Dominican Republic deaths: Tourism minister says island is safe as tourists avoid destination

A surge in the number of holiday cancellations has followed news of the deaths, with 60 per cent of members of the American Society of Travel Advisors reporting customers pulling out of visits.

The Australian government's Smart Traveller website has not changed its advice since November last year. It advises travellers "exercise a high degree of caution" due to the high level of crime in the country, including warning that female travellers are at risk of sexual assault.

It also warns travellers about the risk of infectious diseases, including cholera, from water, ice cubes and uncooked or undercooked food.

The Dominican Republic has recently attempted to attract more luxury travellers, with the government investing $500m in repurposing hotels, bars and restaurants.

In an open letter published on June 18, Javier Garcia said the country was a "nation of happy, humble, emphatic and easy-going people with an innate sense of service, and that's why we want to send our sincerest condolences and solidarity to the families and friends of those affected."

"The National Police is working hard to complete the investigations so they can provide the answer these families are looking for," he said. "But as a responsible and law-abiding institution, we want these investigations to follow due process and to be credible so that the families can receive the respect they deserve, especially in these hard times.

"As far as we have been informed, each one of the hotels involved have fully followed through with the established protocols and processes designed to respond immediately to these kinds of cases."

He said the ministry of tourism was working with hotels, national authorities, the FBI and the CDC "to accelerate the investigations and to keep the public informed as new findings arise", as well as to "reinforce safety conditions [and] quality control and beverages".

The first deaths in the country to raise the alarm were those of Edward Nathaniel Holmes, 63, and Cynthia Ann Day, 49, at the end of May, found dead in their hotel rooms at the Grand Bahia Principe La Romana Resort in San Pedro de Macoris on the south-east coast of the country.

An autopsy found the couple died of pulmonary edema, the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, but led others to question the circumstances around which relatives had fallen ill in the country.

The family of Miranda Schaup-Wener, 41, who also died at the end of May, at the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville hotel, said she collapsed after having a drink from the minibar. An autopsy found she died of a heart attack.

Soon questions were being asked of more instances, including deaths from 2018.

Tourists told CNN of "chemical smells" at different resorts in the Dominican Republic, dating back as far as 2016, and suffering stomach cramps, diarrhoea and dizziness.

"[The Dominican Republic] probably has some indication of what it could be or what it might not be," Dr Amesh Adalja, from the Johns Hopkins Centre for Health Security, told the Associated Press.

"The longer they keep everybody in suspense, the worse it is going to be for the Dominican Republic, especially when they are so dependent on tourism. Because the longer this goes on unexplained, the longer people are going to be leery of going there."

Tourism minister Javier Garcia has been critical of media reports lumping the deaths together. "Speculating only directly affects hundreds of thousands of workers and families in the Dominican Republic and the income of millions of Dominicans who indirectly depend on tourism," he said.

In an interview with reporters, he said: "What some media are describing as an avalanche of deaths does not correspond to the reality that we are living today in the Dominican Republic."

A number of British tour operators were asked whether they have issued guidance to their customers planning to travel to the country.

A spokesperson for Virgin Holidays in the UK said it was in liaison with Abta, the travel association, and the Dominican tourist board, adding: "Our ongoing dialogue with staff locally means they are equipped with the most up to date advice and guidance, which they share with our customers on the ground to ensure they enjoy their holiday and remain safe too."

A spokesperson for Tui said the operator was aware of the reports. "We'd like to reassure customers that these are isolated incidents in separate hotels," the spokesperson said. "The safety and wellbeing of our customers is always our highest priority. Holidays are continuing as normal and if we are made aware of any reason why they may not, we will contact customers directly."

The FCO makes no reference to food and drink safety in the Dominican Republic but says there have been cases of chikungunya virus and dengue fever.

In 2002, food hygiene in the country came under scrutiny after it was reported that British holidaymakers stood a one-in-three chance of falling ill.

The Telegraph, London

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