Convention and shopping tourism are challenges for Dominican industry

19-02-23

Convention and shopping tourism is one of the challenges that the sector must strengthen in order to continue increasing visitor arrivals to the country.

In this regard, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, announced that in the next 90 days the construction of a convention centre in Santo Domingo will begin, which aims to increase hotel occupancy in the city by between 7% and 8%.

The new convention centre will be built on the grounds of the Hispaniola Hotel in Santo Domingo, for which the bidding process has already begun.

"The convention centre is not a project but a reality, which for more than a year has been working with Ifema, the company that runs Fitur, who have prepared all the plans and have accompanied us with the Banco de Reservas," Collado explained at the press conference of the Santo Domingo Hotel Association and the Santo Domingo Tourism Cluster.

With regard to shopping tourism, he said that this year they will do everything possible to pass the Law on the Return of Taxes to Tourists, a project that is important for the Dominican Republic, as there are many international brands that are not in the country, which will be able to bring their investments.

"We are committed to supporting the approval of this bill, so that coming to the Dominican Republic, and especially to the capital, is an additional incentive for foreigners," he said.

Statistics

Minister Collado said that so far in February, some 335,000 foreigners have entered the country, which indicates that the 600,000 barrier will be surpassed.

Likewise, he projected that if tourism continues as it is going, the Dominican Republic will be a leader among Caribbean countries in air tourism, which means progress in terms of aviation.

Recognition

The Santo Domingo Hotel Association and the Santo Domingo Tourism Cluster recognized the work of Minister David Collado at the head of the Tourism Cabinet, which has led to surpassing the pre-pandemic figures in tourist arrivals and hotel occupancy.

Yudit Garcia, president of the Santo Domingo Hotel Association and Mónika Infante Henríquez, president of the Santo Domingo Tourism Cluster, recognised his work and highlighted his energetic commitment and leadership in the recovery of the industry.

Visitors

530,000 foreigners entered the country in January. In January 2023, 530,956 non-residents arrived in the country, 129 % more than in 2022.

During the activity

The activity was attended by the president of Asonahores, David Llibre, the members of the Boards of Directors of both organizations CTSD and AHSD, as well as hotel businessmen.