Miriam Cruz, the country’s leading female Merengue star, has offered to perform for free at all the tourist trade fairs the country participates in 1996. Minister of Tourism, Frank Jorge Elías made the announcement with Miriam Cruz during a press conference held last week. She said she will be doing so, because she is attracted by the outstanding efforts by the Minister to project the Dominican Republic as a premier tourist destination abroad. She is also offering, free of cost, the use of her television program, which is broadcast to 18 countries by Cadena Sur, for promotions on the Dominican Republic. The first of her international performances iwth the Ministry of Tourism will be at the important Spanish tourist trade show of Fitur that will be held in January in Madrid.