“This year we are making history, we have had the best start to the year, with the arrival of seven million tourists to the country in the first eight months, of which 5.5 arrived by air and 1.5 by sea on cruise ships that arrived in the Dominican ports,” Collado said.
The minister spoke during the inauguration of the XXXV Trade Fair of the Hotel and Tourism Association of the Republic
Dominican Republic (Asonahores), held at Blue Mall Punta Cana, from September 6 to 8, with the participation of more than 170
product companies for the tourism industry.
“And every day we are preparing to be the best destination, the safest destination, because in there are no weapons on our beaches, there is no drug trafficking. if not the heart of every Dominican and the desire to move forward,” he said.
Collado said that the development and the current positive situation of Dominican tourism have been the result of the joint effort of the public and private sectors to grow this activity, “which is the main economic activity of the Dominican Republic.”
“Three years ago there was a public-private alliance that hurt the country, that’s why we went declared number one in the world in the recovery of tourism in 2021 and 2022 recognized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which this year has once again recognized the country’s tourism management,” said the minister.
Collado.
During his participation in the Asonahores trade fair, Collado acknowledged that it is still pending the task of returning the ITBIS to tourists who visit the country “And that is a commitment of this administration, to achieve that goal, and we will be able to resolve the obstacles to execute it.”
The other issue on which Collado expressed his agreement is that of pre-checking for international travelers traveling to the United States departing from the Punta Cana International Airport (AIPC), “because that will benefit the country, I agree that it be executed.”
The Minister of Tourism thanked him for the opportunity to work with Frank Ranieri of the Punta Cana Group, whom he called “the true Father of Dominican tourism; I congratulate you and appreciate all the support received by the minister and the Ministry of Tourism.”
“For me it is a great pride that life has given me the opportunity to work with Mr. Frank Rainieri, because helped us solve the difficult situation that the country went through in 2019 when we had accidents and incidents in our hotel rooms, which had a negative impact on the name of the Dominican Republic, although it was later proven that they were not the country’s fault,” Collado said.
Since then – said Collado – “together with Rainieri and other industry players, we have country name protected and developed a work agenda that has been a complete success; what equally
“We recognize David Llibre and other past presidents of Asonahores.”