SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The Dominican Republic has authorized the arrival of 800 new flights to accommodate a surge in tourists who were originally planning to vacation in Jamaica and other nearby islands but were rerouted following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

The flights, a combination of regular and charter ones, were approved as the Caribbean country prepares for peak tourism season, industry officials said Wednesday.

“This will have a positive impact on hotel occupancy in the Dominican Republic, and Dominican hotels have the capacity to receive that influx,” said Nairobi Santos, spokesperson for the country’s Association of Hotels and Tourism.

She said the additional flights will occur over eight months, noting that an average occupancy rate of more than 9

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