A follow-up meeting between President Leonel Fernandez and the hotel and tourism sector yielded some favorable results yesterday. President Fernandez indicated that he had ordered infrastructure projects for more than US$500 million to be carried out in the east and another US$100 million in projects for the north coast. According to Hoy, the two-hour meeting served to reinforce the President’s support for the initiatives started by ASONAHORES and the “Tourism Cabinet”, aimed at preventing the deterioration of the country’s ability to attract tourists. The meeting, that took place at the Presidential Palace, also included issues relating to immigration, health and infrastructure and their relation to tourism. The different projects will be financed by the US$10 entry and exit tax on passengers coming to the Dominican Republic as from 1 November this year. Ministers from Public Works, Tourism, Culture and Public Health attended the meeting along with the head of the Potable Water Institute (INAPA) and representatives from the Ministry of the Environment. A special meeting will be held with representatives of the Punta Cana-Bavaro hotels, which will deal with the means of reducing or removing the slums that have sprung up in much of the surrounding area. A plan to improve the quality of life for the local inhabitants is also on the table. One of the key points of the meeting was the Minister of Public Health’s presentation about the steps to be taken to avoid the propagation of diseases in the tourist areas.