TAM to Start Flying to the Dominican Republic Next Year

Dominican Tourism Secretary Felix Jimenez is trumpeting that TAM, the Brazilian airline, will begin making charter flights to that Caribbean country as early as next July with a view to reach out to other nations as well in the near future.

Mr. Jimenez told local news outlets that negotiations with TAM execs are in the final stages before commencing operations that would guarantee a heavier tourist inflow to the Dominican Republic over the next four years.

He pointed out the country’s Tourism Department is seeking to conquer the Brazilian market given the interest of tour operators from that South American nation in the eastern regions of La Romana, Bayahibe and Punta Cana.

Mr. Jimenez went on to explain that the Tourism Department and the National Hotels & Restaurants Associations are planning to make a joint trip to the East Coast in May with members of Brazil’s Tourism Ministry, tour operators, travel agents and journalists in tow.

The Dominican Tourism Minister will travel to Sao Paolo next month to clinch agreements with those companies that will be in charge of promoting the Dominican Republic in Brazil in an aggressive campaign that’s due out on April 2005.