The last great investment opportunity in the Caribbean

The Dominican Republic is unique in its centralized Caribbean coordinates that make it a great tourist destination: it is at the nexus of South, Central, and North America, as well as Europe, and tourist statistics reflect the fact that visitors find its geographic location ideal.

The tourism and travel industry in the Dominican generated approximately $8.1 billion in 2006, growing 4.5% over 2005. Last year saw record arrivals nationwide, surpassing numbers on a quarterly as well as annual basis.

According to the central bank, foreign air travel into the country in 2006 totalled 3.3 million visitors, an increase of 8% over 2005.

The Dominican Republic's Travel & Tourism is expected to grow 2.6% in 2007 and by 3.4% per annum, in real terms, between 2008 and 2017.

So strong has growth been that the country recently surpassed even Dubai in terms of tourism growth. Seventeen hotels have been built within the last several years, there are now an estimated 65,000 hotel rooms in the country.

The island's friendly tourism environment, low operating costs, lower local wages and food and beverage production, has clearly made the Dominican Republic more attractive to tourists and international brand operators alike.

Key investment points

• Property in the Dominican Republic is very competitively priced when compared to other Caribbean islands.
  
  
• With this development, the Dominican Government officially welcomes overseas investment.
  
  
• Law 158 on foreign investment was recently extended to attract overseas property investors by offering exemptions on Capital Gains, Income and Property Purchase taxes for ten years.
  
  
• The Dominican Republic is the No.1 and No.4 most popular overseas destination for Canadian and US Tourists respectively.
  
  
• 3.4 million Tourists visit the Dominican Republic annually and this is increasing by approximately 8% year on year.
  
  
• Tourism in the Dominican Republic is changing rapidly. There is a demand for more upmarket, residential style accommodation over the traditional all-inclusive hotels. This is leading to major investment in the area as more people realize the potential of this beautiful country in comparison to other Caribbean destinations.
  
  
• The Caribbean Tourism Organization annual report states that 25% of Europeans traveling to the Caribbean, cite the Dominican Republic as their preferred vacation destination. This is no doubt influenced by the variety of microclimates, mountains, beaches, cultural and historical wealth as well as a range of alternative features offered by this Caribbean Island.
  
  
• Many improvements to the country's infrastructure are linked directly to the pursuit of tourist income, with new highways being built, existing roads widened and paved, as well as historic areas being renovated.
  
  
• The Dominican Republic has seven international airports, more than any other Caribbean Island.
  
  
• The Government is currently spending $20,000,000 on an international marketing campaign to attract tourism and investment from around the world to this area.
  
  
• High interest bearing US$ accounts and US$ based investments are both available and tax free. The banking system is highly regulated and security is deemed good.
  
  
• There are no restrictions on foreigners purchasing property in the Dominican Republic.
  
  
• There are no restrictions on foreigners inheriting title to property.

Punta Cana is located on the eastern most tip of the Dominican Republic where the surrounding area plays host to 47% of the country's 3.4 million tourists.

Punta Cana International Airport is the preferred Dominican international airport with approximately 50.94% of all foreign arrivals due to its close proximity to the popular resort hotels.

The US is now the largest single-country source of visitors to the Dominican Republic, and US tourists preferred destination is La Altagracia region, where Punta Cana is located.

What about Hurricanes?
Hurricanes are a part of life to everybody living in this part of the world. Records show that Punta Cana has had 1 named hurricane pass within 60 nautical miles since 1944 placing it at number 45 out of a list of the hurricane capitals of the 60 major Caribbean Islands and Bermuda.

Punta Cana is in the heart of the real estate expansion and is regarded as being more affluent than its neighbour Bavaro where there is a concentration of many all-inclusive hotels. The area is very popular with the rich and famous and has become the home of several international celebrities.

The Caribbean Highway now under construction, will provide easy access along the coast, making Punta Cana a prime investment destination.

Punta Perla is at the forefront of international property investment, a new generation of international resort property.

Punta Perla is a master planned resort envisaged to become one of the worlds finest resorts offering luxury accommodation and world class amenities. It is situated in approximately 2,700 acres (10.2 million sq metres) of prime beachfront land in the Punta Cana region on the Eastern tip of the Dominican Republic.

There will be approximately 8500 properties on Punta Perla. Punta Perla will be a low density build offering just 11 people per acre.

All properties on Punta Perla are freehold.

Punta Perla is being developed and project managed by Pariso Tropical S.A, a Dominican Republic company headed up by Spanish developer, Ricardo Miranda. The developer has full legal title to the land.

The property that we are currently marketing along with the major facilities including the marina and first signature golf course will be ready within 30 months from the signing of contract. Punta Perla in its entirety is a 5 - 6 year project.

$10,000 reserves the property and on contract, 30% of the purchase price (minus the reservation fee) is payable. There is then nothing further to pay until completion.

The developer will make available, through a nominated bank, a mortgage for 70% of the purchase price on completion. The term is currently up to 15 years at a rate of 7% interest for a repayment mortgage although the lenders anticipate the rate to be lower by completion. There will also be more mortgage options in place by completion. The mortgage offer is related to the property purchase price.

Every purchaser on Punta Perla will be offered a fixed annual rental return equating to 8% of the purchase price (less the $10,000 resort membership fee) for a period of 5 years. This return will then be renewable annually for up to another 5 years at the agreement of both parties. The rental contract will be with a company partly owned by the developer who will make agreements with major tour operators who will in turn guarantee the rental return.

Continued Government incentives to attract both real estate investment and tourism continue with the introduction of Law 158. This entitles investors in the country several benefits such as no stamp duty on purchases saving in excess of 4% of the property price, no tax liability on rental incomes and no capital gains tax.

Punta Perla is a totally private gated community for residents and guests only and is protected by 24 hour security.