So many people are pulling out of Dominican Republic trips after mystery deaths
New Yorkers are getting cold feet when it comes to vacationing in the Dominican Republic — in light of a growing number of tourist deaths there, travel agents told The Post Friday.
Several clients — including a couple with a destination wedding booked at a Punta Cana resort — have opted to switch hotels in the DR, but some are moving to different countries altogether, said Gina Libretti-Costa, the president of G World Travel in Maspeth.
“The recent coverage has made a big impact on G World Travel and its clients,” Libretti-Costa said in an email.
She said the soon-to-be newlyweds “chose to switch resorts and venue in fear that guests would be apprehensive to attend.”
Others are following suit.
“I have had several families completely change their plans and opted to move to another island,” Libretti-Costa added. “More recently, a family of 10 opted to make the switch to another Caribbean island.”
Heather Cross, who owns Vacations by Heather, said she received a panicked email Thursday night from a client requesting to change a week-long family trip to an all-inclusive resort over Christmas.
“I think the recent news has them concerned. I literally just got an email from them yesterday, ‘When is my final payment due? Can we reconsider destinations?’” said Cross, whose boutique travel agency is in Carroll Gardens. “I’m guessing they probably won’t go to the DR. I’m guessing they’ll go to another tropical destination.”
Authorities are investigating whether bootleg liquor is to blame in the deaths of at least seven American tourists. At least some of them died after drinking from the minibar in their room.
Resorts in La Romana and Punta Cana were busy with tourists this week — though many told The Post that they were avoiding minibar booze.
Mom Rebeka Jurado, 38, who was staying at the Bahia Principe La Romana with her 14-year-old son for a baseball tournament, said they were having a great time.
“Of course I thought about these tourists and was initially a little worried but everything is good,” she said. “I’m just watching what everyone else is doing and I see them eating and drinking and I’m doing the same. I’m thinking if they’re OK, we will be OK.”
“I wouldn’t drink from the minibar,” she added.
A hotel employee at Bahia Principe La Romana said the hotel was 85% booked.
Workers at Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville, where Miranda Schaupp-Werner died May 25, also said they were near capacity.
The lobby of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, where at least two men have died, was packed at night.
Until there’s concrete answers in the troubling trend, Joanna Stark said she’s advising her corporate clients to steer clear of the DR.
“I would personally tell them to stay away from there until the situation is rectified,” said Stark, who owns Seven Hills Global on the Upper West Side with her husband Jay Palmer. “We don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”
Robert Sinclair, a spokesman for travel agency AAA’s northeast division, said travel to the DR has so far been unaffected. The firm is offering credits, though, to those who want to change their plans.
“We’re telling them to be careful but it looks like these are isolated incidents,” said Sinclair.
He expected tourism there would take a hit in the short term — but noted “anywhere you go on earth you run into a problem.”
“People who come to New York are taking the same chances as going to the DR,” Sinclair said.
Cross said skipping the DR as a travel destination is a personal choice.
“If you’re going to be worried about your safety, then definitely rethink the situation,” she advised. “It’s not going to be a vacation if you’re stressed about your safety.”
Related Video
What Caribbean countries are still safe to travel to?
What Caribbean countries are still safe to travel to?
Click Here: Sports Water Bottle Accessories
