ARC: Dominican Republic flight refunds up 127 percent

Airlines Reporting Corp says Mexico and the rest of the Caribbean are reaping benefits from the Dominican Republic’s tourism crisis.

There has been a small upward swing in bookings to other destinations in the region as refunds increased for D.R. flights.

ARC data showed ticket refunds surged by127% for the period January 1, 2019 through June 23, 2019 compared to last year.

Flight bookings for the Dominican Republic made outside the US decreased by 28% in June, and refunds were up 8%.

ARC said air ticket purchases for other Caribbean destinations and Mexico rose 3% in the same period.

Dominican Republic tourism is facing its biggest crisis for years after scrutiny intensifies over the deaths of 13 Americans on vacation there in the past year.

This is despite claims by the tourism ministry that the deaths are not linked.

Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Schumer called for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to support the FBI and local law enforcement in their investigations into the deaths.

"Given that we still have a whole lot of questions and very few answers into just what, if anything, is cause for the recent spate of sicknesses and several deaths, the feds should double their efforts on helping get to the bottom of things," Schumer said in a statement.

There is still string suspicions that some of the deaths are down to the consumption of tainted alcohol.