Tourism Minister calls on UNWTO members to seek a joint solution to the Sargasso issue
Dominican Republic Tourism Minister David Collado made a fervent call to the members of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), who are meeting in the country, to join together to seek a joint solution to common issues, such as the sargasso affecting much of the Caribbean.
“The solution to the problem of sargasso cannot be individual,” said Collado in his opening remarks at the 118th meeting of the Executive Council of the UNWTO, which began on Wednesday in the tourist region of the East of the country and will last until tomorrow, Thursday.
In that sense, he said that solutions must be sought to the issues affecting the region at a general level, referring to sargasso.
“And organizations like this one should help small countries to look for solutions when we don’t have them,” said Collado.
The Minister of Tourism was also grateful that the UNWTO has chosen the Dominican Republic to hold its meeting, for the first time in history.
He understands that this is a recognition of the success story of the tourism industry in recent years, which makes it a leader in the region.
He indicated that tourism is not a luxury for the Dominican Republic, but something essential for the impact it has on the economy, which represents more than 25% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
At the opening of the meeting, UNWTO Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili, highlighted the country’s achievements in tourism, especially its rapid recovery.
He said that the Dominican Republic has become a world reference in tourism.
“Mr. Minister David Collado, without you and your team it would have been impossible to organize this summit, the most important for our organization and for tourism.”
Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez highlighted the importance for the country of the UNWTO Executive Committee meeting, which is being held for the first time in the Dominican Republic.
“We hope that this forum will be especially conducive to promoting responsible, local, sustainable and universally accessible tourism,” said the Dominican foreign minister.
Minister Collado was accompanied at the UNWTO meeting by the Dominican ambassador to the UNWTO, Aníbal de Castro, and Deputy Minister of Tourism, Carlos Peguero, among other officials.
Nineteen ministers from 38 nations, including the 35 member countries and three observers, as well as some 200 delegates are participating in this 118th meeting of the UNWTO, which is being held in Punta Cana from Tuesday through Thursday, and brings together the leaders of the industry worldwide.
Quisqueya entered the Executive Committee of the WTO, after more than a decade, thanks to the work of this Government and the results in the recovery of tourism.
Source: Presidencia.gob.do
