Minister of Tourism signs agreement with Clúster Santiago Tourist Destination

SANTIAGO, D.R.- The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, signed a cooperation agreement on Monday with the Santiago Tourist Destination Cluster to develop a series of direct actions with the sector, which include the design of the City Brand.

The agreement was signed by David Collado on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and by the president of the Santiago Tourism Cluster, Ramón Paulino, who was accompanied by German Ulises Polanco, president of the Hotel Association, Reynaldo Peguero of the Strategic Plan, Yomaris Gómez, director executive of Expo turismo and María Luisa Asilis, Executive Manager of the León Cultural Center.

The main objective of the agreement is to promote and strengthen the image of the First Santiago of America to be promoted in international markets, through various initiatives.

“With the signing of this agreement, we mark a before and after in the province of Santiago as a tourist destination,” said Minister Collado, after signing the agreement.

He highlighted the great potential that Santiago has as a tourist destination and capital of the 14 provinces in the north of the country. Also, he reported the investment of 50 million pesos to strengthen the Ciudad brand, the cultural and gastronomic segment. He also announced the removal of the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration.

Collado emphasized the unity of the business sector of Santiago, after assessing the investment that has been registered in the field of hotels in the city of Corazón, where more than 4 hotels are currently being built that will provide nearly 500 new rooms.

Ramón Paulino, speaking at the event, valued the completion of this agreement and thanked and recognized the vision of the Minister of Tourism, David Collado to agree with the authentic entities of the city, consistent with other investments made by the government of President Luis Abinader in Santiago for the order of 42 billion pesos in water, sanitation, mobility and renovation of the historic center.

The interventions to strengthen and develop tourism in the city, apart from designing the City Brand of Santiago in coherence with the Country Brand, also seeks to offer support to the Santiago Carnival, the cultural agenda, the training program for tourist guides, as well as the renovation of several buildings with potential tourist interest such as the San Luis Fortress, the Carnival Museum; the renovation of the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration and other public art spaces.

These initiatives, which are projected at the Expo Turismo Santiago Fair with 25 years promoting national and city tourism, this year 2022 was dedicated to Minister David Collado, for the implementation of the successful recovery plan for the tourism industry in the Dominican Republic.

The projects will be promoted with two strategies, the first is to project Santiago as the soul, heart and joy of the country, an intervention focused on institutional strengthening, management and animation and tourism management. The second strategy is to add value and reconquer cultural facilities and public spaces with renovation of buildings.