Promoting the Dominican Republic through one of its most exotic and sought-after exports, cacao, is what the Tourism Ministry is doing in Italy where the market is replete with many a sensitive palate to the final product: chocolate.

“The Dominican Republic is a fascinating place and rich in emotions,” says Neyda García, Director of the Dominican Tourism Promotion Office (OPT) in Italy.

This is the novel tactic developed by the Dominican Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) and the Italian Association of Chocolate Lovers (Chococlub) to boost the already growing interest Italians have developed for visiting the Dominican Republic.

Through this alliance with Chococlub, tastings are being organized “to familiarize people with the tourist attractions of the Dominican Republic, its landscapes and, above all, its people.

“The Dominican Republic is a fascinating place and rich in emotions,” says Neyda García, Director of the Dominican Tourism Promotion Office (OPT) in Italy.

García said that during the presentations, an experienced Chococlub guide “introduces people to our country through images, history and the growing and harvesting techniques for cacao, an emblematic product of our agriculture.”

Davide Ferrero, President of Chococlub, added that “It is not about a simple guided chocolate tasting but rather a complete sensory experience of images, objects, sounds, perfumes and tastes,” in which “the participants discover the Dominican Republic, its people, its customs, its use of cacao.”

A Chococlub participant touches a piece of chocolate made from Dominican cacao.