Puerto Plata’s cruise ship arrivals represent a significant opportunity for local businesses. But benefiting from that spending depends on more than simply being in the right place at the right time.

According to figures provided by the Dominican Port Authority, the tourist ports of Puerto Plata and Pedernales received 11 cruise ships carrying 45,627 passengers between October 12 and 15.

Puerto Plata accounted for the overwhelming majority of these arrivals. Amber Cove welcomed six ships carrying 27,707 passengers, while Taino Bay received four ships with 13,628 passengers. Together, the two Puerto Plata terminals handled 41,335 cruise passengers during the period.

The ships arriving at Amber Cove were Carnival Celebration (5,980 passengers), Mardi Gras (6,161), Carnival Vista (4,667), Carnival Magic (4,152), Caribbean Princess (3,152) and Regal Princess (3,595).

At Taino Bay, the arrivals were Norwegian Luna (3,997 passengers), Adventure of the Seas (3,902), Celebrity Beyond (3,212) and Resilient Lady (2,517).

Alejandro Campos, executive director of the Dominican Port Authority, highlighted the opportunities cruise tourism creates to generate income for small and medium-sized businesses and spread the benefits of tourism throughout host communities.

Based on estimated average passenger spending of US$100, the Port Authority calculated that these arrivals could generate approximately US$4.56 million in economic activity across the destinations concerned, including an estimated US$4.13 million for Puerto Plata.

These figures represent potential spending, rather than guaranteed income for every business. And that raises an important question: How can local businesses make themselves more visible to the visitors who arrive in Puerto Plata?

Being visible is the first step towards attracting new customers

Cruise passengers have limited time ashore. Some join organised excursions, while others explore the city independently, look for places to eat, shop for local products, seek services or search for something interesting to do.

Increasingly, people use their smartphones and other connected devices to find businesses, check opening hours, view photographs, compare options and locate places on a map.

A business can offer excellent products or services and still miss out on potential customers simply because those customers cannot easily find it online.

Many small businesses understandably feel that creating and maintaining a website is expensive, complicated and time-consuming. Others rely on Facebook or word of mouth to attract customers.

Those methods can be useful, but they do not necessarily ensure that a business appears when someone searches online for a particular product, service, or place to visit in Puerto Plata.

Being easy to find online can help turn the arrival of visitors into an opportunity for your business.

GoPuertoPlata.com makes online visibility affordable

GoPuertoPlata.com is developing a local online portal designed to help people discover businesses, services, and places throughout Puerto Plata province.

The aim is to make it easier for visitors and residents alike to find the businesses they need — and to help local businesses reach potential customers.

A basic business listing can provide an online presence at no cost, with essential business information, a telephone number, photographs, a map location, and reviews where available.

For a one-time payment of just RD$2,000, businesses can upgrade to a dedicated business page with considerably more information, including:

• A fuller description of the business and what it offers.
• Additional photographs and videos.
• Opening hours and contact details.
• Links to Facebook and other social media pages.
• A list of products, services, and features.
• A dedicated contact form.
• Other information to help prospective customers decide whether to visit or get in touch.

Unlike a conventional advertisement, this is a dedicated business page that can be edited by the owner whenever necessary, at no additional charge. Business owners register for their own account, giving them access to manage and update their page.

The intention is to make an online presence accessible not just to larger tourism businesses, but also to independent shops, restaurants, tour operators, and small local enterprises that may not have the resources to build their own website.

Don’t let potential customers pass you by

If your business caters directly to cruise passengers or other visitors to Puerto Plata, consider how many potential customers might be searching online for exactly what you offer.

GoPuertoPlata.com provides an affordable way to present your business, explain your services, and make it easier for people to contact or locate you.

Visit GoPuertoPlata.com to find out more and explore the website, or gopuertoplata.com/puerto-plata-add-listing/ to add your business.

If your business is not directly involved in tourism, there may still be important opportunities for you as cruise tourism brings money into the local economy. In our next article, we’ll look at how this spending can benefit businesses beyond the tourism sector through what is commonly called the trickle-down effect.

GoPuertoPlata.com — helping people discover Puerto Plata and helping local businesses get discovered.