Doubled Dominican Republic

A range of tour operators that did not join the Dominican pool intend to launch their own flights to the destination. It mainly refers to UTE, VKO-travel and Caribbean Club. We remind you that blocks of seats on the only Transaero flight from Moscow to Punta Cana operated once in ten days by Boeing-747 were divided by CAPITAL TOUR, Bureau South Cross, Big Tour and TEZ TOUR, while other tour operators interested in the Dominican market can not take blocks on the flight. The alternative for them is expensive scheduled flights by Air France and Lufthansa. Furthermore, UTE Megapolus Group initiated negotiations with potential partners. Victoria Kizimova, Tourism Director of UTE Megapolus Group, commented as follows: ‘we hope to sign the contract with Aeroflot in the coming days to be able to launch flights at the beginning of November. Travel market experts say that Aeroflot is an optimum alternative as the airline has aircraft for such long haul flights. Most probably, flights will be operated by Boeing – 767 once in ten days. Meanwhile, Sergey Smirnov, Deputy of General director of VKO-travel, stated as follows: ‘we hope for successful negotiations and for the launch of the flight to the Dominican Republic’. The project is supported by the Dominican authorities interested in the increase of tourist flow to the country. In general, according to travel market experts, if both programs are launched, air traffic volume will nearly double comparing to last year. However, the market is not concerned about the increase of air traffic volume to the destination. The members of the pool believe that there are enough hotels in the Dominican Republic. They emphasize the necessity of active promotion of the destination in order to operate flights at their full capacity pointing out possible excess of flights only in low dates – the beginning of December.