Ikea announced it will open in February. This will be the first Ikea in Latin America and the Caribbean. The mega furniture and interior decoration store is located at the intersection of John F. Kennedy almost corner Abraham Lincoln. Read the rest of this entry »
Dominican president Leonel Fernandez’s Press director said the head of State made an urgent appeal to the international community for humanitarian aid for Haiti, which was hit by the region’s ever-recorded strongest earthquake.
According to Press director Rafael Nunez, “the situation in Haiti is difficult so we request aid from Latin America and around the world to help our neighbor.”
The Dominican Republic shares the Hispaniola Island with Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Nunez said the Dominican Republic was ready to help Haiti out. Read the rest of this entry »
A powerful magnitude 7.0 quake struck Tuesday off the coast of Haiti, and it was felt in a wide part of the Dominican Republic, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but there was no immediate report of damage or casualties locally.
In Santo Domingo however local media reports that several ambulances and fire trucks are converging on Acropolis Center, one of Santo Domingo’s tallest buildings, but no details are yet available. Read the rest of this entry »
Washington.– The most US permanent visas given in 2009 went to immigrants from the Dominican Republic, who collected close to half of the total, according to the latest U.S. State Department data that analyzed how more Caribbean nationals were able to adjust their status to legal residents this year, compared to last year.
The data includes all immigrants sponsored by family and employers. For 2009, the total was 44,417, according to State Department statistics compared to over just 32,000 in 2008. Read the rest of this entry »
Punta Cana.– Guests at both Tortuga Bay and the Puntacana Resort & Club complex are invited to participate in the Dominican Republics’s annual bird count with renowned ornithologist Dr. André Dhondt, from December 28 through January 2.
Groups of 10 will have the opportunity to don binoculars and field guides and head into the resort’s nature preserve to help conduct the yearly census, focused on 27 indigenous bird species native only to the Dominican Republic. Read the rest of this entry »
There are so many ways to relax in the Caribbean’s second largest country.
Whether you are looking for a romantic trip for two with lazy days spent on the golden sandy shores or budget-friendly accommodations with adventure for the whole family, the Dominican Republic has it all.
10. Sun, surf and sand. Relax on one of hundreds of unspoiled DR beaches. The country is surrounded by 800 miles of stunning sandy coastlines with the azure Caribbean Sea on the South Coast and the rich blue Atlantic Ocean on the North Coast.
9. Explore the America’s first city. America’s cultural capital of 2010, Santo Domingo is where Christopher Columbus established the first church, hospital and city, known as the Colonial Zone. Explore the museums and walk the streets that conquistadors strolled in the 15th century.
8. Get your golf game on. Play any of 25 designer golf courses…and growing, in the DR. Punta Espada Golf Club at Cap Cana, Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo, Nick Faldo’s Legacy Course at Roco Ki and Playa Grande are a few of the DR courses that have received honors for their beauty and design.
7. Reconnect with nature. A leader in sustainable tourism, eco-adventures and nature explorations abound. Explore national parks, coastal whale sanctuaries, and reserves. From cascading and canyoning down waterfalls and mountains, to kayaking and fishing in rivers, lakes and bays, the DR is a natural.
6. DR spa renewal. Enjoy world class spas at upscale resorts throughout the country. Well-suited spa hotels in the DR cater to visitors every desire for rebirth and renewal. Many spas use local customs, herbs and traditions in their treatments to restore wholeness and wellness.
5. Dance the merenque. Merengue is a national passion in the DR. Visitors can dance away their cares in clubs, street parades, festivals or just about anywhere the rapid merengue beats play. Most cities in the DR have merengue festivals with professional orchestras and activities planned throughout the year including the annual festival held in late July or early August in Santo Domingo and a week-long celebration held in Puerto Plata in October each year. Read the rest of this entry »
Customs director Rafael Camilo headed the ribbon cutting for the Agency’s new freight area at the Las Americas International Airport, so its employees can work in comfort and efficiently to benefit the public.
The official said the facility was built at a cost of more than RD$50 million and starts operations to coincide with the implementation of the Integrated Customs Management System (SIGA).
Camilo added that the modern freight area has wireless telephones and a category 7 Hardwire Network, technology he said will allow faster Customs proceedings.