Adan Martin, president of the Canary Islands, visited with a business mission from Baleares and Palma de Mallorca to meet with President Leonel Fernandez and tourism sector entrepreneurs. The Canary Islands government mission is also seeking to encourage their countrymen that have made investments in the DR to not make mistakes similar to those made in Baleares and Palma de Mallorca. Canary Islands investment makes up the largest segment of Spanish investment in tourism in the DR.
During their visit, the group presented the findings of the Strategic Guidelines for the Tourism Development of the Dominican Republic carried out by consultants Antoni Munar, Ana Celia Parras, Mercedes Gil and J.Luis Ruiz Collado, sponsored by Bancaja of Spain and Popular financial group in the Dominican Republic. The study was prepared following a meeting of President Leonel Fernandez with the owners of hotels in Spain last year.
According to Munar, the country’s good weather, clean and safe beaches, its historical identity, the varied range of accommodation, good quality/price ratio and the hospitable nature of its people, strengthen the DR as a tourist destination when compared to its competitors. El Caribe refers to statements by Antonio Munar who warned authorities about citizen insecurity in some areas, as well as inadequate road infrastructure, the lack of territorial planning, low level of professional training, the lack of complementary offers and tax increases. He believes that with attention to these factors and excluding extreme exchange rate fluctuations or uncontrolled epidemics, the affluence of international demand for DR tourism offer will be guaranteed.
Munar identifies the DR’s three main competitors as Quintana Roo (Mexican Caribbean), Cuba and Jamaica. Of these, Quintana Roo is the strongest as it is ahead of the DR in almost all aspects with the exception of income. Quintana Roo’s success, according to Munar, is based on a low tax burden, low operating costs, investment in promotion and flexible and well-trained human resources.
Munar called for “fewer beds and more development,” warning of the price wars that forecasted the growth of 80,000 rooms by 2010 could mean for the country. The Spaniards favor the construction of upscale hotel properties. “More than the number of visitors the country should be interested in increased possible spending per client. The ideal would be to seek maximum income for minimum use of resources and deterioration of infrastructure,” states the study in its conclusions.
The Spanish group, nevertheless, spoke up in favor of the development of Bahia de las Aguilas, in the Jaragua National Park, saying that their team had collaborated in the planning of the new area whose development is supported by the Ministry of Tourism but has met opposition from others in the tourism sector, the Ministry of Environment and environmental campaigners.
For notes on highlights of the study, see Canaries study