Minister Collado points out strengthening connectivity as the country’s main challenge

PUNTA CANA, LA ALTAGRACIA, D.R. October 21, 2022.- The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, reported that continuing to strengthen connectivity is the main challenge facing the country and that the vision of the Government and the Tourism Cabinet is to support the open skies agreement with the United States of America.

“We are going to continue promoting the issue of connectivity with the United States and we firmly support the declarations of the American Embassy of open skies,” said the Minister of Tourism.

These statements were offered by Collado, within the framework of the 34th edition of the Asonahores 2022 Commercial Exhibition, where more than 176 companies from the entire commercial chain participate, which takes place from October 19 to 21, at Blue Mall Punta Cana, which is dedicated to the United States, for being the main issuer of tourists to Quisqueya.

The official highlighted that the ForwardKeys platform, which measures all the airports and airlines in the world, has just published that the Dominican Republic is in number one place in reservations for the last quarter of the year, in terms of tourist arrivals, with more 40%, in relation to the same period 2019.

“Our numbers are surprising and what we have to do is continue to take care of tourism in the Dominican Republic, continue to make an alliance with the private sector as has been done,” said Collado.

The official expressed that with this version of Expo Asonahores there is good expectation, because in it you can see everything that tourism represents, the entire commercial chain, from food, technology, construction, among others.

“Here is reflected in this trade fair, the strength and importance of tourism in the country’s economy, which represents 15% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which for this year we are averaging more than 8,200 million dollars in the entry of foreign currency, this maintains exchange rate stability, and this clearly reflects that the tourism sector is fully recovered in the Dominican Republic”, he added.

David Collado said that this exhibition is a record, with more than 176 companies, which clearly reflects that the recovery of tourism is a reality in the Dominican Republic, and that this is everyone’s effort, because “the Dominican Republic has it all.”

The president of ASONAHORES, Rafael Blanco Tejera, stated that: “The contribution and evolution of the tourism industry in the Dominican economy are part of the most important transformations of the productive apparatus, presenting a multiplier effect between the different demands for goods and services that generate.

The Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, congratulated Minister David Collado for the great work that is being carried out, while indicating that what is happening in the Dominican Republic are very dynamic and positive numbers for the work that has been done and as a result of this, the country is on the board of directors and next year the UNWTO will receive, here, the most important ministers of tourism in the world.

“In the next 3 or 4 years from the OTM, the Dominican Republic and three important things will be discussed: sustainable development, innovation and education, where many projects and investments will be made,” Pololikashvili pointed out.