The Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores) told reporters that if the proposed decree that would increase the cost of port facilities for the cruisers were to be passed, these ships and their thousands of passengers would abandon Dominican ports-of-call. Arturo Villanueva, the executive vice-president of Asonahores, pointed out that the decree proposed by the Dominican Port Authority will impose a US$4.00 tax on each passenger that arrives aboard a cruise liner. Villanueva told reporters from Hoy that President Fernandez must review the proposal very carefully, since the suspension of the Dominican Republic as a port-of-call for the cruise ships would mean the loss of a huge amount of money that the tourists spend during their hours on shore. The decree would also affect the sports fishing and yachting industry that is currently constructing modern facilities for these activities and attempting to get the private boat owners to use Dominican waters and harbor facilities as part of their lifestyle. Marinas at Punta Cana, Samana, La Romana and Luperon would be affected by the measure. Villanueva asked the rhetorical question, “How much would these facilities be worth if the yachting and sports fishing people abandon Dominican waters?” He pointed out that in La Romana alone the investment in the marina surpasses US$25 million.