During a meeting yesterday with the executives and editorial staff of the news daily El Siglo, Tourism Minister (and presidential candidate) Félix ("Felucho") Jiménez revealed that several national and international chains have formally indicated to the Fernández Administration their interest in building 1,000 hotel room facilities in Cabo Rojo zone of Pedernales. He mentioned by name only two: the Italian firm Viaggi di Ventaglio, which just built the Gran Dominicus complex in Bayahibe, and Frank Rainieri, who heads the Grupo Punta Cana. Several leading hoteliers have said that one of the problems affecting occupancy in the DR is that the rate of growth of the supply of rooms far outpaces the rate of growth of the demand.
