Welcome to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands! PlanNet Reps will sell the InteleTravel Independent Travel Agency, with all monetary transactions and commissions shown and paid in US dollars. Each Rep will also receive the valuable Paylution Pay Portal and its real-time Hyperwallet, which allows for timely and efficient payment/commissions processing and management. Here we grow!
The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, consists of more than 700 islands, cays, and islets in the Atlantic Ocean; north of Cuba and the Dominican Republic with a population of 391,000. Its capital is Nassau on the island of New Providence. The Bahamas were the site of Columbus' first landfall in the New World in 1492 and became a British Crown colony in 1718. The Bahamas became an independent Commonwealth realm in 1973, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch.
In terms of gross domestic product per capita, the Bahamas is one of the richest countries in the Americas (following the United States and Canada), with an economy based on tourism and finance, and tourism provides jobs for more than half the country’s workforce.. Bahamas culture is rich with beliefs, traditions, folklore and legend. Sport is a significant part of Bahamian culture; cricket is the national sport. Many dishes are associated with Bahamian cuisine, which reflects Caribbean, African and European influences.
The Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory, has a population of approximately 62,000 and encompasses three islands in the western Caribbean Sea. The Cayman Islands are known for their beach resorts, scuba and snorkeling sites, and deep-sea fishing excursions. The islands remained largely uninhabited until the 17th century. While there is no archaeological evidence for an indigenous people on the islands, a variety of settlers from various backgrounds made their home there, including pirates and shipwrecked sailors.
The climate is tropical marine, with a wet season of warm, rainy summers and a dry season of relatively hot winters, making the climate one of the main assets, tourism being of primary importance to the economy. Mangrove swamps cover nearly one-third of the land area. A variety of plants grow on the islands; among them are coconut palms and breadfruit, banana, mango, and citrus fruit trees. The Cayman Islands are a major international financial centre, with the fifth largest banking system in the world.The main population centre is the capital, George Town on Grand Cayman, where more than half the population lives.
Jamaica is situated in the Caribbean Sea, consisting of the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles with a population of almost 3 million. Kingston is the country's capital and largest city. Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch. Tourism and mining are the leading earners of foreign exchange.
Though a small nation, Jamaican culture has a strong global presence, from music, to literature, to cuisine. Sport is also an integral part of the national life. Jamaica's climate is tropical, supporting diverse ecosystems with a wealth of plants and animals. The country has numerous world renowned, natural tourist attractions and more than 1.3 million tourists visit every year. Tourism continues to contribute to the national income and developing infrastructure.
The Dominican Republic is a sovereign state occupying the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. The western one-third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti. Of its over 10 million people, approximately 3 million live in the metropolitan area of Santo Domingo, the capital city. Christopher Columbus landed in what is now Haiti on December 5, 1492; the island became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas.
The Dominican Republic has the largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region. Recent growth has been driven by construction, manufacturing and tourism. The Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean. The year-round golf courses are among the top attractions on the island. The country is also the site of the first cathedral, castle, monastery, and fortress built in all of the Americas, located in Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone, an area declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Music and favorite sport baseball are of great importance in the Dominican culture.
Puerto Rico is located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. It is an archipelago that includes the main island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller islands such as Mona, Culebra, and Vieques. The capital and most populous city is San Juan. The island's population is approximately 3.6 million and its official languages are Spanish and English. Originally the island was claimed for Spain in 1493 by Christopher Columbus and it later endured several invasion attempts by the French, Dutch, and British. In 1898, following the Spanish-American War, the United States annexed the island under the terms of the Treaty of Paris.
Modern Puerto Rican culture is a unique mix of previous cultures, including Taíno (Amerindian), European (mainly Spanish), African, and, more recently, North American. Puerto Rico's rich history, tropical climate, diverse natural scenery, renowned traditional cuisine, and attractive tax incentives make it a popular destination for travelers from around the world.
Trinidad and Tobago is a twin island country lying just 6.8 miles off the coast of northeastern Venezuela. From the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1498, both Trinidad and Tobago changed hands many times among the Spanish, British, French, and Dutch colonizers, more than any other island in the Caribbean. The country Trinidad and Tobago obtained independence in 1962, becoming a republic in 1976. Unlike most of the English-speaking Caribbean, the country's economy is primarily industrial, with an emphasis on petroleum and petrochemicals. The country's wealth is attributed to its large reserves of oil and natural gas. Agricultural products include citrus and cocoa.Trinidad and Tobago is the birthplace of calypso music and the steelpan, which is widely claimed to be the only acoustic musical instrument invented during the 20th century.
As the majority of the 1.3 million population lives on the island of Trinidad, this is the location of most major towns and cities. Tourism is a growing sector, although not as proportionately important as in many other Caribbean islands.
