The Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores) announced this Thursday the election of Juan Bancalari (Papo) like his president during the next two years (2024-2026), who will assume the commitment to continue strengthening the tourism industry in order to support the goal of attracting 15 million visitors.
Support for the different destinations tourism, the diversification of its offer, and the incentive for the arrival of more cruises to Puerto Plata, Samaná, Santo Domingo and Pedernales will be part of the agenda of Bancalariwho replaces David Llibre in the position, which he held since 2022.
Bancalari will also support the tourism real estate regulated and the complementary offer that attracts tourists with high purchasing power.
“This new directive assumes the commitment and institutional challenges to achieve the goal of 15 million visitorsin addition to overcoming aspects that directly affect the competitiveness such as legal certainty, the adaptation of the labor code, so that it represents true modernization and encourages productivity, an electrical system that responds to the demand of the sector in quantity and quality; as well as, from the point of view of the sustainabilitycoastal management, the fight against sargassum and solid waste,” he indicated Bancalari.
He highlighted the importance of promoting the tourism ecological and adventure, as well as cultural, nautical, sports and gastronomic, due to their potential to attract tourists and contribute to the growth constant of the sector.
Llibre concludes one of the experiences “further challengers“of his life
In his farewell words, president protrusion of Asonahores, David Llibreexpressed that he concludes one of the experiences “most important and challengers of his life” but, at the same time, rewarding, by achieving objectives during his management, based on three fundamental pillars:
- Sustainability
- Regulation
- Connectivity
“In each of these aspects mentioned, I feel very proud of the team that tirelessly and, with 24/7 availability, works on a focus and vision towards competitiveness of a sector tourismleadership in the growth of the region and the Dominican economy,” Llibre pointed out.
Professional career of the new president
Juan Bancalari He graduated as Business Administrator from the Acción Pro Educación y Cultura University (Apec) in 1984.
Is president founder of Bancalari & Asociados, SRL since 1982, company specialized in providing advice on insurance to important companies and institutions in the Dominican Republic, positioned among the top 10 brokerage companies insurance of the country for more than 40 years.
In the business field, the executive developed the Real Estate Tourism Project in 2006 Puerto Bahía Marina & Residencescurrently being president from Marina Puerto Bahía, one of the four most important private sports marinas in the country.
He is a partner and part of the Board of Directors of Bahía Capital, company dedicated to development and operation of places commercials. Founding partner of Perpetual Energy Group, SRL, company developer of the Las Colinas Equestrian Club.
In the institutional area, he has chaired several guilds businessamong them:
- The Association Dominican Insurance Brokers (Adocose)
- Association National Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE)
- Stock Exchange of the Dominican Republic (BVRD)
- Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo (CCPSD)
- Association Dominican Republic of Real Estate Tourist Companies (Adeti) (president founder)
- In addition, he has been a director of the Institutionality and Justice Foundation (Finjus)
At the moment, presides the Association of Hotels and Tourist companies of Samaná (Ahetsa) and the recently founded Association Dominican Republic of Sports Marinas and Nautical Clubs (ADMC).
