DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WELCOMES COLOMBIANS AS THE THIRD-LARGEST TOURIST AND VISITOR GROUP

Publicado por Mario P Crestman

The Dominican Republic has been a popular tourist destination for Colombians for many years. The country's beautiful beaches, warm weather, and friendly people make it a perfect place to relax and escape the cold weather of Colombia. In the first seven months of 2023, over 153,000 Colombians visited the Dominican Republic, making them the third most frequent visitors after Americans and Canadians. This number is expected to continue to grow in the coming years as more and more Colombians discover the beauty of the Dominican Republic.

The Arajet airline is betting heavily on the Colombian and Dominican Republic markets despite the global economic slowdown and rising inflation. The airline, which was founded by Víctor Pacheco in 2021, began operations in September of that year with flights between Barranquilla and Cali in Colombia and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Since then, the airline has expanded its operations to include flights to Cartagena, Medellín, and Bogotá in Colombia, as well as to other destinations in the Caribbean, Central America, and the United States. The new airline is a low-cost carrier that offers fares that are significantly lower than those of its competitors. In addition, the air carrier has been able to keep its costs low by operating a fleet of new, fuel-efficient aircraft and by having a lean organizational structure. Arajet's strategy of focusing on the Colombian and Dominican Republic markets is a sound one. These markets are growing rapidly and there is a large demand for air travel. They are well-positioned to capitalize on this demand and become a major player in the Latin American airline industry. The expansion plans are ambitious, but the airline has a strong track record so far. It is likely that Arajet will continue to grow and expand its operations in the years to come. The low-cost model they offer has been a major factor in its success. Prior to their entry into the market, an average journey between Colombia and the Dominican Republic cost around $400. Arajet has been able to offer tickets for as low as $175 by using brand-new Boeing planes, purchased directly from the manufacturer, that offer 20% savings on fuel and contribute to an impressive 40% reduction in pollution.

Bain Capital, a private investment firm with a vast asset portfolio of $180 billion, has been an instrumental player in facilitating Arajet's introduction of clean, cost-effective flights. Bain Capital invested in Arajet's fleet, thereby strengthening the airline's operations. Pacheco has said that he founded Arajet after eight years of planning. The name "Arajet" is inspired by the Taino Indian term for macaws. Their maiden flight took place in September 2021, and the airline has since become a major player in the Colombian and Dominican Republic travel markets. Arajet currently has a fleet of four Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, but it plans to double its fleet size in the near future. The airline is also planning to expand its route network to include more destinations in the Caribbean, Central America, and the United States. Anato, the guild of travel agencies in Colombia, forecasts an increase of 2% to 6% in global passengers during the past break week in August 2023 compared to previous years. While Spain, Mexico, the United States, and the Caribbean Islands remain favorites among Colombian tourists, growth has been registered in destinations such as the United Kingdom, Cuba, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Brazil. Despite potential concerns about upcoming regional elections and the slowdown of the post-pandemic boom, Anato's Executive President, Paula Cortés Calle, is optimistic about the future of the Colombian tourism sector. With sales projected to rise by 5% to 10% compared to the same period in 2022, she emphasizes the steady forward momentum of the sector amidst these challenges.

Original Source: Colombians are the third most visited foreign tourists in the Dominican Republic | Bavarodigital.net