Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia has announced a restoration program for decaying buildings and the construction of new ones in Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone and the Malecon (George Washington Ave.) for these areas to recover their former levels of activity.
Garcia said that it is one of his priorities to return the historic center to “all its splendor and beauty and show the world that we are the owners of the most beautiful Colonial Zone in Latin America.”
Talking to reporters from Hoy, Garcia said that this part of the capital city is one of the favorite points of interest for tourists who are attracted by its architectural treasures, its monuments, its cafes and restaurants as well as the good service.
Garcia said that the Malecon would undergo a renewal program to restore some of the sites and attractions along the avenue that borders the capital’s Caribbean coast. The minister said that tourism is the most attractive part of the economy because of its earning power and the legal guarantees given to investors at the signing of the DR-CAFTA agreement.
Minister Garcia said that the government has defined 2009 as the “year of great achievements for tourism” with investments worth over RD$10 billion for new projects and promotion efforts.