Last week, the Ministry of Tourism released its publication “Turismo en cifras,” a statistical review of the industry. It contains figures on the sector from 1980 to 1996. In his introduction, the Minister of Tourism Frank Jorge Elias said that hotel rooms have grown with the increase of tourists. In 1980, there were 5,394; in 1985, 8,562; in 1990, 19,043 , and by the end of 1995, there were 32,475, more than any other Caribbean destination.
The publication also reveals that occupancy at hotels has remained stable throughout the years. He says it was 70% in 1992; a year later, it had increased to 76%. In 1994, it dropped back to 72%; then up to 75% in 1995, and 77% for the first five months of this year.
Frank Jorge Elias pointed out that in 1980 the hotel industry had created an estimated 20,388 direct jobs, and that they had increased to 43,971 by 1995, with another 109,927 indirectly occupied.
In his presentation of the report, Mr Frank Jorge Elias mentioned several of the goals achieved by the Ministry in the two years while he has been at its helm, including the improvement of services following the classification of tourist establishments, territorial reordering and the application of policies for environmental protection in tourist areas.
Jorge Elias also mentioned the opening of tourism promotion offices in the D.R.’s towns and cities, including Baní, Pedernales, Barahona, and Boca Chica, and others in Germany, Russia, France and Mexico, as well the strengthening of already existing offices.