PUNTA CANA DECLARATION

Taking into consideration that tourism is a global phenomenon with increasing numbers of people traveling every year. Taking into consideration that tourism as an export activity, has proved to be a powerful force behind the Dominican Republic’s economic growth, creating jobs and generating foreign revenue, and bringing new dynamism to industrial, farming and service sector activities. Taking into consideration that tourism has the potential to develop the social and economic inclusion of the disadvantaged. Noting that tourists are demanding a unique and integrated experience in harmony with nature, for which it is necessary to preserve natural resources and achieve a balance between the development of tourism and the protection of the environment. Taking into account that sustainable forms of tourism also generate income for the local communities and that their interests and culture require specific attention. Recognizing that tourism is based on and prospers fundamentally thanks to the existence of natural and cultural assets, which are the basic pillars of sustainable growth. Recognizing the need for a long-term vision to draw up a tourism-based development and competitiveness plan that leads to prosperity for all. Recognizing the success that the cluster model has had as an instrument for the uniting of vision and strategic development objectives to promote integration and cooperative association within productive sectors and amongst the regions of the country. Recognizing the Dominican Republic’s need to develop a country brand that is closely related to tourism, capable of renewing the country’s image as a provider of world quality goods, services and experiences. Recalling the importance of the Caribbean region and its sea as shared heritage and the role that it has played historically, as well as its potential to operate as a unifying element for its development. WE DECLARE THAT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SHOULD: 1) Prepare and commit to the implementation of a Development and Competitiveness Plan based on sustainability and social inclusion that ensures that the country makes the most of opportunities offered by new trends in the tourism market, ensures orderly and rational use of social, cultural, natural and economic resources, incorporating the previously executed tourism development plans as background. 2) Back the development of a country brand that contributes to the Dominican Republic’s positioning in the international goods and services market, which emphasizes the distinctiveness of the Dominican product with reference to elements that make us unique as a country, seeking greater diversification of market segments and serving as an inclusive tourism model aimed at promoting human development. 3) Promote and facilitate the exchange of knowledge through the use of new technologies and best practices aimed at promoting tourism with a commitment to sustainable development. 4) Contribute to the creation, development and implementation of new products and tourism activities with a Dominican identity and with the respectful use of cultural, natural and spiritual heritage. 5) Back the formation of tourism clusters that make optimum use of available resources and create the necessary empowerment and local development that ensures genuine plural participation in the process. 6) Develop tourism in such a way that it benefits local communities, strengthens the local economy, employs local labor and uses local materials and farm products as well as traditional arts and skills. 7) Manage tourism in such a way that it guarantees the integrity of protected areas so that these achieve the objectives of protected area systems, and that institutional mechanisms for the sustainable management of coastal areas be established. 8) Harmonize the Dominican brand and the strategies for promotion of the Dominican Republic with initiatives aimed at promoting, protecting and developing the Caribbean brand. 9) Use information and knowledge based tools and technologies for increasing the value added to the Dominican tourism product. 10) Back and strengthen a new institutionalism that ensures the management of the destination, incorporating the needs of the communities so as to guarantee the sustainability of the Development and Competitiveness Plan. The National Competitiveness Council, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, the representatives of the hotel sector and investors in the tourism sector and support areas, represented by the National Association of Hotels & Restaurants (Asonahores) agree that this document be known as the Punta Cana Declaration and sign it on the 11th of December 2005, Dominican Republic.