DR Will Show its Potential at “Tourism Showroom” in Colombia

The Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) is leading the delegation that will represent the Dominican Republic at the XVIII International Tourism Fair organized by the Colombian Association of Trips and Tourism (ANATO). The Fair ends on February 27th.

Colombia is currently an important tourism market in South America for the Dominican Republic. A total of 35,777 Colombian tourists visited our country in 2008.

The event, promoted in Colombia as the “Tourism Showroom,” is being held in the Corferiasa International Business and Exhibition Center. Representatives from travel agencies, wholesalers, hotels, airline companies, tour operators, national and international tourism offices and tourism providers are gathering here, according to the Press and Communications Office of SECTUR.

Cuba is this year’s special guest at event which also includes the presence of important Colombian and international investors and numerous media outlets.

René Contreras, Director of the Dominican Tourism Promotion Office (OPT) in Colombia, and Miguelina Ruiz, OPT Supervisor for South American offices, will hold meetings throughout the Fair with executives from tour operators, travel agencies and airline companies with whom they will work to plan travel opportunities for 2009.

The SECTUR executives’ business meetings include appointments with tour operators Los Nómadas and Turivel with whom they will discuss the 2009 schedule of charter flights from Colombia to Punta Cana. They will also meet with SIC-Solways Tour operators from Colombia, Kis-Solways from Peru and Fourth Dimension from Bolivia.

They intend to get together with Viamerica, Maxitravel, Hemisferios and Kentour from Ecuador to discuss charter flights to Punta Cana, La Romana and Puerto Plata.

Meetings with executives from Copa, American and Avianca airlines are also scheduled.

On February 27, the Dominican tourism representatives in Colombia will participate with the Embassy and Consulate to commemorate this nation’s National Independence Day by laying a floral wreath at the School for Cadets.

Colombia is currently an important tourism market in South America for the Dominican Republic. A total of 35,777 Colombian tourists visited our country in 2008.

René Contreras, OPT Director in Colombia