The president of the National Hotel and Restaurant Association (ASONAHORES), lawyer Enrique de Marchena Kaluche, told reporters at the Presidential Palace that his group was nearing an agreement with the government regarding the current tax reform proposals now in the Chamber of Deputies. De Marchena said that he had spoken with the three major political parties and the government regarding ASONAHORES’ position on the taxes. According to de Marchena, all three parties agree that tourism is the main pillar of the Dominican economy and that it is important to maintain earnings and competitiveness. Marchena made his comments after a meeting with Presidential Minister Danilo Medina. He said that the government and the private sector are in agreement that the DR needs to attract those tourists that would normally visit Cancun and the Maya Riviera that were so devastated by Hurricane Wilma, and make greater efforts to attract more tourists from Canada and the United States.