DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Dufry Group has extended its duty free concession at La Romana International Airport and Seaport by ten years, to December 2032. The company has been serving the market, which welcomes around 700,000 passengers annually (airport and seaport combined) for the past 14 years.
At the airport, there are improvements planned to existing facilities as well as the development of new water-based amenities. Dufry said it plans to develop its 305sq m retail space to offer improved service to the 400,000 travellers a year that use the terminal. Visitors come mainly from the US and Canada as well as Ukraine and other European markets, many by private jet for golf breaks, said the company.
Within the expansion of the seaport, Airport Management Services Ltd., a subsidiary of Central Romana Corporation Ltd., plans to invest around US$4 million to further extend facilities. This will create new attractions for cruise guests visiting La Romana and transform it into an attractive leisure and cruise destination, said Dufry.
The retailer said that it will closely cooperate with the port authority to deliver “a high-level design and shopping experience” across 500sq m of retail space to the 300,000 cruise visitors that visit each year.
Besides La Romana International Airport and Seaport, Dufry’s presence in the Dominican Republic also includes duty free operations at Santo Domingo Las Américas International Airport, Santiago, Puerto Plata Port and Airport as well as at Samana, Amber Cove and Taino Bay cruise ports in Puerto Plata.
Dufry Chief Operating Officer for Mexico and Caribbean Juan-Antonio Nieto said: “We are very proud to be able to continue our long-standing and successful collaboration with La Romana International Airport & Seaport and we thank our partners for the renewed trust. Our continued alliance will not only bring both sides positive benefits but more importantly foster a strong partnership to satisfy international passengers in the region as we do worldwide.”
Luis Emilio Rodriguez Amiama, General Manager of La Romana International Airport & Seaport, added: “For years, Dufry has been a key partner in the development of our La Romana airport and seaport in the Dominican Republic. Being owners and operators of a private airport, we have experienced many challenges and thanks to our travel retail partner’s expertise and continued professionalism, we have achieved solutions and improvements for the benefit of our clients, our employees and our business. Hence, we are proud to announce the renewal of our long-standing cooperation with Dufry for an additional ten years. It is a privilege to maintain this partnership with a world-class travel retailer like Dufry.
“Our thanks go to the team lead by Juan Antonio Nieto and the continued support in our expansion projects at the airport and the seaport. We look forward to new challenges and growth, working hand in hand with our great partners.”
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