Felix Felipe, who oversees the Barceló group operation in the DR, forecast in an interview in "En Sociedad" magazine in Hoy newspaper that by year 2004, the DR will be receiving six million visitors per year. He estimates that in 20 years, some 50 million tourists per year should be booking Dominican holidays. Today there are an estimated 50,000 hotel rooms in the DR and the country will receive near three million tourists this year. Barceló, a Spanish hotel chain, was the first Spanish group to invest in Bávaro along the East Coast starting in 1983. The area has boomed to become the fastest growing and largest destination within the DR, with about 17,000 hotel rooms in around 10 years. "People can’t imagine what this country is going to be in seven or eight years," says Felipe, speaking from the experience of a hotelier who saw Canary Islands grow in Spain. "Dominican tourism is a baby yet," he explains. "The party has just started." Barceló operates 14 hotels in the DR. While most of its hotels are concentrated in the Punta Cana-Bavaro area, it also owns or operates properties in Juan Dolio, Santo Domingo, La Romana, Barahona and Puerto Plata. Under his direction, the hotel chain is now expanding into theme-oriented hotels. He says they are promoting golf, gambling and soon spa-type vacations. He also said that the Convention Palace the company is building in Bavaro will be the largest in the Caribbean. It will have capacity for 2,400 people in its main hall, and two additional halls with capacity for 900 and 600 persons. It will also offer 40 small halls. The 3,500 square meter construction is scheduled to open in early 2001. (13 October 2000)
