Colombia Admires Dominican Tourism Model

Colombia Admires Dominican Tourism Model

Colombia’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce visited the Dominican Tourism Ministry (SECTUR) where he expressed an interest in his country taking up a similar tourism development model as the Dominican Republic.

“In Colombia, we believe that one of the best examples of tourism development is the Dominican Republic and for that reason we would like to speak with Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García in an effort to learn, experience and work together on this issue of tourism.”

Luis Guillermo Plata spoke to his Dominican counterpart, Francisco Javier García, for an hour on the topic of tourism development, according to SECTUR’s Office of Press and Communication.

“In Colombia, we believe that one of the best examples of tourism development is the Dominican Republic and for that reason we would like to speak with Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García in an effort to learn, experience and work together on this issue of tourism,” said Minister Plata after the meeting.

Mr. Plata went on to cite examples of high level investment projects underway in the Dominican Republic. “It seems to me that they have done an excellent job in the area of tourism investment, high level tourism development projects…this is what we are seeking to do in Colombia as well.”

He added that for Colombia tourism represents a very important sector now that the country’s security issues are being resolved.

General Mario Montoya, Colombian Ambassador to the DR and chief negotiator Santiago Pardo were also present at the Tourism Ministers’ meeting.

As a welcoming gesture, Dominican Tourism Minister García Fernández presented his counterpart with a collection of music produced by the Ministry of Tourism.

Luis Guillermo Plata has held the post of Colombia’s Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister since 2007 following four years as president of Pro-Export. Pro-Export is an export, tourism and foreign investment company.

At Pro-Export, as mandated by President Alvaro Uribe, Mr. Plata dealt with the promotion of foreign investment, tourism and oversaw the birth of the Country Image program whose goal it was to reduce the gap between the country’s changing reality and the negative perception it suffered abroad.

Recently Mr. Plata was chosen by the World Economic Forum in Davos as one of the
100 young world leaders. Under his leadership, Pro-Export was selected as one of the five best export promotion companies in the world and as one of the 20 best companies to work at in Colombia.

Francisco Javier García, Dominican Tourism Minister, presenting SECTUR musical productions to Colombian Tourism Minister Luis Guillermo Plata.

Dominican and Colombian Tourism Ministers Francisco Javier García and Luis Guillermo Plata, exchange greetings after their meeting at the Dominican Tourism Ministry.