A report in Hoy by Soila Paniagua indicates that the Ministry of Tourism received only 10 % of the budget it was allotted in the National Budget for 1995. The report says that of the RD$115 million assigned to the Ministry, it only received RD$14 million, and that was barely enough to pay for salaries and other basic expenditure. The report points out that to promote the nation abroad, the country has depended on private funding and the good relations and creativity of its Minister of Tourism, Frank Jorge Elías, who tourist entrepreneurs are calling “the genius” because of his achievements in promoting the country abroad with practically no government funding. In 1994, some 1,766,857 visitors arrived generating income of US$1,147.5 million, and an increase of 25% is expected for 1995.