A Baker´s Dozen Hotels in Puerto Plata Are Back on their Feet

Thirteen lodging facilities in Puerto Plata, the Dominican Republic that had gone belly up during the administration of former President Hipolito Mejia are now sporting sellout occupancy rates with hordes of sunbathers from Europe, the U.S. and Canada trickling in, Puerto Plata´s Tourism Director Radhames Guzman Balbuena said this week.

Mr. Balbuena noted the shutdown of the hotels cost 3,000 fulltime jobs and stalled private investment in the region. La Explanada, Los Almendros, Sir Frances Drake and Larimar were among the establishments that had filed for bankruptcy.

IRS-style harassment and a merciless taxation policy levied by the former Dominican government, coupled with lack of confidence and rundown roads leading to the premier tourist circuits along the northern shore, ended up bleeding these facilities white.

Nevertheless, insecurity, rampant crime, waves of holdups and other misdemeanors against tourists had already made a dent in the local leisure industry and shooed away scores of visitors.