IFTM Top Resa, the main travel tourism fair of French origin, was the scenario where recently the delegation of Banco de Reservas, headed by its general manager, developed, together with the Ministry of Tourism, an extensive business management to arrange investment projects for the Dominican Republic.
Samuel Pereyra led the meetings held with important investors interested in investing in hotel projects in the country, as well as with tour operators and executives of various companies in the value chain of the entertainment industry.
The broad agenda of meetings was held in Paris, within the framework of the fair held from the 20th to the 23rd of this month, with the purpose of promoting tourism in the country, as one of the main destinations in the region.
The International French Travel Market (IFTM Top Resa 2022) traditionally brings together more than 34,000 professionals from the tourism sector and this edition, number 43, took on special significance for the Dominican Republic and the consolidation of its tourism reactivation. This year it had more than 20,000 visitors and 500 exhibitors.
It is also an important event for European investors, since after FITUR, in Madrid, it is the second tourism fair to be held in person, following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Impact in figures
France has great potential as an issuer of tourists to the Dominican Republic, being one of the main European countries with the highest number of visitors. Between January and August 2022, a total of 160,985 French tourists visited the country, representing 16% of the European market visitors coming here, according to Central Bank figures.
Since August 2020 to date, the Banco de Reservas has supported projects that are in the process of construction, which will provide more than 2,400 rooms, a new cruise port and theme park that will generate more than 6,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide.
The administration presided by Samuel Pereyra has also approved more than USD$400 million in financing, exceeding investments for a total amount of USD$985 million.
Banreservas informed that it is currently evaluating operations that will exceed USD$1,500 million, equivalent to DOP$80,000 million destined for the construction of new hotel projects, which will be added to the complementary offer of tourism that is planned to be established in the different tourist poles of the country.
As part of this business management, the Bank’s delegation held meetings at IFTM Top Resa with clients interested in investing in the development of Bergantín, Jarabacoa, Puerto Plata, Playa Palenque in San Cristóbal, the eastern part of the country and other locations.
Among these meetings were those held with representatives of the following hotel groups: Recaindu Holding, from Navarra-Spain, Paramount Hotels & Resorts, Grupo Piñeiro, Inverotel, Sky Cana, MGM Muthu, Grupo Posadas and Grupo De Valle, among others.
Tovar Exhibition
In order to promote Dominican art and culture, Banreservas held two exhibitions in Paris of the works of the outstanding painter Iván Tovar, who lived in France for many years. The exhibition, composed of 11 pieces by the renowned artist, was opened on the opening day of the fair, with the presence of the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, and other representatives of the Dominican delegation attending the conclave, as well as businessmen from the sector.
At the end of the exhibition at the fairgrounds, the exhibition was moved to the Dominican embassy in Paris, where it will be open to the public for a month. In this activity, which counted with the collaboration of Ambassador Rosa Melba de Grullón, participated the widow of Iván Tovar, María Castillo, his daughter Daniela Tovar, and Yurit Ruiz, from the Tovar Foundation. Also in attendance were members of the Dominican diplomatic representation in Europe.
During the activity, the renowned art critic Marianne Tolentino highlighted the projection and transcendence of Tovar’s work, one of the best known Dominican painters abroad.
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