Dominican Republic with a view to being a safe, inclusive and sustainable tourism destination

Bogotá (EFE).- As the guest of honor country, Dominican Republic It is committed to promoting its tourist diversity at an ecological, sports, gastronomic and cultural level in the 42nd edition of the Tourist Showcase of the Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (Anato) that began this Wednesday in Bogotá.

“The strategy is in two parts: playing for diversity and continuing to strengthen our strength, which is Punta Cana, but also being a safe, inclusive destination with sustainable tourism,” the Minister of Tourism explained to EFE. Tourism Dominican, David Collado.

In this fair, which will last until next Friday, more than 30 countries and some 1,000 exhibitors and co-exhibitors from the 32 departments of Colombia belonging to the tourism sector come together.

Among the participants is also the one from the State of Yucatán (Mexico) with a bet of “great historical wealth” full of flavors, colors and memories that invite you to connect with the Mayan culture and its archaeological zones, according to what its vice minister of promotion told EFE. tourist, Miguel Andrés Hernández.

As a star destination, the Dominican Republic presents its “second capital” in Anato: Santiago de los Caballeros, a place to live the carnival, drink rum or smoke a typical Dominican cigar.

Convinced that, beyond the sun and beach tourism that each year attracts more than two million American tourists, the Dominican minister assures that, among the strategies His portfolio also includes the search for incentives to increase internal flights so that travelers get to know other parts of his country.

This is why, according to Collado, “in these days” the Dominican president, Luis Abinader, will issue a decree to “facilitate, encourage and stimulate” this type of displacement.

INCLUSION AND HEALTH

The need to guarantee that the hotel offer is fully accessible for people with disabilities was another of the priorities that Collado pointed out as key points in his portfolio.

To achieve this, according to the minister, hotels were recently given four months to guarantee accessibility to their facilities.

In the same way, the senior official claimed his country as a destination for health tourism worldwide, given its quality in terms of surgeries or cancer treatments.

A “SURPRISE” OF THE COLOMBIAN MARKET

Despite the fact that the United States and Canada remain leaders in the issuance of tourists to the Dominican Republic, Collado pointed to Colombia as an “important” market that, even last year, exceeded 257,000 travelers to countries such as Spain, France, Germany or England, who were in the “top five”.

“It has been a nice surprise for our country,” said the minister at a press conference after signing five letters of intent for cooperation agreements with the airlines Wingo and Copa Airlines and with tour operators such as the Colombian Cielos Abiertos.

The fair was inaugurated this Wednesday by the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, who claimed the tourism sector as an alternative to obtain the foreign currency that the country would stop receiving if it moves towards the “decarbonized economy” on which its energy transition strategy is based. . EFE