The Hotel and Tourism Association of the Dominican Republic, Asonahores, wrapped up the 36th edition of its Commercial Exhibition. During this exhibition, 7,500 visitors were in attendance. The event commenced the development of the production chain and fortified the commercial bonds of those involved in the tourism sector.
Asonahores’ president, David Llibre, stated that this exhibition has become the nation’s largest indoor fair, thus supporting sustainable industry growth.
“Tourism growth is not solely dependent on the availability of hotel services,” stressed Llibre. “Comfortable accommodations, stunning architecture and design, and the excellent tastes of local fruits and produce, tobacco, Dominican Rum, and restaurants, not to mention thousands of other available products and services, make our tourists’ experiences satisfactory.”
During the 3-day Commercial Exhibition, there were 166 exhibiting corporations introducing their crucial products and services for the initiation and development of national gastronomical and tourism projects, said Aguie Lendor, Executive Vice President of Asonahores.
“We have established the premier business platform for vendors in this sector with around 316 stands. 20% of these were new businesses participating for the first time, taking this opportunity to showcase their offerings to the tourism sector,” explained Lendor.
Lendor highlighted that 80% of the corporations that participated in 2023 came back in 2024. Through the “Supérate” program, artisans and plastic artists were allowed to offer their products at the event. Women’s MSMEs were given opportunities to participate, demonstrating this platform’s importance to the tourism sector’s productive chain.
In addition, specialized advisers conducted various workshops centered around compliance, quality, sustainable management, and risk mitigation in tourism operations.
Support from the Ministry of Tourism, companies like Punta Cana – Macao Energy Consortium, CEPM, and others including Dominican Popular Bank, INTESOL CORPORATION, Banreservas, INDUBAN, to mention a few, aided the realization of the Asonahores Commercial Exhibition. Some artisan companies like Dominican Importer of Wood, Reid & Company, and artistic companies like Nestlé Dominicana, TCO Networks participated.