Abuse of tourists prompts heightened Police patrols

Santo Domingo.- The Tourism Police (Politur) will conduct a plan of preventive actions in the Bavaro and Punta Cana zone to bolster the safety of tourists who visit the area.

The announcement comes the day after a report of mistreatment of tourists in that area, especially by the drivers of buses which operate in the region.

Politur director Jose Manuel Frias said the plan seeks to improve the security in those tourist areas, which is the destination of 60% of the foreign visitors who choose the country to vacation.

The official, who presented the plan to various representative sectors of eastern La Altagracia province, said the actions will be coordinated with community organizations and sectors linked to tourism and hotels, to jointly confront any criminal activity in the area.

Frias said members of the military, National Police, neighborhood boards, churches and government agencies will take part in the actions, and announced an additional 75 motorcycles for patrols. “We aim to start this security plan here in Bavaro and Punta Cana, and later expand it to all of the country’s tourism regions, but it will always be in a coordinated manner.”