Double Dominicana

[IMG=18108-3578]

   As experts for Dominican destination told BANKO Information Service reporter, a Transaero airways Boeing 747 will fly every 10 days from Moscow to Punta Cana from October 30 to April 26. ‘TEZ TOUR’, ‘South Cross Bureau’, ‘Capital Tour’, and ‘Big Tour’ share blocks on the flight. Other players expressed worries right away: is the use of such a big plane justified? Last season a 767 made flights to Dominican Republic, and it is almost 2 times smaller than a 747. ‘Operators might count on filling these volumes leaning on last year’s experience. During last winter they raised an additional flight – a Boeing 767,‘ says Junona Kozhinova, leading manager for Dominican Republic and Mexico, ITC (International Travel Club). Experts agree that decision to raise a 747 will prove right for the New Year, but in autumn air redundancy might be substantial.
   On the other hand, the reason for operators’ actions might be that they are waiting for demand for Dominicana to grow, but don’t give any detailed forecasts yet.
   According to one of the versions, interest to this destination was not high in recent years, and now time has come for it to rise: it's well known that there is fashion for destinations in travel. One more probable reason is less tourists go to Thailand after tsunami. 'Tragic events in Thailand have raised demand for Dominicana,' confirms Galina Lysenko, Dominicana Republic representative for Russia and CIS. She also adds that recent talks about possible _entering_ and then canceling visas for Russians acted as advertisement of destination. Besides, experts note that Russian tourists are attracted by all inclusive system characteristic of Dominicana hotels. 'About 90% hotels have this all inclusive system', says Lyubov Gudilova, exotic routes department director, 'Capital Tour'.
   For their part, Dominicana Republic authorities think rising of a big Boeing shows Russians' interest. They are sure tourist flow from our country will reach 60,000 people a year by 2008. Moreover, as Hans Dannenbreg Castellanos, deputy Tourism Minister for Dominicana, told BANKO Information Service reporter, official representative office of Republic will open in Moscow in February.