Both private sector and government spokesman for tourism believe 1995 was the best year ever for the Dominican tourist industry. The Minister for Tourism, Frank Jorge Elías told the newspaper Hoy that in 1995 the tourist industry consolidated its role as the sector that generates the most hard currency. He said that foreign visitors were up by 12%, with 2,172,8000 tourists, up from 1,940,000 in 1994. He said that the fact that some 100,000 visitors came on board cruise ships contributed to the overall total. He said the return of the cruise ships was made possible due to efforts of the Dominican Port Authority and the Navy in dredging the harbors.
Mr Frank Jorge Elías has also gone on record as voicing his strong support for the new airlines that have begun operating in the Dominican Republic. These include APA International, Air Ambar, Alas Nacionales, and Santo Domingo Airlines and Aerotour Dominicana, which have replaced the state-owned carrier Dominicana Airlines. Also contributing to the increase in 1995 was the arrival of Aeroflot from Russia and Trans World Airlines, from the United States.
President of the National Hotel Association, Frank Rainieri, said that the country still has to improve its electricity service, potable water and refuse collection to offer a better image. He said the old problems of a lack of international promotion, high taxes, and an absence of guarantees for the purchase of property for tourist projects and the institutional weakness of the Ministry of Tourism, are still areas that have to be resolved to achieve the consolidation of the sector.
Pedro Garrido, executive director of the Hotel Association, said that it is necessary to introduce facilities so that cruise ships can load fuel, water and food, and also dispose of their solid wastes and refuse in an ecologically intelligent way. He also said that efforts have to be made to create an awareness of the correct attitudes and approach required by street traders, taxi drivers and others that seek to be patronized by cruise ship passengers coming ashore to tour Santo Domingo.