Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia is forecasting an 8% increase in tourism to the Dominican Republic in 2014. During a speech yesterday, Wednesday 26 March during the opening ceremony of the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) in Punta Cana, organized by the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores), the minister said that 2014 had got off to a great start. He forecast an “extraordinary” year for the industry. Garcia attributed part of this success to the Ministry of Tourism’s advertising campaign overseas.