标签： Dominican Republic

多米尼加共和国

Travel journalists celebrate World Tourism Journalism Day in Maimará, Argentina

Nestled in the vibrant high-altitude landscapes of Argentina’s northwestern Jujuy province, the postcard-perfect town of Maimará has stepped into the global tourism spotlight as the official host of this year’s World Tourism Journalism Day celebration, held September 5 by the World Organization of Tourism Journalism (OMPT). The event drew a global delegation of travel writers, who explored the region as part of an official press tour highlighting the intersection of cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and community-centered development.

Rather than flying or driving to the event, the international press corps arrived in Maimará aboard the Tren Solar de la Quebrada (Quebrada Solar Train), a groundbreaking sustainable rail project that links historic towns across the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Quebrada de Humahuaca valley. Local officials greeted the delegation on arrival: Luis Zerpa, Maimará’s Director of Tourism, was joined by Rocío Vellón, Communications Manager for the Solar Train, and other regional tourism leaders to open the day’s celebrations.

The solar-powered rail journey was far more than just transportation—it offered journalists an immersive first-hand look at how Jujuy province is integrating green infrastructure with cultural heritage tourism. The scenic route connects six key regional destinations: Volcán, Tumbaya, Purmamarca, Posta de Hornillos, Maimará, and Tilcara. In just a short time, the service has become a standout regional attraction, recently hitting a major passenger milestone of more than 90,000 total riders.

For an event centered on the future of travel reporting, the immersive journey carried symbolic weight. Instead of traveling to Maimará solely to cover a pre-organized event, the journalists began engaging with the region’s unique identity the moment they boarded the train. Along the route, the dramatic natural landscape and vibrant local communities are core parts of the travel experience, aligning perfectly with the OMPT’s mission of responsible tourism storytelling.

The event carries extra significance for Maimará, which just weeks earlier earned global acclaim when UN Tourism named it one of the world’s “Best Tourism Villages.” The town beat out more than 260 other candidates from 64 countries to claim the title, becoming the second destination in Jujuy province to earn the honor—following nearby Caspalá. Maimará earned the recognition for its longstanding commitment to three core pillars: preserving its unique cultural heritage, advancing inclusive sustainable development, and building a tourism model led by local community members.

Beyond its recent global awards, Maimará has long drawn travelers for its one-of-a-kind natural and cultural offerings. It is most famous for the Paleta del Pintor, or “Painter’s Palette,” a dramatic multicolored mountain formation that serves as the town’s iconic, jaw-dropping backdrop. Beyond this natural wonder, visitors can explore deep-rooted local agricultural traditions, sample authentic regional gastronomy, and visit historic landmarks including the well-preserved 19th-century colonial outpost Posta de Hornillos.

For the OMPT, choosing Maimará as the host for its flagship annual event was a deliberate choice to highlight the critical role that specialized travel journalism plays in elevating underrated rural destinations. The gathering created direct space for global travel storytellers to connect with local government leaders, the team behind the innovative solar rail project, and Maimará’s local residents. This approach embodies the core ethos that defines modern responsible travel journalism: stepping directly into a place, listening to the stories of the people who call it home, and sharing those authentic narratives with global audiences.

World Tourism Journalism Day itself marks a milestone with deep roots in Argentine tourism. It is held annually on September 5 to commemorate the founding of the OMPT in 2015. The date was selected to honor the vision of OMPT founder Miguel Ledhesma, who launched the organization in Iguazú, Argentina, with a clear mission: to promote ethical, sustainable, and responsible coverage of travel destinations across the globe that prioritizes local communities and environmental stewardship.

4 9 月, 2026
Dominican Republic wins international arbitration case against Yves Martine Garnier

In a landmark ruling issued on August 19, 2026, the Dominican Republic has emerged fully victorious in an international investment arbitration case brought by French investor Yves Martine Garnier, who sought over $100 million in damages from the Dominican state — a sum equivalent to roughly 5.88 billion Dominican pesos.

Administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the dispute originated from the termination of a solid waste management and collection concession contract between the Santo Domingo Este municipal government and EGTT Dominicana, a company fully owned by Garnier. Arbitration proceedings were formally launched in October 2021, invoked under Article 7 of the 1999 bilateral investment promotion and reciprocal protection agreement between France and the Dominican Republic.

In its final decision, the arbitral tribunal confirmed that the cancellation of the concession contract was fully valid under Dominican national law, noting that EGTT Dominicana had failed to meet the required service standards outlined in the original agreement. The tribunal further ruled that the evidence and arguments presented by Garnier did not satisfy the legal threshold required to prove that the Dominican Republic had violated its international investment obligations under the bilateral treaty.

Yayo Sanz Lovatón, the Dominican Minister of Industry, Commerce and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), emphasized the far-reaching importance of the ruling. He framed the victory as a dual achievement: it not only safeguards billions in public funds from improper claims, but also reaffirms the Dominican Republic’s longstanding commitment to upholding its legal obligations to foreign investors operating within its borders.

Lovatón added that the country consistently honors its international commitments, but will remain unwavering in defending the state against unsubstantiated claims that lack solid legal grounding. The Dominican defense effort was initially coordinated by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) in partnership with the Santo Domingo Este municipal government. The Ministry of Justice later joined the legal team, and under the country’s Law 80-25, will take over permanent representation of the Dominican state in all future investment arbitration proceedings. International law firm Foley Hoag LLP, operating out of its Washington, D.C. office, provided specialized legal support to the Dominican team throughout the proceedings.

Government officials noted that this successful outcome is a core component of the administration’s broader strategy: to proactively defend the country’s interests in cross-border investment disputes, protect critical public resources, and strengthen the legal certainty and stable investment climate that are essential to attracting and retaining high-quality foreign investment. For the Dominican Republic, this ruling stands as both a major financial win and a significant legal milestone, cementing the state’s position in upholding the rule of law in international investment matters.

3 9 月, 2026
Tourism contributed 15.9% to Dominican Republic GDP in 2025, Asonahores reports

During the 2026 Asonahores Trade Show in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores) released comprehensive 2025 data that solidifies tourism’s position as the cornerstone of the Dominican national economy. When combining direct, indirect, and induced economic ripple effects, the sector contributed an estimated US$21.62 billion to the country’s output, accounting for 15.9% of the Dominican Republic’s total annual Gross Domestic Product. Direct contributions from core tourism activities alone made up 8.3% of national GDP in 2025, with the additional 7.6% coming from secondary economic activity spurred by tourism spending.

Asonahores President Juan Bancalari noted that the latest figures confirm the tourism sector’s ability to drive broad-based national growth that extends far beyond hotels, resorts and travel-focused businesses, delivering tangible benefits to nearly every segment of the Dominican productive economy.

Beyond GDP contributions, the sector delivered strong growth across multiple key economic metrics in 2025. It generated US$11.866 billion in foreign exchange earnings, marking a 9.3% increase from the 2024 total. It also attracted US$1.288 billion in foreign direct investment, reinforcing its standing as one of the country’s top destinations for international capital inflows.

Employment data from Asonahores also highlights tourism’s outsized role in supporting Dominican livelihoods. In 2025, tourism-related activity supported a total of 882,419 direct, indirect, and induced jobs across the country – equal to roughly one out of every six positions in the national workforce. Of these total jobs, 301,800 were direct roles within hotels, resorts and travel services; 400,610 were indirect positions created through tourism supply chains for goods and services; and the remaining 180,010 were induced jobs tied to household consumer spending by workers across the tourism sector.

The sector also delivered improvements for worker compensation and public social investment. Average insurable wages for workers in hotels, bars, and restaurants rose from RD$22,705 to RD$27,580 in 2025, and the sector contributed RD$10.774 billion to the national Social Security Treasury over the year.

A decade-long analysis of tax contributions further underscores the sector’s rapidly growing importance to Dominican public finances. In 2025, total tax revenues generated by hotels, bars and restaurants reached RD$45.227 billion – nearly three times the RD$15.611 billion the sector generated in 2015.

Asonahores emphasized that tourism’s economic footprint ripples outward to support a wide range of complementary Dominican industries, including domestic agriculture, fishing, local manufacturing, construction, retail and wholesale commerce, transportation and logistics, utilities and basic services, and professional and financial services, making it a critical engine for inclusive national development.

3 9 月, 2026
Dominican Republic to host 12th Ibero-American Meeting of Museums

The Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic has been confirmed as the official host of the 12th Ibero-American Meeting of Museums, a landmark regional gathering scheduled to run from September 14 to 16, 2026, in Santo Domingo. This will mark the first time the quadrennial event has been hosted on Dominican soil, bringing hundreds of museum leaders, heritage conservation specialists, cultural policymakers, and sector professionals from across the Ibero-American region together for three days of collaborative dialogue and knowledge sharing.

Organized jointly by the Dominican Ministry of Culture, the country’s General Directorate of Museums, and the long-standing Ibermuseums Program, the meeting carries forward a legacy that stretches back to 2007, when the first gathering was convened. Today, the event stands as the Ibero-American region’s preeminent forum for cross-border cooperation, technical knowledge exchange, and collaborative design of inclusive, forward-thinking public policies for the museum sector.

Centered on the unifying theme “Shared Heritages, Common Futures,” the 2026 meeting will tackle a broad range of pressing challenges currently shaping the future of cultural institutions worldwide. Core discussion topics include the celebration of global heritage diversity and strategies to deepen meaningful social engagement with local communities, the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on how museums frame and share cultural narratives, and the urgent need to protect biocultural territories amid growing climate change risks.

A host of leading regional and international institutions have stepped forward to support the 2026 gathering, including the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Dominican cultural hub Centro León, Banco Popular Dominicano, the Indotel Center, and the Banreservas Cultural Center.

Beyond the triennial meeting, the Ibermuseums Program maintains a continuous, far-reaching impact across the region. The network currently unites 22 Ibero-American nations, and delivers ongoing support to more than 10,000 museums through cross-border collaborative projects, professional development training, open knowledge exchange initiatives, and advocacy for public policies that advance equitable, sustainable growth for the cultural sector.

3 9 月, 2026
Dominican Republic sets September 8 for Nationwide Earthquake Evacuation Drill

Residents of the Dominican Republic will take part in a large-scale national earthquake evacuation exercise across the country on the morning of September 8, 2026, top government officials have confirmed. Scheduled to kick off at 10:00 a.m. local time, the drill will draw participation from a wide range of groups, including public sector agencies, private sector organizations, educational institutions, civil society groups and ordinary citizens from every region of the country.

The official launch of the drill was announced jointly by three senior emergency and governance leaders: Andrés Bautista, Minister of the Presidency, Edwin Olivares, director of the Dominican Emergency Operations Center (COE), and Carlos Paulino, director of the country’s Civil Defense agency. The whole exercise was ordered by President Luis Abinader, with a core mission to reinforce the Dominican Republic’s national capacity for preparation, rapid response and post-disaster recovery when a large-scale seismic event hits.

To make the simulation as realistic as possible, authorities will activate multiple warning systems across the country during the drill. Sirens, whistles, and public loudspeakers will be triggered simultaneously to signal the start of the evacuation. Officials will also run a full test of the national public alert system, which will push an instant emergency notification to every registered mobile phone nationwide when the exercise begins.

Olivares emphasized that unlike many other natural disasters, earthquakes strike without any advance warning, meaning pre-event preparation and widespread public knowledge of basic self-protection steps are irreplaceable tools for cutting disaster risk and preventing avoidable deaths. This drill will give both emergency management teams and the general public a chance to walk through standardized evacuation procedures, while allowing officials to assess current response capabilities and spot gaps in the country’s existing disaster readiness framework that need adjustment.

Beyond individual evacuation routines, the drill will also put inter-agency coordination and rapid activation protocols for key emergency response institutions to the test. The goal is to ensure the Dominican Republic can mount an organized, effective response not just during the initial evacuation phase of a major earthquake, but also to address the cascading secondary consequences that often follow large seismic events.

3 9 月, 2026
David Collado highlights Lorena Ochoa’s visit as boost for Dominican sports tourism

One of the most decorated Latin American golfers in history, former LPGA world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa has arrived in the Dominican Republic for a multi-faceted visit that puts a spotlight on the Caribbean nation’s fast-growing sports tourism sector. Mexican golf icon Ochoa, whose career achievements have made her a global model for athletic excellence and entrepreneurial drive, is scheduled to take on one of the country’s most iconic courses during her trip: the legendary Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo, located in the eastern province of La Romana, alongside a lineup of industry and community engagement events.

David Collado, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, has publicly praised Ochoa’s visit, framing the golf legend as a shining example of raw talent, relentless dedication, unwavering perseverance, and innovative entrepreneurship. During her stay, Ochoa delivered a highly anticipated keynote address titled “The Winning Mindset” to a cross-section of attendees, including local entrepreneurs, senior business leaders, golf course operators, and leading representatives from the country’s sports sector. She also extended public gratitude to Collado and national authorities for the warm hospitality extended to her throughout the trip.

For the Dominican tourism sector, Collado emphasized that Ochoa’s high-profile presence does more than draw international attention to the country’s world-class golf offerings: it also spotlights the steady growth of sports tourism as a core pillar of the Dominican economy, while elevating the inspiring personal values that have defined Ochoa’s trailblazing career.

Ochoa’s standing in golf history is unmatched among Latin American female athletes. She held the world No. 1 ranking in women’s golf for an incredible 158 consecutive weeks, claimed 37 official LPGA Tour titles over her career, and made history in 2007 as the first female golfer to surpass $3 million in annual prize earnings.

3 9 月, 2026
Dominican Customs seizes US$600,700 at Las Américas International Airport

In a coordinated anti-smuggling operation at one of the Dominican Republic’s busiest international air hubs, law enforcement agencies have seized more than $600,000 in undeclared currency from an incoming outbound passenger.

The operation was carried out jointly by the Dominican General Directorate of Customs (DGA), Specialized Airport and Civil Aviation Security Corps (CESAC), and the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s specialized anti-smuggling and illicit trafficking unit at Las Américas International Airport (AILA), based on pre-developed intelligence leads.

During a routine security check before boarding, authorities discovered the hidden undeclared funds: a Colombian passenger bound for Panama was carrying $599,700 in his carry-on baggage, an additional $1,000 stashed in his clothing pockets, and 647,000 Colombian pesos. All of the currency failed to meet Dominican legal requirements for cross-border cash declarations, leading to an immediate seizure of all undisclosed funds.

The passenger, whose personal details have not been released to the public pending ongoing investigations, has been formally transferred to the custody of the Public Prosecutor’s Office to face full legal proceedings related to the undeclared cash attempt.

DGA Director General Nelson Arroyo emphasized that the interception is part of the institution’s sustained commitment to cracking down on cross-border illicit financial activity. Arroyo confirmed that DGA will continue to maintain round-the-clock, enhanced surveillance at all of the country’s entry and exit points — including seaports and airports — to disrupt smuggling networks, curb illicit trafficking of all types, and enforce the nation’s customs regulations consistently.

3 9 月, 2026
JAC and VFS Global discuss improving visa services and traveler experience

On a recent working meeting held in Santo Domingo, Julio Peña Guzmán, top leader of the Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Board (JAC), gathered with senior executives from VFS Global to explore a range of key topics centered on cross-border travel mobility, visa service optimization, and enhancements to the overall traveler experience in the Caribbean nation.

Hosted at JAC’s headquarters, the discussion brought together Peña Guzmán and three VFS Global representatives: Manuel Peinado, Luis Baquero, and Jaime Vega. The two sides held in-depth exchanges on prospects for future institutional cooperation, and drilled down into how streamlined, efficient visa processing can act as a catalyst for growing international travel to and from the Dominican Republic.

Peña Guzmán underlined that ongoing open communication with specialized service providers like VFS Global is critical to advancing smoother international mobility and upgrading the experience for every passenger passing through the country’s air transit network. He also framed the gathering as a valuable chance for JAC leadership to gain deeper insights into VFS Global’s day-to-day operations, while mapping out overlapping priorities and potential areas for joint work going forward.

As a global industry leader, VFS Global specializes in delivering administrative, non-judgmental support services to government agencies and diplomatic missions worldwide. Its core service portfolio covers end-to-end support for travel documents, including processing visa and passport applications, collecting required applicant documentation and biometric data, and guiding candidates through every step of the application process. None of VFS Global’s work includes making final decisions on visa approvals, a responsibility that remains exclusively with the contracting government entities.

This strategic meeting is just one component of JAC’s broader, long-term initiative to build a more efficient, modern, and traveler-focused civil aviation ecosystem across the Dominican Republic. By partnering with experienced specialized providers, the board aims to cut wait times, reduce administrative friction, and position the country as a more attractive destination for international business and leisure travelers alike.

3 9 月, 2026
Police denies viral list claiming 18 children are missing in Dominican Republic

In a public statement released Friday, Dominican Republic’s National Police has formally refuted a widely shared social media post that falsely claimed 18 children went missing in the country between 2024 and 2026, confirming no official missing person reports match the cases cited in the viral content. Police spokesperson Colonel Diego Pesqueira explained that specialized cyber-patrol units and criminal investigators launched an immediate verification process following the spread of the unsubstantiated claim. The post listed 18 children between the ages of 0 and 11 as missing, but cross-checks against national official missing person records and existing media reporting found no matches to any registered case of a missing minor in Dominican territory. Preliminary investigative tracing has linked the origin of the false publication to New Jersey, United States, and Dominican law enforcement continues working to identify the individuals who created and distributed the misleading content. While discrediting the viral hoax, police also confirmed two active, legitimate missing minor cases from the 2024–2026 timeframe: Roldani Nicolás Calderón and Brianna Genao Rosario, both reported missing in 2025. Investigations and search operations for both children remain ongoing, with active monitoring by authorities. Additional genuine past missing minor cases from prior years were also acknowledged by the agency, including Fraynel Daniel Ciprián Montero and Ruth Esther Paredes Ramírez, who went missing in 2023, and Luis Ángel González Méndez and Kendry Esmil, reported missing in 2022. Pesqueira issued a public appeal to Dominican residents, media outlets and social media users to fact-check all claims related to missing persons before sharing them online, stressing that unfounded viral reports create widespread, unnecessary public anxiety that diverts resources away from active search efforts for real missing people. The spokesperson added that law enforcement will not abandon efforts to hold those responsible for the hoax accountable, even as investigators prioritize work on open missing person cases. He also clarified national police missing person data protocols, noting that cases involving teenagers and adult missing persons are tracked separately from minor child cases under different statistical classification systems.

3 9 月, 2026
Dominican Week in France set for October 17–22 to promote trade and investment

A landmark initiative to deepen economic and cultural ties between the Dominican Republic and France has officially been announced: Dominican Week in France (SD26), scheduled to run from October 17 to 22, 2026 in Paris. The event is a joint collaboration between three key stakeholders: the Franco-Dominican Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFD), the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in France, and ProDominicana, the Dominican Republic’s national investment and export promotion agency.

A key strategic advantage of SD26 is its timing: the event will run concurrently with SIAL Paris 2026, the world’s preeminent food industry trade exhibition hosted at Paris Nord Villepinte. This overlapping schedule creates a unique, high-value opportunity for Dominican producers and exporters to gain international visibility, showcase their signature food and beverage products to a global audience, and forge direct connections with qualified international buyers and distributors. A dedicated ProDominicana pavilion will be set up within the SIAL exhibition grounds specifically for this purpose.

Conceived as a multifaceted engagement platform, SD26 builds on the recent high-level diplomatic meetings between Dominican President Luis Abinader and French President Emmanuel Macron, with the core goal of strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations between the two nations. The full event program integrates three core pillars: economic and trade diplomacy, cross-party political and parliamentary dialogue, and public cultural exchange to deepen people-to-people connections.

The business track of SD26 is structured around targeted sector-focused convenings that highlight the Dominican Republic’s evolving global economic role. Key topics on the agenda include the country’s position as a strategic trade and logistics hub in the Caribbean, untapped opportunities in renewable energy development and foreign direct investment, and growth prospects for emerging sectors including fintech, innovative technologies, and cybersecurity. Beyond panel discussions and policy dialogues, the business program will include structured one-on-one B2B matchmaking sessions between Dominican entrepreneurs and global industry leaders, as well as dedicated networking activities for food sector buyers and Dominican exporters tied to the SIAL Paris exhibition.

Alongside its business agenda, SD26 will feature a curated series of cultural events designed to share Dominican art and cultural heritage with French audiences. The cultural program opens with the inauguration of “The Dominican Worlds of José Castillo”, a major solo exhibition of the artist’s work hosted at the Maison de l’Amérique Latine in central Paris. It will also mark the official launch of the Dominican Republic–Cité internationale des arts Artistic Residencies Program, an initiative supported by the Dominican Ministry of Culture that will create long-term exchange opportunities for Dominican artists to create work in France.

SD26 has secured broad support from both public and private stakeholders. Leading private sector sponsors include major Dominican and international firms: BHD, Banco Popular Dominicano, Sofratesa, Soletanche Bachy, SunMind, and TotalEnergies. Additional backing comes from a range of institutional partners from both the Dominican Republic and France, underscoring the widespread cross-sector commitment to making the event a success.

3 9 月, 2026