Asonahores Fosters Investment in Travel Industry
The president of the Dominican Republic’s Hotel & Tourism Association (ASONAHORES is the Spanish acronym) said that both the Government and the private sector are making the most of the global expansion of the travel industry with an increase of investment in terms of infrastructure, hotels, complementary options and advertisement, and this response is to remain as such.
Simon Suarez talked on Tuesday at the opening cocktail of DATE 2016, the country’s international trade tourism show, which was attended by the Ministry of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia and the leaders of the travel industry.
Mr. Suarez pointed out that, over the past 15 months, the sector has witnessed the building process of more than 7 thousand rooms, which entails an 11 percent increase of the hotel room offer reported through December 2014, and over 11 thousand rooms have been refurbished or are being refurbished, a figure that stands for 17 percent of the country’s inventory.
He explained that the flows of investment are an important indicator of the positive expectations among entrepreneurs on the future of the industry in the short and middle term.
These are impressive numbers, Suarez underscored, which “are not reported by any other Caribbean island and they show strength of the private sector and our optimism toward the future”. Last year, he said, the Dominican hotel sector invested over 70 million dollars in advertising.
The president of ASONAHORES underlined that recent developments and the global behavior of tourism confirm that our industry is living a period of expansion, after the world recession.
“In the Dominican Republic, both the government and private investors, from the country and overseas, are taking advantage of the opportunities provided by this period of tourism expansion”.
Mr. Suarez said that, over the past two years, the Dominican Republic has shown growth rates that double the world average and go beyond the growth registered in the Caribbean region. In 2014 we exceeded the 9 percent and 8 percent in 2015, and in the first months of this year we are standing beyond 8 percent.
Suarez praised the work carried out by the government and highlighted that “it has fostered a range of tax incentives aimed at foreign investment, thus improving the competitiveness of the country, a wide program of investments in infrastructure and a constant investment plan in terms of marketing and institutional advertising”. He said: “Those who have attended previous editions of DATE can see the difference in the road infrastructure we presently have, and that’s just an example.
He explained that considering these trends and as a counterpart of the governmental action, the private sector has invested in new hotels, the remodeling and adaptation of the existing hotel plant, and it has aimed a significant investment at tourism – complementary products.
He recalled that in 2015 the hotel sector invested over 70 million US dollars in the international advertisement of the Dominican travel industry.
The president of ASONAHORES thanked the support provided by the Ministry of Tourism to hold DATE, which has proven to be the most important, effective and efficient platform to market and advertise the tourism product, due to its relative low cost. He also thanked Meliá for backing up the show as its host and congratulated the hotel chain for its 60th anniversary.
DATE is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Paradisus Palma Real, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Jetblue, US Airways, Nexus Tour, IVI DMC Dominican Republic, AERODOM, Banco Popular, Banco del Reservas, Hospiten, Ladevi Ediciones, Massa Business District, RCI, Report, SeNaSa, Viva Resorts.
This is the 17th edition of DATE and it’s the utmost event to market the Dominican tourism product among travel agents, tour operators and the main suppliers of the travel industry in the Dominican Republic, since they can meet and do business.
This travel show is taking place at the Convention Center of Paradisus Palma Real, Bavaro, Punta Cana, and it’ll come to a close on April 21.
