2001 Travel News ArchiveTravel

Newspaper requests help for tourism workers

An editorial in El Siglo newspaper today is calling for a special emergency fund to help employees in the tourism sector who have been laid off due to fewer tourists arriving in the country. It says the fund should pay 50% of their salaries while laid off until at least next March or April. This is in light of reports saying demand for air transportation and tourist services could drop more than 10 per cent globally due to the recession which was aggravated by the events of September 11 and the aftermath.
The editorial also suggests commercial banks declare a moratorium on interest and capital payments for six months for the hospitality sector. It goes on to say that these measures would have a more positive effect on the Dominican economy than the money being spent on Plan Renove or the purchase of planes for the Air Force. (18 October 2001)