Asonahores Chief Hails Central Santo Domingo “Tourism Region” Resolution

Asonahores Chief Hails Central Santo Domingo “Tourism Region” Resolution

The Executive vice-president of the hotels and tourism companies grouped in Asonahores affirmed yesterday that declaring the National District’s center a tourism district seeks to take advantage of investments attracted to that part of the city.

Arturo Villanueva said investors have a great interest in the polygon formed within the Churchill, Kennedy, Lincoln, 27 de Febrero and Washington avenues, and constantly deals with various foreign companies that want to invest there.

“We’re evaluating the support for those large investments, at the same time we support the investments in motorways and highways which the president (Leonel Fernandez) has made to bring the East tourist region closer to the city of Santo Domingo," he said.

Tourism Ministry resolution provides the same tax breaks for companies linked to hotels and resorts as those given to hotel complexes via Law 158-01, and which include national and municipal income taxes.

Villanueva also predicts the polygon would become one of the Caribbean’s top commercial destinations, and discarded any negative impact on revenue, noting that the tax the government no longer obtains because of those breaks barely reach 1.5 percent in the tourism sector. “This is about generating an important economic productive movement so the people can come and consume in the city of Santo Domingo."

Among the resolution’s guidelines is that new hotels must be of high standard and boutique type, or have at least 100 rooms.