The Dominican Republic is to impose a US$5 Tourist Tax on air arrivals from November 1. It is being touted as a temporary measure by government officials. The extra money will be included in the ticket price and thus collected by the airlines. This new costing comes on top of an already existing US$10 tourist visa fee and a US$20 departure tax, of which a new electronic version will be introduced also on Nov. 1.

The money will be utilised to improve the country’s infrastructure - including beach renovation projects and new roads.

The Dominican Republic’s minister of tourism Felix Jimenez estimates that the new tax will boost revenue from tourism by some US$22 million based on arrivals that sit around the 4 million mark.

He also estimates a ten percent increase in arrivals by the end of 2005.
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