National Hotel & Restaurant Association (Asonahores) vice president Arturo Villanueva, quoted in Hoy’s financial section, says that the authorities? refusal to accept Euros as payment for tourist cards at the country’s international airports is creating large delays. He called on the taxation authorities to review this rule, in view of the strength of the European currency, as well as the inconvenience caused to many European tourists who must stand in line to convert their Euros to US dollars after their long-haul flights. On a more positive note, Villanueva confirmed that tourism was up 15.4% in the first quarter of 2003, with the highest growth shown in areas such as Sos?a and Puerto Plata.