The Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores) celebrated its 62nd anniversary with a panel called “Past, Present and Future of Tourism in the Dominican Republic”, which highlighted the role that incentives have played in the development of this industry throughout its history.
The event was headed by the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader and the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, who also took the opportunity to highlight the capacity of the different tourist destinations in the country to attract visitors, generate foreign exchange and promote economic growth in the provinces and regions.
David Llibre, president of Asonahores, said that the tourism sector remains committed to the development of the national productive chain, with various initiatives and joint work with other associations of the business sector, betting that more Dominicans offer more and better goods and services.
“The tourism industry has generated a multiplier effect on the local economy, creating new business and employment opportunities. In 2022 alone, the hotel sector represented in purchases a total of 139 billion pesos, within which we can mention: 6.7 billion in the agricultural sector, 28.2 billion in the industrial and construction sector and 104 billion in services, among others,” he indicated.
The event’s first panel included Frank Rainieri, founder and Chairman of Grupo Puntacana; Luis López, Executive President of Amhsa Marina Hotels & Resorts and Rafael “Papo” Blanco, Executive VP of Viva Resorts by Wyndham. Moderated by Enrique de Marchena, managing partner of DMK Abogados.
In the second part were Ramón Rosselló, Executive Director of Inverotel; Rafael Blanco Tejera, President of ProInversion; Javier Tejada, CEO and General Manager of United Capital Puesto de Bolsa. Moderated by Aguie Lendor, executive vice president of Asonahores.
Asonahores highlighted that the accumulated foreign direct investment from 2013 to 2023 was US$8,732 million, presenting a growth of 361%, being only for the year 2023 of US$1,182 million constituting tourism in the fundamental pillar of the Dominican economy, representing by 2022 19% of the GDP in a direct, indirect and induced way, translating into about US$22 billion.
“The tourism industry contributes 10% of the country’s fiscal income and generates 18% of total employment, which is equivalent to some 721,912 jobs, thus changing the lives of thousands of Dominicans, especially those in less developed areas; it is the second largest generator of foreign exchange with an average daily expenditure of US$139.19 in the case of hotel guests and US$116.3 in the case of cruise ship passengers”, they pointed out.
They expressed that as a sector they have the vision of achieving 15 million tourists by the year 2030. To achieve this, they need more hotel rooms, increased air connectivity, continued development of the country’s new tourist centers, including the relaunching of Puerto Plata with the new Punta Bergantín project, as well as the development of the entire south with the launching of the Cabo Rojo project in Pedernales, and the continued promotion of the Miches and Samaná destinations.
Asonahores explained that the competitive structure that they currently have will allow them to give continuity to receive greater investments in the sector, generation of jobs, foreign exchange and the economic dynamization of the other sectors of the country.
Source:Arecoa.com
