New tax making DR's expensive

Debs · 03-01-2007, 07:21 AM

I guess the DR government is realizing that by increasing the fee, they are losing business..

From Dominican Republic News & Travel Information Service

Quote:

New tax makes weddings expensive
The president of the National Hotel & Restaurant Association, Luis Lopez was critical of the government's decision to double the tax on weddings in the DR. As reported in Hoy newspaper, the Central Electoral Board (JCE) ruled that as of January, foreigners choosing to marry in the DR would have to pay US$500, up from US$125. Lopez called this a blow to the celebration of weddings in the DR. In 2006, 90,000 foreigners chose to marry in the DR. He said this would affect weddings that have already been booked, because the couples will have to pay the difference or cancel the ceremony. He considered the US$500 tax excessive. In the US, persons can get married for just US$15. "We are concerned that some sectors do not understand how tourism industry works. Decisions like that reflect the fact that it is not understood, because our competitors are not being taken into consideration", he said. He criticized the fact that the country is becoming one of the most expensive in the region.
Some hotels are encouraging couples to get around the fee by getting married in the US, and then staging a symbolic ceremony in the DR.

This is prompting us to get married at home with a JP first andhaving a symbolic ceremony... it's just too much with the translation of docs as well (i've been married before.. so $$$)

Nrvsbride · 03-01-2007, 07:52 AM

This fee really sucks! I would do exactly what your doing, getting legally married at home and then having a symbolic wedding. This hike is not a good idea at all!! It's going to cause people to not want to get married in DR and go somewhere else like Puerto Rico or Mexico. That is a dumb move on behalf of tourism!!

-Glenda

MelissaH · 03-01-2007, 07:55 AM

wow that really sucks

i'm glad we didn't choose the DR now because FI is adamant that he only wants one wedding....so there's no way he'd ever go for getting married by a JP then having a symbolic ceremony (tried that one already when we found out his family had only saved up $54 between them...i was gonna tell them to screw themselves and have them watch us get married in front of a JP and then leave them behind when we go to mexico hehe)