In a press conference held yesterday, Tourism Secretary F?lix Jim?nez announced the signing of an agreement with the Spanish autonomous region of Andaluc?a to provide 200,000 European Currency Units (ECUs, a European monetary unit) – about US$240,000 at current exchange rates – to underwrite the preparation of a National Tourism Development Plan for the DR. Jim?nez noted that the last such comprehensive plan was produced in 1971 and is badly outdated. The idea behind such a Plan is to identify specific needs that could be fulfilled through investments or with foreign economic aid or technical assistance. Participating in the elaboration of the plan will be the DR’s National Association of Hotels and Restaurants and the Confederation of Andalucian Businessmen. The participation of Andalucian Government and business association is considered propitious by the Tourism Ministry (SECTUR), since Andaluc?a has become one of Europe’s most successful tourist destinations.
