Artisans Strengthen the Dominican Tourism Market

Artisans Strengthen the Dominican Tourism Market
Bávaro–Punta Cana, September 25 2015

The crafts industry has experienced sustained growth and development, becoming an important link in the value chain of the Dominican tourism industry, thereby strengthening its presence in the tourism market of the Dominican Republic.

This was demonstrated at the ASONAHORES Trade Exhibition 2015, where craftsmen from across the country were able to showcase and sell their products. Artisans manufacture a variety of original products by hand for tourists seeking to bring to their countries some element of nature and local culture.

The wide variety of Dominican crafts include items such as rings, coasters, plates, dolls without faces, cigars, soap dishes, pendants, paperweights, mosaics, items made of clay and porcelain, rum and amber, among others.

During the event, Lucia Albaine, owner of the LA Studio brand, defined her designs as “simple but modern, which local and foreign tourists welcome for their originality and beauty.”

In that regard, she pointed out her designs of predominant geometric lines, highlighting the sale of her famous crystallized fountain made from the coconut shells.

However, the traditional within the exhibition had its greatest expression in the famous dolls without faces and with their multicolored dresses, made by Mary Lantigua and her D’Arte Artesanía company.

At the same time, the smiling producer of mosaics and decorative painting, Leticia Acevedo de Lotideas, pointed to the preference of travelers and local customers for ocean-related themes.

Her trays, with drawing of a crystallized fish, are the best sold during her exhibitions, which have been taking place for three years at ASONAHORES, because, she says, it is the platform where she will find the customer who likes her creations.

The strength of the tobacco industry lies in the human intervention during the manufacturing process, which is what brings it prestige, as is the case of Tabacalera Cahoba.

Joaquín Campeiro, the manufacturing facility’s general manager, indicated that its premium products have repeatedly participated in the trade show at the invitation of the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur).

He highlighted that, in this context, they showcase the most aged cigars, such as the tobacco known as Oro, which in average has been aged for 2 years; Platinum, considered light bodied, having been aged for 3 years, and Diamond, a mature cigar at 5 years of age.

Alongside these types, on display is the “Dominican origin,” a cigar aged for 8 years, which was created to honor the Dominican family.

Each year the presence of these artists of what is native increases at fairs of the so-called industry without chimneys, and at exclusive art events throughout the national territory, as well as at international tourism promotion platforms.

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