NewsWhore
06-12-2008, 06:30 PM
Minister of Tourism Felix Jimenez met with representatives of hotel, travel agent, airport and tour operator companies in Boca Chica yesterday to present his plan to keep the industry going in response to recent announcements of major airline flight cuts. The plan will be presented to President Leonel Fernandez. Among the points covered, as reported in El Caribe, are:
1) Elimination of the ITBIS tax on aviation fuel.
2) Awarding of 5th Freedom to European airlines, that is the right to enplane traffic at one foreign point and deplane it in another foreign point as part of a continuous operation also serving the airline's homeland. This would allow a European airline to touch down in the DR and then carry traffic to Central America, Mexico, the US or the rest of the Caribbean if it wants to.
3) That airports reduce their charges on passengers by 20%.
4) That airports in Punta Cana, Romana and Santiago support Ministry of Tourism promotional campaigns the way Aerodom has been doing (airports in Puerto Plata, Las Americas and Samana).
5) The strengthening of Air Dominicana, an affiliate of Air Europa that has a minority investment by the Dominican government, is also contemplated. The plan is for Air Dominicana to begin serving the US and Puerto Rico by October-November. The airline has already started operations serving Venezuela.
6) A proposal for incentives for at least two European airlines set up their hubs or mother ports at DR airports.
7) Increase advertising campaigns promoting the DR abroad
8) Work to increase travel from lagging markets.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
1) Elimination of the ITBIS tax on aviation fuel.
2) Awarding of 5th Freedom to European airlines, that is the right to enplane traffic at one foreign point and deplane it in another foreign point as part of a continuous operation also serving the airline's homeland. This would allow a European airline to touch down in the DR and then carry traffic to Central America, Mexico, the US or the rest of the Caribbean if it wants to.
3) That airports reduce their charges on passengers by 20%.
4) That airports in Punta Cana, Romana and Santiago support Ministry of Tourism promotional campaigns the way Aerodom has been doing (airports in Puerto Plata, Las Americas and Samana).
5) The strengthening of Air Dominicana, an affiliate of Air Europa that has a minority investment by the Dominican government, is also contemplated. The plan is for Air Dominicana to begin serving the US and Puerto Rico by October-November. The airline has already started operations serving Venezuela.
6) A proposal for incentives for at least two European airlines set up their hubs or mother ports at DR airports.
7) Increase advertising campaigns promoting the DR abroad
8) Work to increase travel from lagging markets.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)