Nine Billion Dollar Tourism Investment Announced

The Dominican Tourism Minister announced that in the coming years the private sector will begin construction on various tourism development projects in the country´s main tourism areas at a cost of more than 9 billion US dollars.

He added that, in addition, investment projects in new golf courses, international standard tennis courts and a Convention Center for Santo Domingo, among other endeavors, are also in the plans.

Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García said part of these projects will be carried out in Bávaro, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Samaná, Miches, Sabana de La Mar, Río San Juan and Juan Dolio. He said they will strengthen the DR as a tourist destination in the main markets around the world, especially Europe.

He added that, in addition, investment projects in new golf courses, international standard tennis courts and a Convention Center for Santo Domingo, among other endeavors, are also in the plans.

“Tourism in the Dominican Republic is viewed as high quality. We are experiencing a boom in the tourism sector; national and foreign investment is in its best moment, the best in the past 20 years,” said Mr. García.

The Dominican Tourism Minister made these observations in a meeting in the French capital while speaking with a group of travel and tourism writers for Voyages & Strategies, Tour Hebdo and Quotiden Du Tourisme, in the Prince of Wales Hotel.

Mr. García Fernández also held meetings with Rafael Sarró, president of the Public Relations Agency, Made in Spain and with Jean Robert Reznik, president of the L´ Alliance T which is made up of more than 300 travel agencies throughout France. He also met with Bruno Gallois, president of Marsans, the second most important tour operator in the Dominican market.

He said there is currently no tourism destination in Latin America or the Caribbean that is more profitable than the Dominican Republic. He added that, on a daily basis, applications to invest in and develop new tourism projects arrive everyday at the offices of the Tourism Ministry.

“This obliges us, as a country and as the Tourism Ministry, to develop vital infrastructure plans for the Dominican Republic that will include improving public services and will encourage the integration and interaction of the communities active in the tourism sector. We have called the plan the ´Tourism for Everyone,´” he said.

“This obliges us, as a country and as the Tourism Ministry, to develop vital infrastructure plans for the Dominican Republic that will include improving public services…

García Fernández indicated that the Dominican Republic is the leader in terms of tourism reception in the Caribbean area and that during his administration in the Tourism Ministry (SECTUR) he will make an effort to make the DR the main tourism destination in all of Latin America.

“Last year we received 4.3 million tourists, that is to say, approximately 45 percent of our total population. Our goal for the next five years in to receive at least 9 million tourists per year and to be recognized as the leaders in tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean,” he said.

He added that tourists who visit the country value the human quality of the Dominican people. “The beauty of the nation unites with the beauty in the hearts of the Dominican people.”

Another one of his goals as Tourism Minister is to make sure that the DR leaves a positive mark on each of its visitors so that they come back again to spend their vacations on Dominican soil.

During his first working day in Paris, García Fernández was accompanied by his deputy secretary of tourism for the Northern Region, César José de los Santos. Also with the minister was his assistant Gabriel Rodríguez and the directors of the Tourism Promotion Offices (OPT) for France, Mercedes Castillo, and for Germany, Petra Cruz. Directors for the Promotion and Press offices, Isabel Vásquez and Rossanna Figueroa, respectively, were also with the Minister.

The Dominican Tourism Minister was in Paris to participate in the XXX International Top Resa Tourism Fair that began on Tuesday September 16. He also attended the “UNESCO Artist for Peace” awards ceremony in which Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra was honored by the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO).

The DR exhibited its attractions in a 75-square-meter stand at Top Resa, the most important tourism fair in France.

The DR exhibited its attractions in a 75-square-meter stand at Top Resa, the most important tourism fair in France. This was the first international event attended by Mr. García Fernández in his capacity as Minister of Tourism.

The stand also has work tables occupied by 15 Dominican companies including: Coral Hospitality Corporation, Colonial Tours, Fortuna Tours, Sanctuary Cap Cana, Turmaya, Hotel Casa de Campo, AM Resorts, Occidental Hotels & Resorts, Viva Wyndham Resorts, Airp Tours, Bahía Príncipe, Amhsa Marina, IFA Villas Bávaro, Meliá Caribe Tropical, NH Hotels and the Banco Popular.

10 Years of Tourism Promotion Office in France

This Wednesday, Juan Luis Guerra will give a concert in the Olympia Theater in the center of Paris to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Dominican Tourism Promotion Office in France.

Two thousand people are expected to attend this activity, including tour operators, travel agencies, investors, journalists and media members among others. Marsans and Air France are sponsoring the event.

Francisco Javier García responding to questions from Michel Foraud, of Voyages & Strategie magazine. Petra Cruz, César José de los Santos and Mercedes Castillo are with the Minister.

Petra Cruz, Francisco Javier García, Gabriel Rodríguez and Bruno Gallois, President of Marsans.