Speaking at the Fodatur 2012 Forum yesterday, Thursday 1 November, Presidential tourism advisor Francisco Carreras said that 238,000 cruise ship passengers visited the DR in the past year, when the projection had been for 600,000. He said that the sector was experiencing a steep decline and that more work is needed in the communities in order to create more variety of excursions. He concluded by stressing the importance of maintaining existing ports and constructing new ones.