The government has committed another US$53 million to promote tourism in the DR. But tourism officials are still waiting for the first US$25 million that was promised. The president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, Ramón Prieto, says it’s a great idea to promote the country abroad, but the DR is already weeks behind other Caribbean countries in promoting itself as a winter alternative destination. He says if the promised funding doesn’t arrive soon, it will diminish the number of tourists we can expect this season. The newly-passed law will ear mark all airport taxes and all revenues from the $10 tourist cards purchased by travelers coming into the country to go to the Tourism Department. (12 October 2001)
