The National Hotels & Restaurants Association (Asonahores) held a working session last Thursday, 9 May at the Hotel Santo Domingo to formally present to the principal political parties its Guidelines for a Concerted Proposal for Sustaininable Tourist Development. Asonahores executives met with Jacinto Peynado, Dr Peña Gómez, and Dr Leonel Fernández.
At the event, it was stated that the next administration should create and implement, together with the Association, a consultancy group to come up with definitive tourist sector development strategies. It requested that the bill that favors municipalities and the Ministry of Tourism with part of the proceeds from the ad-valorem tax on occupied hotel rooms should be approved as soon as possible.
The Association seeks guidelines for the planning, execution, development, operation, classification and control of tourism projects. It also requests that tourism representatives sit on the boards of organizations whose decisions affect the sector, including the Monetary Board, the Airport Commission, and the Civil Aviation Board.
Furthermore, Asonahores would like the new authorities to restructure the Ministry of Tourism, modifying Law 541, and that the Ministry be provided with resources that will enable it to carry out its responsibilities. It also says that the Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial, which organizes the national territory area and provides guidelines for the development of tourism projects, and is sponsored by the Interamerican Development Bank, should be implemented.
The improvement of basic public services is considered a priority.
Also on the agenda of priorities is the inclusion of the Dominican Republic into regional schemes that will facilitate the country’s participation in programs and initiatives, particularly in the area of trade promotion. It also calls for a strengthening of the country’s own institutional promotion.
Asonahores is also supporting the establishment of a strategy to train personnel, as the country’s competitiveness is based on the production of its work force. Asonahores calls for the new authorities to strengthen technical programs in national education centers.
Also on the agenda is the advancement of professional and specialized policemen in the tourist zones, the establishment of standards and procedures that foster security in air transportation in general, and the need to continue the steps leading to Santo Domingo becoming a regular port of call for cruise ships and a venue for conventions.
Asonahores favors the existence of a free exchange rate system, that is transparent, flexible, and without distortions or penalties, and a fiscal policy that does not penalize the tourist industry with new taxes.