The largest tourism fair in the Dominican Republic,(Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE 2022), was held in Punta Cana, where it brought together businessmen from various sectors, especially tourism.
This event had a pre-opening by the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores) at the Barceló Bávaro Place hotel.
In such an event, Rafael Blanco Tejera, president of the entity, assured that the Dominican Republic has received more than 2.2 million tourists in the first four months of the year with a projection of more than seven million by the end of this 2022.
He stressed that they have more jobs in the sector than before the pandemic, which consolidates tourism as the main pillar of the national economy and of the post-COVID-19 recovery.
Blanco Tejera said: “There is no other sector in the Dominican economy that has more production chains than tourism; To talk about tourism is to talk about agriculture, industry, transportation, foreign exchange generation, jobs, and of course the thousands of MSMEs that supply goods and services to the sector”.
While President Luis Abinader assured: “The tourism recovery It was possible thanks to the joint action of the Government, the Ministry of Tourism and the private sector, which worked together to return and overcome the pre-pandemic period.”
The president reiterated that his insistence on attending the opening of the hotels, sought, as is the purpose of the Government, to create jobs so that people can earn a decent living.
He also stated that the Government has worked with “passion, patriotism and enthusiasm” to recover tourism and recognized the contribution of the entire population to achieve this goal.
Based on the president’s statements, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, referred to the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, who confirmed that the Dominican Republic breaks the record for the largest entry of foreigners in the history of tourism, with 726 thousand visits .
He assured that the country is consolidated as number one in the recovery of tourism.
He cited that tourism should be taken care of because it is the main industry in the Dominican Republic and that what they have achieved is a sign of hope, a clear answer to what happens when everyone comes together in search of a common goal.
He pointed out that being number one in the world in the tourism recovery and being recognized by the World Tourism Organization is the success story of the Dominican Republic.
Regarding the activity, stated that (DATE 2022) broke the record with 30% more companies that have gathered at the eventthat is, 232 companies, six thousand business appointments, 200 delegates, make it clear that this is the best quarter of tourism in the Dominican Republic.
First hotel that performs palazo in the DATE
An experience different from all the previous ones was lived in DATE 2022since the first palace of a hotel was held in this event, after being two years without being held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This action corresponds to the luxury hotel “Secret Tides Punta Cana Resort & Spa” in Punta Cana, whose act was attended by the president.
The work will have an investment of 175 million dollars. Said hotel will create three thousand direct and indirect jobs, according to what its promoters said.
The establishment will have 670 rooms, said engineer Álvaro Peña, president of Codelpa, in his speech; and assured that due to the proven experience of the entities that participate in its development, it will be a “great luxury, new generation, hotel that will enrich the successful tourist offer of Punta Cana”, with its “contemporary design and its integration with nature ”.
He explained that it is built on the beachfront, with contemporary, elegant architecture, designed for adults; and the key to the design, which predominates in the entire conceived space, is nature.
Peña added that the first image of the guest when stepping into the lobby will be a direct view of the landscape offered by the beach and the sea with its turquoise blue color.
He explained that the design and decoration of rooms will have an elegant touch “full of color, with fresh furniture and decoration that highlights the attractive elements of the area.” The gastronomic offer includes seven restaurants. It will offer five different types of rooms and 6,300 square meters of swimming pools.
Plaque of recognition to the Dominican State
Expedia Group delivered a plaque recognizing the Dominican State for having achieved the best tourism promotion campaign in Latin America during 2021-2022. The detail was received by the president, Luis Abinader; David Collado, Minister of Tourism and Rafael Blanco Tejera, President of Asonahores.
On that same stage, Freddy Domínguez, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean of Expedia Group, He maintained that this entity is responsible for 25% of the arrival of American tourists to the Dominican Republic.
He stressed that the Dominican Republic is the second largest operation destination in Latin America and part of its 15 most important destinations worldwide and the second in the region.
Signing of agreements
The nation signed three collaboration agreements with the same number of major Canadian airlines in order to enhance the country’s air connectivity during the summer and winter seasons.
The agreements were signed with Air Canada Vacation, Sunwing Group and Air Transat and “they are the result of the confidence that the Government has brought to the recovery of the tourism sector.”
On behalf of the country, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, signed the agreement. For Air Transat it was made by the vice president of products, Renée Boisvert; for the Sunwing Group, the executive Eric Rodríguez and for Air Canada Vacation, Dina Bartolo.
After the agreements, Eric Rodríguez, executive of the Sunwing Group, commented that the Dominican Government, both in the past and in the present, has been very cooperative in making joint efforts to strengthen the Canadian market.
He explained that the important thing about the event is that President Luis Abinader is supporting the tourism sector and that his institution mobilized a figure of 650,000 tourists between Canada and the United States before the pandemic.
“Now, in a pandemic, what we are doing is recovering the market, we are waiting for the Canadian government to relax the regulations of the pandemic so that Canadians feel comfortable and happy to be able to travel to different destinations, and once that this happens, we will be working to reach pre-pandemic numbers,” he said.
He commented that they are currently making 21 flights in Punta Cana and for the summer they will have three in Puerto Plata.
Fair consolidates as a business market
As part of the celebration of DATE 2022several companies gathered at the event, in order to publicize the transformations and offers in the Dominican tourism sector, which is at the forefront at the international level.
The airline Arajet and Las Americas International Airport José Francisco Peña Gómez (AILA) signed an agreement to establish the airport, located in Santo Domingo, as an operational base.
In practice, this means that the airline will be basing its planes and crew there, and will have all flights from the city of Santo Domingo as its starting point.
The president of the board of directors of Arajet, Víctor Pacheco Méndez, commented that the AILA is now the base for its operations.
Arajet will be the first low-cost airline in the Dominican Republic which will be providing non-stop services to more than 40 destinations in the United States, Mexico, South America, Central America and the Caribbean.
In addition, he indicated that flights will begin in July 2022 with five new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, specifically the high-capacity 737-8-200 model.
For her part, Mónica Infante, general director of Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI, stated that the announcement of the selection of AILA-JFPG as a base airport will have a positive economic impact in the area by generating new direct and indirect jobs and bringing more tourists to the Dominican Republic. Dominican.
Puntacana Resort announces investments
In another order, Puntacana Resort & Club announced the remodeling and new construction of The Westin hotel and the La Cana golf course.
Carmen Rosa de Torres, director of Sales and Hospitality at Puntacana Resort & Club, reported that improvements to The Westin hotel facilities include the complete remodeling of the Brassa and Anani restaurants, new bars and the construction of two new themed restaurants, a steak house and another with an Asian influence, expanding the world-class gastronomic experience offered by Puntacana Resort & Club.
He also reported that the hotel is expanding its conference rooms, including two new meeting rooms with capacity for 150 and 400 people.
