Playa Dorada recorded 100 percent occupancy in both hotel rooms and apartments, with national and international tourists occupying them.
SANTO DOMINGO–With the exception of Boca Chica, which saw a high number of beachgoers, Good Friday saw fewer vacationers than in previous years at beaches such as Guayacanes, Juan Dolio, and the tourist area of Puerto Plata.
Listín Diario reports today that it visited different beaches, such as those mentioned, where it observed a decrease in tourism and only Boca Chica is leading the way with a large number of attendees.
"Good Friday in Puerto Plata concluded without major incidents, with a considerable number of bathers visiting the area's beaches, although some resorts reported lower attendance than in previous years," the newspaper stated.
At Camacho beach on the boardwalk, formerly known as Longbichito, the Amber Rescue staff who provide service believe that it had fewer people than in other years.
Meanwhile, in Cosita Rica, the boardwalk also saw a large influx of bathers in the afternoon, just like in other years.
At La Ensenada beach, in the municipality of Villa Isabela, although there was a large influx of people who reside in the area, the number was lower compared to 2019.
The beaches of Sosúa also saw fewer visitors than in previous years, although many bathers could be seen in the afternoon. The same occurred at Alicia Beach in Cabarete.
However, it states that the Playa Dorada project registered 100 percent occupancy in both hotel rooms and apartments, with national and international tourists occupying them.
Boca Chica
"We're here sharing time with family. I came because my sister arrived from the United States and we went out to enjoy ourselves a bit," said Dahiana Rojas, a visitor in Boca Chica.
José Alfredo Rodríguez, a father who decided to take a "romantic trip" while his children were being cared for by their grandmother in the province of La Vega, commented the following:
"I like coming to this part of Guayacanes because there aren't so many people, because Covid-19 hasn't gone away yet. I took a trip with my wife and we're enjoying it.".
The Dominican Red Cross and Civil Defense are present at the beaches of the different provinces of the country, with the task of removing bathers at 6:00 in the afternoon.
Julián Ramos, who serves as the person in charge of the point located in Playa Guayacanes, explained that "we are here to provide assistance to bathers and attend to any emergency that may arise.".
He also said that the use or entry of glass bottles and children without parental or guardian supervision are prohibited.
Vendors call the hustlers "thieves"
After a tour of several beaches in the country, the vendors are up in arms because the notorious hustlers are doubling the prices of the formal vendors.
In Playa Guayacanes, a vendor whose name remains anonymous explained that although they are part of a union, it does not "confront" them because its leader benefits from these acts, and those who dare to oppose them run the disadvantage of being attacked.
"Right now everything is against us, we are here temporarily while the Tourism Department builds the plaza, what I sell for 300 one of them takes away 1,000," the man pointed out.
He also explained that they have to pay taxes to different institutions and, in addition, they must change their union membership card twice a year.
Wendy Reyes, in Juan Dolio Beach, expressed her frustration. Reyes owns a business in this resort town where tables cost 500 pesos, while the "buscones" (unlicensed operators) charge between 1,000 and 1,500 pesos.
"This is a rip-off, charging 1,000 pesos for a table, that's a fraud against the customers," Wendy said.
Although he said that sales are "slow", he reported that this can vary since each person has a different type of clientele.
Las Américas Toll
No traffic jams were reported on the eastern exit from the Dominican capital on the second day of the Holy Week holiday
Traffic on the roads leading to the Las Américas Highway toll plaza was calm and showed a notable decrease in congestion during the early hours of Good Friday.
During a tour of that toll plaza area, a team of reporters from this newspaper was able to confirm the low number of vehicles traveling to leave the capital city.
In the surrounding area, dozens of members of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) and the General Directorate of Transit and Land Transportation (Digesett) could be seen carrying out their duties of assistance and surveillance to travelers.
Due to the Holy Week holiday, many residents of the Dominican capital traveled from Holy Wednesday to the interior of the country to visit their relatives or to vacation.
The situation was different yesterday. The exodus of citizens leaving Greater Santo Domingo was reflected on the Duarte, Sánchez Vieja, Seis de Noviembre, and Las Américas highways.
The traffic jams were massive, especially after midday, with lines of vehicles around the toll booths stretching up to two kilometers long.
Source: Listín Diario
