from dr1 travel news
The changing Dominican tourism
The president-elect of the National Hotel & Restaurant Association, Luis Lopez, during an interview with Huchi Lora on Channel 11 commented on the changes in the Dominican hospitality industry. He commented that there is a trend to upgrade the hotel room inventory to attract travelers with a higher purchasing power. He said the challenges ahead are to provide more golf courses, more professional hotel services and more efficient public services as part of what he calls the transforming of the Dominican tourism industry. He said this has resulted in each new hotel trying to surpass in quality services what the other has offered. He said that the country is moving towards offering more and more vacation home projects, attracting those who seek marina and golf course services. He commented that every year new golf, marina or luxury hotel constructions are begun. He forecast that Samana would become the new prime destination in the Caribbean with the opening of the El Catey airport that will be ready by November. He said already, 15 international flights have been secured for the airport. He says this airport will service vacation sites from Cabo Frances Viejo in Maria Trinidad Sanchez province to the west on to Samana on the eastern side of the north coast.