to come in, $30 to go out ... that adds up to a ST with a street-rat ...

I think you are a little confused Westy, maybe using Dominican Today as a reliable source of intel is the problem

[greydread]

I think you are a little confused Westy, maybe using Dominican Today as a reliable source of intel is the problem

The entire thread is about a DT article. I used to read DT when I had nothing else to do. I haven't read it in a while.

[WickedWillie]

The entire thread is about a DT article. I used to read DT when I had nothing else to do. I haven't read it in a while.

Exactly.

The full proposals detailed in mainstream Dominican media clearly quote the director of DGII (?) as stating the main reason for the proposal is the ridiculous system of the US$10 tourist card, that tourists hold for all of 5 minutes before handing it in to another official 20 meters away, and the associated chaotic lines witnessed regularly in places like Punta Cana airport especially when 5 or 6 charter flights all arrive at the same time.

People who rely on Dominican Today as a source of info wouldn't know that though.

Again there is no new tax, no tax increase for tourists. This only affects, if approved, traveling Dominican citizens and legal residents who currently do not pay the US$10 tourist card fee.

[deezl]

So... This is actually a sensible idea!

I find that perplexing.

[Kevy]

Exactly.

The full proposals detailed in mainstream Dominican media clearly quote the director of DGII (?) as stating the main reason for the proposal is the ridiculous system of the US$10 tourist card, that tourists hold for all of 5 minutes before handing it in to another official 20 meters away, and the associated chaotic lines witnessed regularly in places like Punta Cana airport especially when 5 or 6 charter flights all arrive at the same time.

People who rely on Dominican Today as a source of info wouldn't know that though.

Again there is no new tax, no tax increase for tourists. This only affects, if approved, traveling Dominican citizens and legal residents who currently do not pay the US$10 tourist card fee.

Most charters, at least the canadian charters have the tourist card included in the price, so they get the card on the flight down, so there shouldn't be any line ups. maybe the DR gov't is tired of waiting for the airlines to hand it over to them.

[MrHappy]

but combined with the 5 cent raise in beer prices that adds up.......... to some

You joke about this lightly, but for people that drink 3-4 beers a day, that could be as much as .20 cents. Not funny!!

[Kevy]

You joke about this lightly, but for people that drink 3-4 beers a day, that could be as much as .20 cents. Not funny!!

$1.40 a week, it could be ugly

[MrHappy]

$1.40 a week, it could be ugly

Finally, somebody grasps my point. God forbid if somebody extrapolates that out to a full month.

Imagine the horror!

[greydread]

the main reason for the proposal is the ridiculous system of the US$10 tourist card, that tourists hold for all of 5 minutes before handing it in to another official 20 meters away

Again there is no new tax, no tax increase for tourists. This only affects, if approved, traveling Dominican citizens and legal residents who currently do not pay the US$10 tourist card fee.

But I LIKE the tourist card line. It gives me a chance to acclimate to the weather and get a gander at my fellow travelers as I count my place in the immigration line so I can try to time my access to the booth with the cute young immigration Chica with one too many blouse buttons undone or even better, the booth with two of them who are so busy yammering away that they won't notice me drooling as I ogle them both and fantasize a threesome..

As for residents, they have to declare nationality when they buy their ticket and their passport backs that up so they shouldn't be charged the $10. That's not too difficult a toggle to build into the airline websites. If the credentials don't match up then they pay at check-in.

[deezl]

But I LIKE the tourist card line. It gives me a chance to acclimate to the weather and get a gander at my fellow travelers as I count my place in the immigration line so I can try to time my access to the booth with the cute young immigration Chica with one too many blouse buttons undone or even better, the booth with two of them who are so busy yammering away that they won't notice me drooling as I ogle them both and fantasize a threesome..

As for residents, they have to declare nationality when they buy their ticket and their passport backs that up so they shouldn't be charged the $10. That's not too difficult a toggle to build into the airline websites. If the credentials don't match up then they pay at check-in.

Man, I HATE the tourist card line! I always try to get a seat as close to the front of the plane just to beat those fuckers to the line. Even though there's a sign people still don't seem to know what they're supposed to do when they get to the front, then they have to dig out their wallets, and if it's a group? Ufff... I just wanna get through there as fast as possible, get my bag (and maybe a bottle at duty free) and get the fuck out of the airport!

[TNT72]

Man, I HATE the tourist card line! I always try to get a seat as close to the front of the plane just to beat those fuckers to the line. Even though there's a sign people still don't seem to know what they're supposed to do when they get to the front, then they have to dig out their wallets, and if it's a group? Ufff... I just wanna get through there as fast as possible, get my bag (and maybe a bottle at duty free) and get the fuck out of the airport!

That's another perk of First Class.

You can always tell the guys who have been there before. They aren't wasting any time getting to the Tourist Card line.