US consulting firms propose that the north coast be promoted as one single region from as far west as Luperon and La Isabela, to as far east as Playa Grande. Ernest & Young and Young & Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell tourism consulting firm, assisted by Chemonics International suggest the integrating of all the north coast destinations to promote the union as one destination. Ellis Perez, a former minister of Tourism, also participated in his role as tourism advisor to the government.
The competitiveness initiative is part of a US AID project that seeks to identify areas that could lead to a more competitive Dominican economy.
The study focuses also on the importance of a convention center for the north coast, improving north coast transportation among the individual destinations, increased use of the Internet and the need for a national airline that would support the linking of the north coast with key destinations in the United States. For more information on the study, contact Hans Dannenberg at the Puerto Plata Hotel Association at
hdannenberg@hotmail.com