Local

Locals not canceling trips to Dominican Republic despite death reports

By Elsa Gillis
By Elsa Gillis

ROCK HILL, S.C. — 9 American tourists have died while visiting the Dominican Republic in the past year.

Channel 9’s Elsa Gillis spoke to one local woman who said what’s happening won’t change her plans to visit.

[RELATED: 47 Jimmy Buffett fans fell sick on recent Dominican Republic vacation, group says]

Rock Hill resident Janeen Williams is catching a flight Thursday to the Dominican Republic.

"This has been planned almost six to seven months,” said Williams. "I'm gonna be cautious."

She said she has seen the headlines and they’re concerning, but they won’t stop her.

“I'm gonna make sure I stay with my friends, that I don't drink out of the minibar in my room since I know that is one thing that is common with some of these incidents,” she said. So, I'm just going to be a little more proactive on trying to be safe.”

[RELATED: Oklahoma high school graduates fall sick during Dominican Republic trip]

Since last June, at least nine American citizens have died at a Dominican Republic resort or after becoming sick at one.

Several of the cases happened in the last couple of weeks at various locations. The cause of many of the deaths is still unclear.

“The stories just don't align. Something else has got to be happening,” said Williams.

The only travel advisory coming from the state department was put out in April, urging travelers to be cautious of crime in the Dominican Republic, but officials have not issued anything specific to the tourist deaths.

[RELATED: Widow says husband's death in Dominican Republic similar to recent deaths of 3 Americans]

"There's a lot of things going on over here, but I come outside every day, I go to work every day, my child goes to school, we go to church, Williams said. I'm not stopping my life for those things happening over here, so why shouldn't I go experience other countries?"

Williams is not alone in her decision to still go. Channel 9 got hundreds of comments on our Facebook posts about the deaths.

Some expressed concern, but others said they would still go with caution.

Cox Media Group

Most Read