Tourism Minister Says DR is an Example of Success in Latin American and the Caribbean

Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García said the Dominican Republic was an example of success in all of Latin America and the Caribbean and that, at the moment, it is experiencing a boom in the tourism real estate sector linked to the development of complimentary offerings in areas such as marine life and golf.

Mr. Garcia Fernández said that being an example of success has attracted a large flow of direct foreign investors into this sector. He pointed out that between 2000 and 2008 the sector attracted more than $2 billion dollars in foreign investment…

Mr. Garcia Fernández said that being an example of success has attracted a large flow of direct foreign investors into this sector. He pointed out that between 2000 and 2008 the sector attracted more than $2 billion dollars in foreign investment, according to the Office of Press and Communications of the Ministry of Tourism.

“Even more, during the first three months of 2008, the Tourism Promotion Council (CONFOTUR in Spanish) approved and classified 43 different types of projects for a total value of $9.547 billion US dollars involving 77,021 hotel rooms, managers and staff,” he said.

García Fernández stated that from January to August of this year, 40 projects were approved and classified at a cost of $5.783 billion USD involving 46,448 hotel rooms, extra managers and complementary offerings. “These projects have implementation schedules of up to more than ten years.

The Dominican Tourism Minister made these observations at a conference entitled “The Role of Tourism in the Generation of Wealth, Environmental Preservation and Culture in Latin America: The Dominican Case.” The conference was part of the 14th International Meeting, organized by Brazil’s Group of Business Leaders (LIDE in Spanish), held at the Hotel Sanctuary at this tourism enclave.

“These numbers and data are more than enough to demonstrate that economic material, the creation of wealth and human capital and tourism in the Dominican Republic are examples of success which is currently experiencing a boom in the tourism real estate area linked to such areas as marine life and golf,” he stressed.

García Fernández said that throughout 2008, the Dominican Republic took in $4.176 billion dollars in tourism, equivalent to 85% of service exports and 60% of export goods.

“By the end of 2008, there were a total of 195,519 direct and indirect employees in the tourism sector while in 1980 there were only 18,879. This means that the tourism industry has been responsible for creating 6,300 new jobs annually,” he said.

“This shows the satisfaction among visitors with respect to their demands for environmentally and culturally sustainable tourism, demands that are increasingly expressed with more vehemence.”

Environmental and Cultural Sustainability

On the subject of environmental and cultural sustainability, the Tourism Minister explained that according to Dominican Central Bank data, 35% of foreign visitors to the DR say they have chosen this destination because of the quality of its beaches while 93.5% say their expectations were satisfied and therefore they will return.

“This shows the satisfaction among visitors with respect to their demands for environmentally and culturally sustainable tourism, demands that are increasingly expressed with more vehemence.”

The Minister pointed out that there are seven Blue Flag beaches in the DR. A Blue Flag is an international environmental certification awarded to beaches and ports that fulfill the rigorous parameters in the categories of water quality for swimming, environmental information and education, environmental management and safety and services.

He added that the DR has a total of 86 protected areas which make up 23% of the national territory. This area is divided into: 8 strictly-protected areas, 15 national reserves, 19 natural monuments and 25 areas for the management of habitat and species.

“The strength of tourism in the Dominican Republic is of such great magnitude that in 2008 we were recognized by various international organizations, such as the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) which awarded the Dominican Republic the ‘Number One Golf Destination for 2009.’ IAGTO has a membership of 1,130 participating companies in 77 countries including 323 specialized tour operators who control more than 80% of the vacation offerings in this niche golf market where sales annually exceed $1.5 billion dollars,” explained García Fernández.

In highlighting the current situation of the tourism sector in the DR, García Fernández said much of its success is based on the strategy followed by the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR), its dedication to sustainable development, strategic planning, the maximization of linkage with the rest of the country’s economy and to the improvement of the well-being of Dominican citizens.

Part of the Brazilian professionals and leaders who participated in the activity

Francisco Javier García, speaking at the conference.

Francisco Javier García, speaking at the conference.