A Dominican Republic official said the seven American deaths in the country are not out of the ordinary and that the number is lower than in some previous years.
Julia Thompson, Leora Arnowitz and Adrianna RodriguezAt least seven Americans have died this year in the Dominican Republic, and questions have been raised about whether travel is safe to the Caribbean vacation destination. But a Dominican Republic official spoke out at a press conference Friday to dispel concerns.
Garcia said the confirmed seven deaths of are not out of the ordinary and that the number is lower than in some previous years. Garcia said in both 2011 and 2015 through June, 15 tourists died in the Dominican Republic.“Unfortunately, people die in situations that they don’t want; these things happen and they will continue to happen in the world,” Garcia said.
The State Department rates more than 50 countries at a level 2 for various reasons. The Dominican Republic has held a 2 rating since the Travel Advisory system went into effect in 2018 and has not changed since news reports of the deaths. “We continue to work to increase the security of tourists in the Dominican Republic; we continue to work on the hotel’s standards, to better emergency protocols, increase the quality of food and drink and work with a tourist assistance department.”
In May, Maryland couple Edward Nathaniel Holmes, 63 and Cynthia Ann Day, 49, were found dead in their hotel room. Within a week, a woman from Pennsylvania, Miranda Schaup-Werner, 41, died at the same hotel chain. A man who the State Department has not identified by name also became ill and later died on April 14.Dominican Republic travelers have also reported illness that has come to light since safety concerns have been in the news.
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