The president of Asonahores says despite the crisis, the sector is recovering steadily and aggressively
The tourism sector estimates that by the end of 2021 the Dominican Republic will receive more than four million tourists, as it will have a better recovery in the second half of this year, with figures higher than the first half of the year.
The president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores), Rafael Blanco Tejera, affirmed that as the vaccination process takes place in the countries that emit tourists, their visits to the country will increase.
He said that in addition to this is added the de-escalation of the curfew in the DR and the good strategy developed by the Government to face the pandemic, including the vaccination campaign and economic support programs for the productive sectors.
He said that free insurance for tourists has also been successful and they hope that it will continue until the winter season, which is usually the highest.
He indicated that until June of this year, two million tourists have been received, while in 2020 there were 1.9 million and in 2019 there were 7.5 million. He foresees that this year it will reach 60 percent of the 2019 figures.
Blanco explained that despite the crisis, the sector has been recovering in a sustained, proactive, and aggressive manner. He said that every month there is an increase in the arrival of tourists.
He stated that 205 thousand tourists visited the country in January and in June the number rose to 460 thousand, despite operating under unfavorable conditions since many of the issuing countries are still closed.
He said that 75 percent of the tourists that are being received come from the United States. The rest comes from Eastern Europe and South America.
He stressed that in Santo Domingo 100% of the hotels are open, in the East region more than 85%, because they depend on tourists from the United States, but in the North region, which receives more from Europe and Canada, the figure is a lot lower, as these countries still have travel limitations.
He said that the Dominican Republic is also monitoring the situation of all tourist-issuing countries and when one is considered a risk, a decision is made in this regard and this serves to reassure the people that tourism is being managed proactively, responsibly, and avoiding risks.
He indicated that only 1% of tourists test positive for covid-19, both upon arrival and departure from the country because the protocols are working hand in hand with the public and private sectors.
He specified that the tourism sector impacts all other economic sectors in the country due to its high productive chain and represents 16% of the gross domestic product (GDP), while at the world level it is 10.4% of GDP.
When participating as a guest in the Economic Meeting, Blanco Tejera pointed out that people around the world want to travel and they will, so in the coming months and in 2022 the strategies to attract tourists will be more aggressive and competitive.
Blanco said that only 1% of tourists test positive for covid-19, both when arriving and leaving the country, as the protocols are met.
Zoom
Bidding begins for sargassum
Starting today, the international bid is open to select a company that will work for hand in hand with the country in addressing the problem of sargassum on Dominican beaches. This will be possible thanks to an alliance between the Government and the private sector in which each will have about six million dollars to develop this project.
Blanco Tejera said that in the same it is open to receive any option that is presented, to then determine what is the ideal solution to face this problem.
He stressed that this project will be managed through a trust managed by the Reserve Bank. He said that so far each hotel has been facing sargassum individually, but with this project, a comprehensive solution will be sought as a whole as a tourism sector.
Source:
Hoy
