New York, US.- Dominicans residing in New York are urging their compatriots in the Dominican Republic to rally both in person and on social media to support upcoming protests organized by the Association of Dominican Aviation Professionals (Asopadom). These protests are in response to the government’s imposition of a $10 fee on Quisqueyans for a tourist card when they visit the country.
The protests are scheduled to take place from April 23 to April 25 in front of the Norge Botello building at the Las Américas International Airport (AILA), where the operational area of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) is situated. Additionally, support is encouraged for other protests scheduled for the 26th, 29th, and 30th of this month against the authorities’ failure to enforce their own resolutions and laws.
Furthermore, demonstrations are planned for May 2 and 3 at the office of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), located at José Joaquín Pérez street #104, Gascue. This institution issued Resolution 217-2022, instructing airlines to eliminate the $10 charge, a process that has been ongoing for over a year.
The protests aim to ensure compliance with the current Civil Aviation Law 491-06, which mandates that air operators hire foreign professionals only when domestic expertise is unavailable.
According to Eddy Rodríguez, president of Asopadom, inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the USA will arrive in the country to assess compliance with Dominican Civil Aviation Law and air regulations.
The Dominican community in New York emphasizes that supporting these protests is tantamount to standing in solidarity with the Dominican community abroad, which they claim has been overlooked and mistreated by the current government.
In a press release, they urge family, friends, and relatives to join each protest, viewing it as a means to promote transparency in aviation operations in the Dominican Republic.
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This fee is completely unnecessary. The country gets tax more than enough tax revenue from the hospitality industry and all of its direct and indirect tourism related enterprises.
Agreed. The problem in general with these kinds of ‘junk’ fees is that they start to make it look like people are being “nickeled & dimed” (e.g. they’re nothing more than a dollar sign). This only works for so long until people become fed up and a country’s overall image starts to become one of a tourist trap. It can take a LONG time to shed that type of image. It’s much better to prevent it in the first place.
All this commotion for $10? If anything they should be protesting the Haitian issue.