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New Yorkers are cold when it comes to vacationing in the Dominican Republic – given the growing number of tourists who have died in the city, travel agents told the Post on Friday.
Several guests – including a couple whose destination wedding was booked at a Punta Cana resort – have chosen to change hotels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but some are settling in different countries, said Gina Libretti-Costa, president of G World Travel in Maspeth.
"The recent coverage has had a significant impact on G World Travel and its customers," Libretti-Costa said in an email.
She added that the newlyweds "have chosen to change their resort and meeting place, lest their guests be worried."
Others follow.
"Many families have completely changed their plans and have chosen to move to another island," Libretti-Costa added. "More recently, a family of 10 chose to settle on another Caribbean island. "
Heather Cross, owner of Vacations by Heather, said she received a panicked e-mail Thursday night from a customer asking her to replace a family trip for a week by an all-inclusive resort at Christmas.
"I think recent news has worried them. I just literally got an email from them yesterday: "When do I have to pay my final payment? Can we reconsider the destinations? & # 39; "said Cross, whose specialty travel agency is at Carroll Gardens. "I guess they probably will not go to the Dominican Republic. I guess they will go to another tropical destination. "
Authorities are investigating the question of whether it is causing the death of at least seven US tourists. At least some of them died after drinking in the minibar of their room.
The resorts of La Romana and Punta Cana were stormed by tourists this week – although many told The Post that they were avoiding alcoholic beverages in the minibar.
Mom Rebeka Jurado, 38, who was staying at Bahia Principe La Romana with her 14 year old son for a baseball tournament, said that they were having a good time.
"Of course, I thought of these tourists and I was initially a bit worried but all is well," she said. "I only look at what others are doing and see them eating and drinking and doing the same thing. I think if they're fine, we're fine.
"I would not want to drink a minibar," she added.
An employee of the hotel in Bahia Principe La Romana said that this hotel had been booked at 85%.
Workers at Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville, where Miranda Schaupp-Werner died on May 25, also claimed that they were almost at full capacity.
The lobby of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, where at least two men died, was crowded at night.
While waiting for the troubling trend to spread in a concrete way, Joanna Stark advised her corporate clients to avoid any risk of disaster.
"I would personally tell them to stay out of the way until the situation is corrected," said Stark, owner of Seven Hills Global in the Upper West Side with her husband Jay Palmer. "We do not want to see anyone hurt."
Robert Sinclair, a spokesman for the northeast division of the AAA travel agency, said travel to the Dominican Republic has not been affected so far. However, the company offers credits to those who want to change their plans.
"We tell them to be careful, but it seems like they are isolated incidents," Sinclair said.
He expected tourism to take a hit in the short term, but said "everywhere you go on Earth, you have a problem".
"People who come to New York take the same risks as going to the Dominican Republic," Sinclair said.
Cross said that moving R & D as a travel destination was a personal choice.
"If you're worried about your safety, then think back to the situation," she advised. "It will not be a vacation if you are worried about your safety."
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