Frequently Asked Questions About the

Dominican Republic

Q. Where is the Dominican Republic?
A. The Dominican Republic is located between Cuba and Puerto Rico and occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea (near the center of the West Indies). The Atlantic Ocean is to the north, and the Caribbean Sea is to the south.

The Dominican Republic is the second largest country (after Cuba) in the Caribbean. It has about 1,000 miles of shoreline, four mountain ranges and fertile valleys.

The Dominican Republic is not to be confused with Dominica, another Caribbean country.

Q. What is the population of the Dominican Republic?
A. There are roughly nine million people living in the Dominican Republic. Almost a quarter of Dominicans live in Santo Domingo, which is the country's political, economic and social center.

Beyond the capital, much of the Dominican Republic is distinctly rural, and a large percentage of Dominicans still live by agriculture (or by fishing along the coast).

Q. How big is the Dominican Republic?
A. The area is about 18,712 square miles. That makes it slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire.

Q. What is the climate like?
A. The country has a mild climate, with an average temperature of 77 degrees. There are two brief rainy seasons, from May to July and from October to November.

Q. What language is spoken in Dominican Republic?
A. Spanish. The Dominican Republic is a Hispanic country, therefore, its culture and people is derived predominantly from Spain (language and religion), though blended with African traditions (musical expressions and the carnival vibe of life).

Q. What is the "national pasttime?"

A. Baseball is by far the most popular sport and activity in the Dominican Republic.

Q. What is the main religion?
A. Roman Catholic (85%).

Q. What is the literacy rate?
A. 82% of the population over age 15 can read and write.

Q. What is the make-up of the Dominican people?
A. About 75% of all Dominicans are mulatto; that is, of mixed European and African ancestry. There are also black and white (primarily Spanish descended) minorities. A smaller presence of East Asians (primarily ethnic Chinese) and Middle Easterners (primarily Lebanese) can also be found.

Many foreigners reside in the country for business, religious, or leisure purposes. There are significant numbers of American, Canadian, German and French expatriates residing in the country

In the early 1960s, economic problems led to a vast migration of Dominicans to the United States, mainly to large east coast cities. New York City's Washington Heights is densely populated by Dominicans. The Dominicans living outside of the Dominican Republic are a major revenue source for the country. Collectively they send to the Dominican Republic a whopping U.S. $1 billion every year.

Sizeable Dominican émigré communities exist in the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Spain, and St. Maarten.

Q. How is the country divided?
A. The Dominican Republic is divided into 31 provinces.

Q. What is the capital?
A. The capital of the country is the city of Santo Domingo (full name Santo Domingo de Guzman), located in the southern part of island. The second largest city is Santiago de los Caballeros, more commonly referred to as simply Santiago. Puerto Plata in the north, Punta Cana in the east and La Romana in the southeast are other major resort centers.

Q. Briefly, what is the country's history?
A. The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus more than 500 years ago. The island quickly became an important base from which Spain expanded its empire into the rest of the Western Hemisphere.

At times the island has been dominated by France, Haiti and the United States. The Dominican Republic achieved it independence from Haiti in 1844.

Oddly enough, the legal system is based on French civil codes (Napoleonic Codes) which were first introduced to the island by the French and adopted formally in 1884 as part of the nation's legal system.

The Dominican Republic also has been influenced by other legal systems. The Land Registration Law, for instance, is based on legislation enacted in 1920 when United States military forces were in the country.

Note: Unlike in the United States, there are no juries in the Dominican Republic; therefore, judges render all verdicts.

Note: You are allowed to vote when you are age 18; it is universal and compulsory. Married persons can vote regardless of age. Members of the armed forces and police cannot vote.

Q. What is the current state of government in the Dominican Republic?
A. For the past 30 years, the country has been a stable democracy with universal suffrage, separation of powers and a constitution that bears a remarkable resemblance to the constitution of the United States. The power of the government is divided among three independent branches: the executive, the legislative and the judicial.

Q. What is the currency in the Dominican Republic?
A. The Dominican Peso (RD$) is the national currency of the country although the U.S. dollar is often accepted in some places, especially tourist-oriented shops and hotels. The exchange rate between the two currencies fluctuates on a daily basis.

Q. What is the economy like in the Dominican Republic?
A. There was economic stagnation in the Dominican Republic in the 1980s. However, the economy has had steady growth in the 1990s. The recovery has been led by policy measures implemented by the government and the Dominican Central Bank. These include an economic modernization program, stricter fiscal discipline and aggressive efforts to attract foreign investment

During the late 1990s, the principal growth sectors of the economy were communications, construction, hotels, electricity and water, agriculture and cattle and commerce. Today, the Dominican Republic is in a growth cycle accompanied by relatively low rates of inflation.

The Dominican Republic imports goods from all over the world, but approximately 43% of the country's imports come from the United States.

The Dominican Republic is in the process of a widespread economic reform to comply with the guidelines set forth in the Uruguay Round of Negotiations of the GATT. Toward that end, Dominican authorities are concerned with modernizing the legal system under which foreign and national businesses operate in the Dominican Republic, as well as with reforming certain important sectors of the economy to open them to foreign investors.

Q. Are there business and investment opportunities in the Dominican Republic?
A. There are numerous business and investment opportunities for American companies in the Dominican Republic. Generally speaking, these include:

• Tourism
• Free Zones
• Emerging areas such as energy, telecommunications, financial services and insurance
• Agriculture
• Mining

Q. What is required of foreigners to enter into the Dominican Republic?
A. All foreign visitors must have a valid passport.

Q. Which airlines fly to the Dominican Republic?
A. American Airlines and Continental are among carriers offering regular flights and packages from New York, Newark, and Miami to Puerto Plata's Gregorio Luuperon International Airport and Santo Domingo's Las Americas International Airport. A new international airport will open in Samana by 2007.

Q. Tell me about tourism to the Dominican Republic.
A. In the late 1960s, the Dominican government declared the development of the tourism industry to be in the national interest. Accordingly, the government enacted laws to promote and grant incentives to the industry that permitted the construction of complexes and necessary infrastructure such as roads and highways. By the 1980s there was considerable foreign investment in the Dominican tourism industry.

The Dominican Republic is now the major tourist island in the Caribbean. It attracts about 13% of the region's tourist flow. Tourism has become one of the most important aspects of the Dominican economy. However, agriculture is still the backbone of the economy. Traditional exports - sugar, cocoa, coffee, bananas and tobacco - flourish in this land of fertile valleys and foliage-clad mountains.

Q. What attracts tourists to the Dominican Republic?
A. Tourists to the Dominican Republic come from the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. The reasons include:

• The country's strategic geographical location
• The fact that the Dominican Republic has the largest tourist accommodation capacity in the Caribbean, with approximately 32,500 rooms
• Economic "package deals" and the lowest registered rate of tourist expenditure per day in the region, In other words, the DR is one of the most affordable places for all-inclusive resorts
• The country's very rich and substantial natural resources, including places of cultural and historical interest
• Consistent tropical climate
• Stable political system

The Dominican Republic is famous for its beaches. The North Coast is one of the best places in the world for windsurfing and kiteboarding. There is great whale watching off the Peninsula de Samana.

The landscape of the Dominican Republic is breathtaking. If a nation's wealth could be measured by its landscape, the Dominican Republic would be the richest country in the Caribbean. With its high mountains, fertile valleys and diverse ecosystems, it is a dynamic place.

The Dominican Republic is home to some of the largest and most diverse parks in all the Caribbean. Over 10% of the country has been set aside for national parks and scientific reserves.

In addition, there is golf, diving and snorkeling, hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, surfing, whale watching and wind sports.

There has also been an increase of ecotourism in the interior, with hiking, caving and biking tours through the mountains and countryside.

There are free-port zones at Santo Domingo's Las Americas International Airport and at Puerto Plata International Airport.

The Dominican Republic is fast becoming a favorite of meeting planners who have now recognized the appealing assets of the country - restaurants, airports, highways, transportation companies, and its natural and cultural attractions. There are convention facilities all over the island, some old, some new and some on the way.

Q. What are some major points of interest in the Dominican Republic?
A. Points of interest include:

• Cabarete, on the northwest (Atlantic Ocean) side of the Dominican Republic, which has near ideal conditions for windsurfing and has become an internationally renowned destination for the sport's enthusiasts. Surfing and the newer sport of kite surfing also are popular here.
  
  
• La Romana is on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic. Recreation includes tennis, polo, horseback riding, and golf at the nearby 7,000 acre resort of Casa de Campo.

• Puerto Plata (northwest) is the gateway to the 75 miles of golden beach known as the Amber Coast. The many beaches along this beautiful strip include Sosua, Long, Grande, Dorada, Cofresi and Cabarete. Most of the major resorts are east of town in Playa Dorada and Costa Dorada.
  
  
• Santiago is the Dominican Republic's industrial center and second largest city. In addition to being the home of the world-famous meringue music, Santiago specializes in the restaurants, robust Dominican coffee, fine handmade cigars and Bermudez rum.
  
  
• Santo Domingo, capital, was at one time the prize jewel of the Spanish colonies. The western section of the city has benefited most from redevelopment. Today it contains universities and sports stadiums.

Q. What is the Dominican's government attitude toward foreign investment?
A. The Dominican government officially welcomes foreign investment. A foreign investment law enacted in December 1995 allows unlimited foreign investment in nearly all sectors of the economy. In 1997, the government established the Office for Investment Promotion (OPI) which is proving to be an important contact for potential investors.

Q. How are real estate transactions governed in the Dominican Republic?
A. Real estate transactions are presently governed by the Land Registry Law of amendments. A new Land Registry Law was enacted in 2005.

Q. Are there any restrictions against foreigners owning real estate in the Dominican Republic?
A. There are no restrictions on foreigners purchasing real property in the Dominican Republic. In early 1998, it was established that that the only requirement was that the Title Registry Offices keep a record, for statistical purposes, of all purchases made by foreigners.

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