From today's Sosua News:
Last Thursday afternoon, November 21, representatives of businesses (restaurants, bars and hotels) and civil society organizations (association of hotels and restaurants in Sos?a and Cabarete and Office of Tourism) met at the Town Hall of Sos?a. The theme was, what to do with the decline of tourism on the north coast, and then in particular Puerto Plata, Sos?a and Cabarete. The editors of Sos?a-News spoke to Alberto Hidalgo, owner of restaurant Alberto and Wolfgang Sch?nner, co-owner of the restaurant Schnitzel Paradise on the importance of this meeting. Both had been present at this meeting. Both Wolfgang and Alberto were delighted to see that all entrepreneurs of Sos?a and Cabarete were finally willing to work together to defend their interests. Alberto told that there was a preliminary inventory of the worst problems that entrepreneurs have to cope with.
First problem is the high energy bill. EDENORTE, the electricity supplier is the most expensive of the entire Caribbean. How can Sos?a and Cabarete compete with other resorts in the Caribbean when this causes higher costs?
At the meeting it was decided that a delegation will negotiate with EDENORTE for lower energy prices.
As a second point, the high landing rights Gregorio Luper?n International Airport (Puerto Plata) asks airlines was mentioned. The airport of Puerto Plata, according to Alberto, is 30% more expensive than Punta Cana, Saman? and Santiago. During the meeting it was decided to invite representatives from various airports and orientate on tariffs.
The third key point (according to Alberto) was the theme of safety and corruption. The president has already announced that next year the salaries of police, soldiers and teachers will be increased significantly. If you underpay police you create corruption, which is well known. A delegation of this meeting will start talks with the minister in the capital on the expansion of the police and the different tasks of the police.
The delegation from Cabarete also mentioned the complicated traffic situation in this seaside resort. A solution must be found for the traffic problems urgently. There was talk of a bypass road and the construction of a boulevard as a solution to this problem. A committee of experts will try to tackle the problem.
Last point of discussion, the necessity of a good public hospital for Sos?a and surroundings. According to some participants, the construction of a hospital is already included in the budget of the central government for next year. If president Danilo Medina makes a promise then he fulfils it, Alberto Hidalgo said firmly. In the coming months, another meeting will be held to discuss the progress of all actions and plan new actions.
Last Thursday afternoon, November 21, representatives of businesses (restaurants, bars and hotels) and civil society organizations (association of hotels and restaurants in Sos?a and Cabarete and Office of Tourism) met at the Town Hall of Sos?a. The theme was, what to do with the decline of tourism on the north coast, and then in particular Puerto Plata, Sos?a and Cabarete. The editors of Sos?a-News spoke to Alberto Hidalgo, owner of restaurant Alberto and Wolfgang Sch?nner, co-owner of the restaurant Schnitzel Paradise on the importance of this meeting. Both had been present at this meeting. Both Wolfgang and Alberto were delighted to see that all entrepreneurs of Sos?a and Cabarete were finally willing to work together to defend their interests. Alberto told that there was a preliminary inventory of the worst problems that entrepreneurs have to cope with.
First problem is the high energy bill. EDENORTE, the electricity supplier is the most expensive of the entire Caribbean. How can Sos?a and Cabarete compete with other resorts in the Caribbean when this causes higher costs?
At the meeting it was decided that a delegation will negotiate with EDENORTE for lower energy prices.
As a second point, the high landing rights Gregorio Luper?n International Airport (Puerto Plata) asks airlines was mentioned. The airport of Puerto Plata, according to Alberto, is 30% more expensive than Punta Cana, Saman? and Santiago. During the meeting it was decided to invite representatives from various airports and orientate on tariffs.
The third key point (according to Alberto) was the theme of safety and corruption. The president has already announced that next year the salaries of police, soldiers and teachers will be increased significantly. If you underpay police you create corruption, which is well known. A delegation of this meeting will start talks with the minister in the capital on the expansion of the police and the different tasks of the police.
The delegation from Cabarete also mentioned the complicated traffic situation in this seaside resort. A solution must be found for the traffic problems urgently. There was talk of a bypass road and the construction of a boulevard as a solution to this problem. A committee of experts will try to tackle the problem.
Last point of discussion, the necessity of a good public hospital for Sos?a and surroundings. According to some participants, the construction of a hospital is already included in the budget of the central government for next year. If president Danilo Medina makes a promise then he fulfils it, Alberto Hidalgo said firmly. In the coming months, another meeting will be held to discuss the progress of all actions and plan new actions.
