Dominican Republic Media Memo-March 2008 Issue

• Three DR Beaches Awarded Prestigious Blue Flag Certification
• New Eco-Routes in Bayahibe
• DR Set to Host Latin American Table Tennis Championships
• JetBlue Offers Direct Flights to the DR from Orlando
• PGA Tour of Champions to Make First Appearance in the DR
• National Geographic Creates Adventure Map for DR Travelers

Three DR Beaches Awarded Prestigious Blue Flag Certification

The DR received Blue Flag certifications for three beaches, including two stretches of beach on the North Coast in Costa Dorada, Coson Beach on the northern side of Samana, and the eastern coast of Bayahibe. The certification is awarded only to beaches that adhere to strict quality standards. For more information, visit www.blueflag.ca.

New Eco-Routes in Bayahibe
The Romana-Bayahibe Hotel Association and the Ministry of Environment have opened their new Padre Nuestro hike. The hike will bring visitors to caves adorned in pictographs in the National Park of the East. An additional shorter route winds through the town of Bayahibe, highlighting its vibrant culture. Another route takes hikers to an early 20th century church and an Indian burial site. For more information, visit www.explorelaromana.com.

DR Set to Host Latin American Table Tennis Championships
Representatives from 20 countries will compete in the Latin American Table Tennis Championships in Santo Domingo from March 30 through April 6. The top singles players will advance to 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. For more information, visit www.ittf.com/world.

JetBlue Offers Direct Flights to the DR from Orlando

As of March 6, JetBlue is offering daily non-stop flights from Orlando, Florida to Santo Domingo in the DR’s South Central region. For more information, visit www.jetblue.com.

PGA to Make First-Ever Stop in DR During 2008 Tour

The Jack Nicklaus signature golf course at Punta Espada Golf Club in Cap Cana has been chosen as a stop for the 2008 PGA Tour’s Champions Tour, marking the first time in history the PGA has included the DR in the tour. Scheduled for March 31 to April 6, 2008, the tournament will garner international coverage as golfers play Punta Espada which was named by Golf Digest as one of the top 100 courses outside of the U.S. Visit www.pgatour.com for a complete 2008 Champions Tour schedule.

National Geographic Creates Adventure Map for DR Travelers

The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development with the Dominican Military Institute of Cartography and the National Geographic Society has created the first-ever DR adventure map for visitors. The detailed visitor’s map promotes the diversification of the local tourist offering while creating a cartographic base for the country. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

News releases, feature releases and the press kit also can be accessed from the DR Ministry of Tourism website, www.GoDominicanRepublic.com.  For photos, b-roll and more specific needs, please contact Patty Tazalla, public relations for the Dominican Republic at ptazalla@bvk.com or 414.247.2174.

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