The president of the Association of Hotels of Santo Domingo, Roberto Henriquez feels the city should include in its packages visits to the beaches in Boca Chica and Juan Dolio, about half an hour from the city. This way, beach-seeking tourists could consider staying longer in Santo Domingo.
Roberto Henriquez, interviewed by El Caribe newspaper on occasion of the opening of the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange 2005 highlighted the attractiveness of the Malecon, the colonial city, museums and monuments in the city. He blasted the government that is backing the construction of an artificial island in front of Santo Domingo. “We, the hoteliers, consider that the artificial island is a grand absurdity. It would be taking the personality from the Dominican people. In this country there is enough land to exploit. We do not see favorably to make such a large investment ? US$400 to US$450 million), even if it is a private one. The biggest losers will be the Dominican people that will lose their view to the sea,” he stated in the interview.
He said that the project has not been officially presented to them, nor have they been consulted. He feels the opinions of the Santo Domingo Hotel Association and the National Association of Hotels & Restaurants should be taken into consideration.
“The island is an aberration. Imagine that buildings would cover up the view of the tourists staying at the six hotels on the Malecon,” he explained. He added it would take away the sense of all the celebrations that are held on the Malecon.
He said that priority should be given to the restructuring of traffic on the waterfront, security, reordering the Malecon and illuminating it.
He said he favors the improvements in the area of the marina, explaining that the marina is already there and is not an aggressive change of nature.