The Director General of the ITB in Berlin, site of the world’s most important annual tourism event, praised the Dominican Republic’s efficient strategy of diversification, promotion and infrastructure building. “We applaud the diversification strategy coupled with the ongoing infrastructure development being put into place in a realistic, brave and visionary manner,” by the Dominican Secretary of State for Tourism (SECTUR), said David Ruetz in his speech at the inauguration of the 20th Annual Caribbean Tourism Exchange.

We applaud the diversification strategy coupled with the ongoing infrastructure development being put into place in a realistic, brave and visionary manner,”

Through the Executive Committee of Infrastructure for Tourism Areas (CEIZTUR) – without including other state institutions such as Public Works – they are responsible for building roads and other infrastructure projects worth nearly RD$3 billion pesos in tourism areas around the country, according to a SECTUR press release.

Ruetz, who presides over the prestigious company, Messe Berlin, added that “to harvest the fruit of these investments, there is one possibility: continue with the same strategy,” in that, he pointed out “any new direction will be counterproductive or even fatal, as has been demonstrated, for the potential of tourism.”

President of the BTC (Caribbean Tourism Exchange), Luis Felipe Aquino, stressed that ongoing projects will have an enormous impact in the capital, including the Cruise Ship Terminal, the Santo Domingo Metro, the remodeling of the Malecon and nearby parks and plazas (to be implemented by the Town Council of the capital) as well as the Convention Center. A feasibility study for the latter will begin next month.

These construction projects are changing “the urban landscape of the city, making it not just a business destination but also a cultural and cruise ship stop” with excellent perspective, said Mr. Aquino who is also the Secretary of the Confederation of Latin American Tourism Organizations (COTAL).

The main speech of the night was given by Tourism Minister Félix Jiménez who pointed to the country’s nearly $400 million US dollar investment in the Santo Domingo Port which, in addition to a new terminal, also includes the building of hotels, a marina, shopping malls and other attractions.

He referred to the important role the BTC has played in diversifying and increasing the tourism market in the Dominican Republic, above all, from countries such as Ecuador y Peru.

The inauguration was attended by hundreds of people connected to the tourism industry, delegations from various countries and members of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited in the country.

The annual BTC meeting, which ends on Wednesday, took place in the Jaragua Hotel & Casino of Santo Domingo. This edition of the meeting looked closely at the specialized areas of cruise ships and tourism package deals as well as conducted conferences and seminars directed toward tourism and hotel sectors. Travel agents and tour operators from Central and South America and the Caribbean participated. The principal objective of the BTC includes the promotion and expansion of tourism companies and regional travel businesses with tour operators from around the world.

The table of honor was presided over by Eduardo Reple, General Manager of the Hotel Renaissance Jaragua; Luisa María de Aquino, Executive Director of the BTC ; Roberto Henríquez, President of the Association of Hotels of Santo Domingo; Carlos González, Commercial Director of Pro Export of Colombia and Luis Callejón, Director of the Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions Costa del Sol Torremolinos, in Málaga. The moderator of the lively activity was the animator Rodolfo Espinal.

David Ruetz, Félix Jiménez and Luis Felipe Aquin