Adding to the hysteria is the recent shooting incident involving World Series Baseball Champion and Boston Red Sox legend David Ortíz. In a black-eye for the nation, Ortíz suffered from a gunshot wound when a “hitman” opened fire and injured the former slugger on June 9. Since the news broke, the media have included this isolated incident in reports regarding tourist deaths, thus painting Dominican Republic as an unsafe destination cesspool.

One death is one too many. The problem with the conservative media is that it fails to provide context when writing their articles, which are also coupled with sensationalized headlines.

Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García has rebutted the claims, noting, “It's not true that there has been an avalanche of American tourists dying in our country, and it's not true that we have mysterious deaths here. He also noted that the media’s reporting of an “avalanche of deaths does not correspond to reality.”

Tourist Security

One could argue that tourists are better protected than Dominican nationals. The Cuerpo Especializado de Seguridad Turística (CESTUR) or Specialized Unit of Tourist Security is a special unit under the National Police that ensures the safety of everyone in tourist areas throughout the country. Created in 1975, this special force ensures the safety of tourists. Hence, tourist safety is a priority of the Dominican government given this is the most profitable industry for the nation.