Foreigners to be charged a dollar a day to visit the beach

posted on: Oct 18 2009 10:13 by The Reporter. Viewed 872 times.


In another controversial law reform move last week, a proposal to charge all foreigners, tourists and residents a fee of RD$35 to use the beach was put before the Chamber of Deputies in Santo Domingo. Children under 12 would not be charged.

The proposed legislation presented by PRD Deputy, Eugenio Cede�o is apparently designed to help pay toward keeping the beaches clean and orderly.

Interestingly, the original proposal also suggested charging Dominicans aged over 18 and under 60, a fee of RD$17.50 per day, but apparently this aspect was recanted a day later. The proposal did not detail how collections would be made, particularly of the 50 centimes as there is currently no coinage in circulation of that amount.

The same proposal would also limit the sale of food and drinks of any kind to designated areas and vendors would be authorized by the local municipal governments under regulations from the Ministries of Tourism, Environment and Public Health.

Campfires would also be banned from all beaches and camping (portable) stoves would only be permitted in regulated areas.

The bill would also regulate water sports and other activities to certain areas, and the use of boats and watercraft in specially designated areas, violations of which could lead to the confiscation of equipment by authorities.

The law, if approved, would prohibit the exclusive occupation of beach areas with equipment such as chairs, beds, umbrellas, and lifejackets for commercial use and would not permit any commercial propaganda.

It would also prohibit motor vehicles and horses from areas reserved for bathers, and would prohibit total or partial nudity, prostitution, harassment or any exhibition that was deemed against the public morality.

The proposed plan also laid out the penalties for violation of each of the aspects. Fines and punishments range from half a month's minimum wage to prison terms of five days to two years.
For foreigners who violate the new legislation, they can expect to be deported.
While moves to keep public beaches clean are welcomed by most residents, critics point to the danger of targeting tourists for extra taxes when tourism is so vital to the Dominican economy. They also reason that the garbage so often left on public beaches is not the fault of tourists so they should not be targeted.

Many also wonder quite how the Government would manage to police every beach in the country to collect the tax.

The bill is currently being debated and it�s not yet known whether it is expected to succeed.

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