Expoturismo 2021 was inaugurated in the city of Santiago, the vacation and travel fair that will feature more than 50 exhibitors of the sector in the Heart of the City.
The fair, to be held at the Hodelpa Gran Almirante Hotel from Friday, October 29 to Sunday, October 31, will feature conferences, commercial exchanges, presentation of tourism products, a wide range of destinations, excursions, airline tickets, cruises and attractive discounts.
The inauguration was attended by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, together with a large delegation of local and national authorities from the Dominican Republic’s tourism sector.
According to a press release, the provincial governor of Santiago, Rosa Santos, emphasized that for the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, tourism is one of the main sectors and pillars of the national economy, for which she applauded all the efforts being made for its recovery.
The executive director of the fair, Yomaris Gómez, expressed emotional words of gratitude for the permanent support received, positioning the fair as an important step in the national tourism offer.
“For twenty-four years, Expoturismo has been part of the evolution of the Dominican tourism offer, through a platform where visitors from all over the country have been able to discover different ways of vacationing, from the most varied representation of travel, where hundreds of exhibitors have been accomplices of what is now known as the most important vacation marathon in the country,” said Gomez.
Ramón Paulino, president of Expoturismo, made a call to face these difficult times for tourism and the world, and urged to work tenaciously adapted to the new scenario that is presented.
“At present, the Dominican Republic has been praised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) thanks to the strategic management, both of the health crisis and of the measures required to safeguard and recover tourism activity, based on the correct actions of the tourism authorities, led by our minister, David Collado, who supported by the Tourism Cabinet created by the president, Luis Rodolfo Abinader, has managed to reposition our country, with its great tourist attractions, as one of the most desirable for travel under the current circumstances,” said Paulino.
He assured that the quality of the tourism products offered by Expoturismo has made it the fair par excellence for vacationers, who take advantage of the offers in each edition to plan their next vacation inside and outside the country.
Paulino concluded by emphasizing that the country is called to take advantage of the present situation in which travelers are looking for destinations with more natural space, where gastronomy is a reference, culture and history remain alive and within reach of all and especially biodiversity is part of its complementary offer.
The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, expressed his great joy at being present at the fair that expresses the unity and order of this great city of Santiago, which for 24 years has left a legacy in the Dominican tourism sector, and described his presence as a boost to the development of this province which already has 84% of its hotel rooms open.
Collado also highlighted the great commitment assumed by the Dominican government to recover, through transparency and tireless work, one of the most important pillars of the Dominican economy.
Special Recognition
During the opening night, Rafael Blanco was recognized for his more than 35 years of experience in the hotel industry, co-founder and executive vice president of the Viva Wyndham Resorts hotel chain, honorary advisor to the Minister of Tourism and member of the private sector commission of Marca País, among other achievements.
Likewise, the memory of the outstanding businessman, Príamo Rodríguez Castillo, a visionary businessman who bet on market segments still emerging such as congress and incentive tourism, from the great convention center with which he endowed the noble city of Santiago, was recognized posthumously.
