Arturo Villanueva, executive vice president of the National Hotel & Restaurant Association, said that the Municipality of Santo Domingo is wrong when it attempts to collect an additional 10% tax to hotels catering to tourists. He said that hotels already pay 23% in taxes. He said that by law the 10% tax is to be levied only on motels catering to romantic outings, and not on tourist hotels. The Municipality of Santo Domingo says that hotels in the National District owe it RD$400 million for the concept. Asonahores said that every time there is a new Mayor the 10% tax issue is brought back until it is proven that the tax cannot be levied on tourist hotels. (1 March 2000)
