Dominican Republic Guest of Honor at Tourism Festival in Puerto Rico

The Dominican Republic enjoyed the distinction of being the guest of honor during the celebration of the Tourism Festival of Puerto Rico known as Travel Trade 2009. The festival was organized by the Association of Wholesale Excursions of Puerto Rico (SOME in Spanish) and the Association of Puerto Rican Travel Agents (APAV).

The Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) took charge of the Dominican representation at the Fair through its Office of Tourism Promotion (OPT)

The Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) took charge of the Dominican representation at the Fair through its Office of Tourism Promotion (OPT) which is directed by Cosette García, according to SECTUR’s Office of Press and Communication.

SOME is the Travel Show organized by SOME’s coordinator Fernando Sánchez and by APAV, coordinated by Josie Lapategui.

Throughout SOME 2009, more than 300 hotel owners, tour operators and travel agents offered the Dominican Republic as a destination in more than 80% of the Caribbean destinations on file. The majority of travel professionals consider that the DR possesses a diversity of tourism attractions most enjoyed by international visitors.

This year, the DR has been showing off its new promotional image: “The Dominican Republic Has it All.” At this Fair, the new slogan hangs above a beautifully colored stand where the cheerful music of “perico ripiao” can be heard.

OPT representative in Puerto Rico, Cosette García, was at the opening of the tourism fair and accompanied SOME president Fernando Sánchez and APAV president Josie Lapategui at the cutting of the ribbon.

Following the opening of SOME 2009, Ms. García said that, in keeping with orders from Dominican Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García, the OPT in Puerto Rico will follow up and support all of the actors in the tourism sector who are interested in the Dominican Republic as a destination. She referred to this task as a mechanism “to incentivize tourism toward our country.”

This year several tourism excursion companies participated in the fair, including Turaser, Good Quality, Sharon Tours, Western Tour, Shaday Tours, Julia Tours, First Class Services, Iberojet, LAN Chilean Airlines, Brazil and TAM, among others.

The hotel companies that have infrastructures in the DR who made their offers public include Sun Village, Ocean Blue, Oasis Hotels, NH Real Arena, Catalonia Hotels, Iberostar, Barceló Hotels, Occidental Hotels, Hodelpa, IFA Villas Bavarian Resort, V Century, Accor Hotels, Sol Meliá, Casa de Campo, Fiesta Hotels, Bahía Príncipe, and others.

Spain, China, countries from South American including Argentina were also present at the Tourism Fair.

The Puerto Rican Tourism Fair, SOME 2009, ended with a musical concert given by Javish Victoria and Orchestra at a party organized by the travel agent, tour operators and supported by the OPT of the Dominican Republic in Puerto Rico.

Josie Lapategui, Cosette García, Fernando Sánchez and Mirtha de Moya, among other personalities from the world of tourism in Puerto Rico watch the cutting of the ribbon to officially open SOME 2009. .

A model wearing traditional Dominican clothing gives promotional materials to tour operators and travel agents participating in SOME 2009. .

At the center is Cosette García, Director of the Office of Tourism Promotion in Puerto Rico. She is accompanied by representatives of hotel chains participating in SOME 2009. .