ITB 2008 Underway in Berlin – Dominican Republic Guest of Honor

ITB 2008 Underway in Berlin – Dominican Republic Guest of Honor

The official delegation representing the Dominican Republic, headed by Tourism Minister Félix Jiménez, arrived on Sunday in Berlin to take part in the most important tourism fair in the world which is expected to give a huge boost to Dominican tourism, according to a press release from the Ministry of Tourism. The fair will last until March 9.

As guest of honor, the Dominican Republic has invested several million Euros in the fair, with the intention of getting back the investment in the form of increased tourism to the country especially among Germans and Europeans over the coming two years. The increase is expected to amount to 15-20 per cent.

Tourism Minister Félix Jiménez said the ITB is the main source of tourism promotion in the world and that having the opportunity to be host country will mean a significant increase in tourism to the DR, not just from Germany but from around the world.

He explained that the fair is an ideal setting to display the country’s diverse tourism offerings as well as constituting an important venue for negotiating with important companies in the trade and tourism sector from all over the world.

Opening and ITB Activities

The official opening of the ITB will be overseen by the Dominican delegation, which has prepared a show produced by Chiqui Hadad, Manuel Tejada, Fidel López, Josefina Miniño and Juan Basanta. The theme of the show is the musical history of merengue in which the following musicians will participate: Juan Luis Guerra, Milly Quezada, Ruby Pérez, Prodigio, Zoe Saldaña, Maridalia Hernández, Adalgisa Pantaleón, Roger Zayas, Mariela Mercado, Celinés Toribio, Aimé Melo, Masiel Taveras and the National Folkloric Ballet Company.

The activity, sponsored by the Dominican Banco Popular is scheduled for Tuesday March 4 at 6:00 p.m. and will take place in the auditorium of the Convention Center. Some 3,000 special guests and some 2,000 journalists from around the world are expected to attend.

The official opening of the fair will be on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. with the ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place at the Dominican stand. Attending that event will be Tourism Minister Félix Jiménez; German Economic Minister Michael Glos and Berlin’s Mayor Klaus Wowereit. Following this event will be the official tour of the entire fair grounds, headed by the Dominican delegation and German authorities.

The same day, Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., the Dominican delegation will head up a seminar titled “The Dominican Republic and the Development of the Cruceros Segment,” to be discussed by national and international panelists.

On Thursday at 3:00 p.m. an official Dominican press conference will be given by Tourism Minister Jiménez.

On Friday March 7 at 2:00 p.m., the “Tourism Megaprojects” congress will be held. Taking part as speakers are Juan Bancalari, representing tourism real estate investors, and Juan Manuel Martín de Oliva, of the Dominican Banco Popular.

Dancers rehearsing their choreography for Tuesday’s opening ceremony of the ITB 2008

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– Preparations Begin for 2008 ITB Fair as the Dominican Republic Will Be the Host Country