The Ministry of Tourism and its Chicago Tourism Office is working hard to lure more tourists from the Midwest and the West of the US to the DR. Patricia Perez, director of the Chicago office, said staff members have been visiting travel businesses in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin to promote travel to the DR. Likewise, the effort targets potential tourists that live in Indianapolis, Seattle, Portland, Detroit, Minneapolis and St. Louis.
The focus is on telling the tourists and educating the travel agents and tour operators about the less popular destinations, such as Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo and La Romana, while seeking to maintain the interest in stronger destinations, such as Punta Cana.
The Chicago tourism office has participated in the touring Chicago Tribune’s Adventures in Travel Expo and its five presentations targeting travel agents in Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Seattle. Also at 11 special travel events for corporations, incentive groups and travel agency reps in Chicago, as well as the visits to tour operators and airlines.
Perez said the DR will be present at the Incentive Travel and Meeting Executives Show (IT&ME) that opens 23 September in Chicago.
“Chicago is a winter market, so we will intensify our promotional efforts in the second half of the year,” said Perez.