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* Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. Commonwealth (aka, US colony and will continue to be one until they either become a state or go independent), it goes without saying that over 90% of its tourists are Americans. However, since traveling to PR is like traveling to any other state, it is not considered international tourism, but rather domestic. Puerto Rico is a very small player when it comes to attracting tourists that need an actual passport to get there. Some may say it has to do with U.S. travel restrictions, and maybe there is something to that, since, for example, Orlando in Florida receives an insane amount of tourists (I think its over 30 million) but only 3 million of those are international and a similar phenomenon occurs in other popular American destinations (NYC, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Chicago, etc).
All the other islands have an international tourist base, even the ones dominated by Americans, like Jamaica.
Puerto Rico is VERY expensive. You're basically paying US prices for food, lodging. Going just about anywhere else in the Caribbean and you get the same thing for FAR cheaper.
The nightlife kinda sucks in San Juan too. Don't know if this was anyone else's experience. It sure shocked the **** outta me, since PR is home to some of my favorite music.
It should depends of the countries, because here in France Jamaica is not at all a destination we think about in the caribean, while the Republica Dominicana definitly is/
I-ve been there a few years ago and the hotel was about 25%french, 20% Italians, 25%Spanish, 20% other Europeans, and only a few north Americans. I tend to think that in Jamaica you won't find many french tourists.
So true!
I actually have visited the DR, and I specifically remember seeing Italians absolutely everywhere. It also did seem to have a very strong European tourism base.
I don't recall seeing any fellow North Americans....I also believe you're right, about them being obsessed more about Jamaica than the DR.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Antonio84
European dominated tourism: Dominican Republic, Cuba, Martinique, Guadaloupe, British Virgin Islands
American dominated tourism: Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Aruba, Cayman Islands
That's interesting. Yeah, the American-dominated one. That's usually what I think of as popular.
On another note, I do remember visiting Italy years ago, and found it quite interesting that most travel agents there often advertised the DR and Cuba. At the time, I just remarked it was lucky and interesting they could so easy visit Cuba, but I couldn't recall many travel agents at all, ever, in the U.S. that promoted the DR. Usually they promoted those others that you listed above.
For Canadians, Cuba is by far the most popular carribean destination because it's at a bit of discount due to Americans not being allowed there, so that means fewer choose Dominican republic. After that, Mexico was popular because on top of beaches there were great Mayan ruins, and the Anglophone carribean countries were popular with Anglophone Canadians because Spanish isn't widely spoken in Canada. places like Martinique are popular with Francophones for the same reason. As such, we don't dislike Dominican Republic, and do visit, but other carribean countries have extra features (cheap prices, language, history) that attract us a bit more so they become more famous in our country. It's certainly more popular for us than Puerto Rico or Trinidad.
Location: Near Tours, France about 47°10'N 0°25'E
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BIMBAM
For Canadians, Cuba is by far the most popular carribean destination because it's at a bit of discount due to Americans not being allowed there, so that means fewer choose Dominican republic. After that, Mexico was popular because on top of beaches there were great Mayan ruins, and the Anglophone carribean countries were popular with Anglophone Canadians because Spanish isn't widely spoken in Canada. places like Martinique are popular with Francophones for the same reason. As such, we don't dislike Dominican Republic, and do visit, but other carribean countries have extra features (cheap prices, language, history) that attract us a bit more so they become more famous in our country. It's certainly more popular for us than Puerto Rico or Trinidad.
I tend to think that people shoose their caribean destination in relation with their language.
Of course, french people will firstly go to our oversea departements: Martinique, Guadeloupe; where not only french is spoken, but also have all accomodations like in continental France. In Guadeloupe and MArtinique we see a few other Europeans, especially Italians (not much other nationalities)
Dominica republic seem to be favored by latin European countries, of course Spain because of the linguistic ties, but also Italians and French. Other European also but in leasser extend I felt. Cuba is also a popular destination for french people, I guess it is also for other Europeans, especially Spanish people.
But here, English-speaking islands of the caribean are not popular really. Jamaica is rarely proposed as a destination in travel agency. In my relations, I never heard people saying they wish go to places as virign islands, Jamaica or Bahamas.
Only one of my family members (my grandfather, may he RIP) have visited the the Caribbean, and that was to the Dominican Republic. It's just a cheap holiday destination with no strong brand.
1. Mexico
2. Canada
3. UK 4. Dominican Republic
5. France (tied)
5. Italy (tied)
5. Germany (tied)
8. Jamaica
9. China
10. Japan
Top Travel destination for Canadians
1. U.S.A.
2. Mexico
3. United Kingdom
4. France
5. Cuba 6. Dominican Republic
7. Germany
8. Italy
9. Netherlands
10. Spain
11. Switzerland
12. Japan
13. Mainland China
14. Austria
15. Australia
The DR is the top Caribbean destination for Americans and 2nd for Canadians, yeah definitely not popular with North Americans .
Other than Cuba, DR happens to be my favorite island to Caribbean travel to. It helps that there is a lot of history on that Island (Santo Domingo is the oldest city in the Americas), a lot of varied topography, a border with Haiti for the adventurous, and a bunch of low-cost high quality resorts. It's one of the better deals in the Caribbean.
Location: Near Tours, France about 47°10'N 0°25'E
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dunno what to put here
Only one of my family members (my grandfather, may he RIP) have visited the the Caribbean, and that was to the Dominican Republic. It's just a cheap holiday destination with no strong brand.
Dominican republic is not just Punta Cana or Boca Chica. Punta Cana gave the reputation of mass tourism without much Charm, and Boca Chica gave bad reputation of sexual tourism, but outside of these, the real country is very interesting, especially the northern coast and Santo Domingo wich is probably one of the oldest and most historic cities in the Americas.
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