Dominican Tourism Sector Functioning Normally

The Tourism infrastructure of the Dominican Republic, including hotels, roads and airports, has not been  negatively affected by the earthquake that hit Haiti, said Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García, who reassured that the country’s tourism areas are functioning with complete normality.

“La situación en los polos turísticos de República Dominicana es de normalidad, no hay ninguna estructuras físicas con daños, ni amenaza de la vida y seguridad de los visitantes que prefieren nuestro destino”

“The tourism areas in the Dominican Republic are functioning as normal; there has been no structural damage and no threats to the lives and safety of our visitors who choose our country as a vacation destination,” he said in a press conference at the 30th edition of the FITUR 2010 tourism fair in Madrid, Spain, according to the Press Office of the Tourism Ministry (SECTUR).

During the activity, in which the Domincan Minister was accompanied by Haydee Kuret de Rainieri, President of ASONAHORES and Paola Dimitri, Director of the Dominican Tourism Promotion Office for Spain and Portugal, said the flow of visitors to the DR has not been altered, according to reports from hotel owners, tour operators and travel agents.

 Mr. García Fernández expressed his and his Ministry’s sympathy for the plight of the Haitian people. He said the situation “is terrible, dramatic and stunning to the entire world.”

After the press conference, the Tourism Minister paid a courtesy visit to the Haiti’s Ambassador in Spain, Yolet Azor Charles, to whom he reiterated his support and sympathy.

He noted that the Haiti situation has served to reinforce Dominican solidarity with Haiti as witnessed by the outpouring of donations from the poorest Dominican citizens offering what little they have to the government of President Leonel Fernández which has provided extensive aid in the form of health care and public works, food and telecommunications, among many other things.

Indeed the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, controlled by Dominican Armed Forces and MINUSTAH defense forces, is being used as a bridge to bring humanitarian aid into neighboring Haiti.   

Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier García, speaking with Haitian Ambassador to Spain, Yolet Azor Charles.

Andre-Serge Piard, Haitian Professor; Jean-Claude Augustave, Haitian businessman; Yolet Azor Charles, Haitian Ambassador to Spain; Francisco Javier García, Tourism Minister and César Medina, Dominican Ambassador to Spain.

Yolet Azor Charles, Haitian Ambassador to Spain; Francisco Javier García, Tourism Minister and César Medina, Dominican Ambassador to Spain.