Tourism in the Dominican Republic - a legal guide - Pellerano ...

Geography
Dominican Republic: Cultural,
Political and Economic Profile
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean,
between Cuba and Puerto Rico. It shares with Haiti the
island of La Hispaniola, occupying its eastern two thirds.
With an extension of 48,442 square kilometers, the
country is, after Cuba, the second largest country in the
Antilles. This strategic geographic position has turned it
into the main tourist destination of the region and into
an ideal place for business and trade.
INFORMATION CHART
Extension 48,442 km2
Population 8.4 million
Capital Santo Domingo
Currency Dominican Peso (RD$)
Oficial Exchange Rate 1US$ = RD$29.20 (June 2003)
Chief of State President Hipolito Mejia
Independence February 27, 1844
Constitution November 28, 1966
Official Language Spanish
The climate is semitropical, with an average yearly
temperature of 26°C (78°F). The air humidity goes
from 65% to 80%, and there are two main rainy
seasons: from May to July, and from October to
November.
The Dominican Republic has a great geographic
diversity, having extensive beaches of white sand,
fertile valleys with exuberant vegetation, desert zones
with dune formations, mighty mountain chains where
Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean, is found
(3,175 meters), as well as many natural parks and
scientific reserves which are under protection. The
lowest point in the Caribbean, which is Lake Enriquillo
(44 meters below sea level), can also be found in the
country.
The capital of the Dominican Republic is Santo
Domingo. Other important cities are Santiago de los
PELLERANO & HERRERA
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Caballeros, San Pedro de Macoris, La Romana, Puerto
Plata and Barahona.
Historical overview
When the Spaniards arrived on December 5, 1492,
the island was inhabited by a group of Arauco Indians
called "Tainos", but this population vanished in a
relatively short time after the discovery, as a result of
all the hard physical work they were forced to carry
out.
Named by its Spanish settlers "Hispaniola", the
island became the basis for the expansion of the
Spanish empire into the new world, and the main
expeditions to the other American and Caribbean
territories started from its shores. The city of Santo
Domingo (originally named "La Isabela") was founded in
1496, and soon became the seat of the first cathedral,
the first hospital and the first university of America.
The island felt the conflicts between the European
nations for the new lands, staying as a Spanish colony
until 1697, when its western third was transferred to
France under the Ryswick Treaty. With the Basle Treaty
in 1795 the whole island became a French possession.
In 1804 the western part of the island gained its
independence, becoming Haiti. The eastern part stayed
under French domination until 1808, when it became a
Spanish colony again.
Only a year after gaining its independence from
Spain in 1821, the eastern part of the island was
occupied by Haiti. This occupation ended on February
27, 1844 with the proclamation of the National
Independence. In 1861 the country was again annexed
to Spain, and recovered finally its independence in 1865
through the Restoring Movement.
From 1882 to 1889 the country was under the
dictatorship of Ulises Hereaux.
In 1916 the United States army occupied the
country in order to ensure the payment of the public
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