The vice president of Asonahores, Johnny Bernal, said the higher cost of airfares is one of the reasons for the lull in European travel to the DR. European travel only two years ago was 65% of total travelers. Bernal explained that European travel fell due to the slowdown in the European economy, the declining value of the Euro and the high cost of petrol. He said Europeans are traveling to closer destinations, and as a result Dominican hoteliers are trying to attract tourists from neighboring countries like the US, Canada and the Caribbean. Pedro Dajer, International Markets director for the Ministry of Tourism, said that efforts to the effect have been successful. He said that during the first four months of 2001, US travel grew to 45% of the total, while European travel was 44% of the total. (13 June 2001)
