UN Tourism recognizes with Collado leadership of the DR in the industry

The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) recognized yesterday David Collado as “Minister of the Americas”, a gesture with which he distinguished the public-private strategy through which the Dominican Republic has maintained the leadership of its main industry in the midst of geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainty.

In gratitude for the distinction, Collado stressed that the merit corresponds to a country “that decided to put aside political, personal and party interests” to put on the table the national interests.

He remembered that, before assuming he Ministry of Tourismapproached the main leaders of the sector to coordinate a joint strategy that would allow us to face the covid-19 pandemic and reopen the industry safely.

“I had no choice but to call the veterans and ask them: what do we do? Not let the ego of the officials come out, because I think that, after a public-private alliancethe main foundation of the success of tourism Dominican was that I never thought I would know more about tourism that Frank Rainierithat Gabriel Escarrerthat Sabina Fluxá or that Encarna Piñero, who didn’t even know me,” he said.

achieve a coordinated strategy with the sector private – he emphasized – required transparencyeven “opening the books” to tourism businessmen when they asked where the money destined for the international promotion.

“From that date until today, all decisions of the tourism Dominican are taken for consensus. And in the first four years we spend what was previously invested in just one,” he said.

Data-driven actions

Collado explained that the relaunching of the tourism Dominican was based on the data usage to know precisely what they are looking for visitorswhere they arrive from, when and with whom they travel, in order to better understand and communicate the national offer.

This information allowed us to focus promotion in it american continentwith emphasis on South America, which increased the air connectivity and the arrival of tourists in an international situation marked by the reduction in travel from Europe, the country’s second source market.

The minister also highlighted the unity vision assumed by him Government. “This is a pro-entrepreneurship country, pro-sector private; a country that has decided to move forward together. That’s why this recognition It’s not mine,” he said.

Regional leadership

He recognition was delivered by Natalia Bayonaexecutive director of UN Tourismand Gustavo Santosdirector for the Americas. Both valued the pioneering measures that allowed a rapid post-pandemic recovery and the constant international promotion of destiny.

Among the notable achievements are the development of the first Regional Sustainable Tourism Strategy in the Americas—presented in Cuba in April 2024—and the celebration of the first UN Tourism Summit for Africa and the Americas, both promoted under the presidency of Collado in the Regional Commission for the Americas.