Minister of Tourism Ramón Alfredo Bordas said that he has given instructions to prohibit handicraft, excursion and time-share vendors from peddling their services and products to tourists taking the sun on beaches. He made the announcement at the American Chamber of Commerce Puerto Plata chapter luncheon held at the Hotel Playa Naco in Puerto Plata, as reported by El Siglo newspaper. He was the keynote speaker at the luncheon. He explained that surveys show the tourists are very critical about being bothered on the beach by the vendors. He said his department has put together a project to organize and control the vendors. "We have started with the eastern beaches, where the presence of vendors is now banned as a first step to putting a stop to this problem," said Bordas. He said the Ministry has plans to build several arts and craft centers in tourism destinations, such as those that exist in other areas where the tourists go to the centers that are located off the beaches to purchase crafts. He also announced that hotels that sell time-share type vacations will have to create special areas where their vendors will be located so that these do not pester the tourists while they are resting or bathing in the beaches. "With these measures we want to avoid that the tourists feel overwhelmed and harassed by the vendors. Once the vendors are relocated to the arts and crafts centers and other goods and products services centers, vendors will be restricted to only offering their services there, he said. Bordas also announced that President Mejía has authorized increasing the number of Tourist Police (Politur) from 170 at present to 500. Tourist police need to have at least a high school educational level. (19 October 2000)
