Tourists holidaying in the Dominican Republic have been largely unaffected by the earthquake that hit neighbouring Haiti on Tuesday evening.
The 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the capital Port-au-Prince on Tuesday evening local time, flattening schools, hospitals and apartment blocks, with one local resident estimating as much as 80% of the city has been destroyed.
While the poverty-stricken country’s President Preval estimated between 30,000 and 50,000 Haitians had been killed, Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive claimed the death toll could be as high as 100,000.
An ABTA spokeswoman said there are no British tourists in Haiti and confirmed none of its members run programmes to the destination.
Both Thomas Cook and TUI Travel have accounted for all their customers in the Dominican Republic and spokesmen for both said operations would continue as normal.
Dominican Republic Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia added: “The Dominican Republic is making available its medical facilities for earthquake victims and is providing international relief organisations access to Haiti through the airports and seaports.
“Our transportation systems, communications systems, hotels, resorts, beaches and natural environment suffered no damage.”
Caribbean Tourism Organisation chairman John Maginley has pledged to help, adding: “It is evident that in the aftermath of this terrible disaster the challenge is to alleviate the suffering.
“The CTO and our member countries in the Caribbean will be doing whatever is necessary to offer financial and other assistance, and to co-ordinate relief efforts in the days and weeks ahead.
“We know that with the support of friends around the world, the strength and resolve of the Haitians themselves will prevail.”