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S<\/SPAN>peaking in Pedernales, Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garc\u00eda Fern\u00e1ndez said the time has come for the southern part of the country to develop its tourism potential and that his goal is to turn this region into the fourth tourism area of the country. He stressed, however, that this must be done in a way that is sustainable and in harmony with the region\u00b4s environment. <\/P> “The moment has come to give this part of the country the opportunity to begin its development. We are going to enter the South full speed ahead and we\u00b4re not going to be deterred,\u00a8 <\/P> In a meeting with authorities and organizations from civil society, Minister Fern\u00e1ndez said that Pedernales has impressive touristic biodiversity which will complement, along with Barahona, the other provinces in the region of Enriquillo, the type of tourism being sought by visitors from abroad, according to the Office of Press and Communications. <\/P> “The moment has come to give this part of the country the opportunity to begin its development. We are going to enter the South full speed ahead and we\u00b4re not going to be deterred,\u00a8 said Fern\u00e1ndez who added that developing the south will improve the general tourism situation in the DR because of the region\u00b4s lush atmosphere and unique natural resources. <\/P> “Not everyone likes to spend all their vacation time at the beach. Tourists are demanding other types of destinations and offerings which is precisely what the Southern part of the country has to offer,\u201d he said. <\/P> “We at the Tourism Ministry have taken a firm and conscious decision that the South\u00b4s time for tourism development has finally arrived,\u201d he added. He continued to explain how this development would be different and how it would focus on alleviating rather than creating pockets of poverty; it will be ecological in that it will safeguard its areas and it will be a tourism project with significant investment and excellent quality of work. <\/P> He said the Southern coast was blessed by God, pointing to the region\u2019s beautiful beaches, natural parks like Bahoruco and Jaragua as well as its lush landscapes and attractions that will add to and complement tourism in the North, East and Northeast. <\/P> “In the South, there are conditions for sustainable, conservational and adventure tourism development. Tourism in this area is not like other areas such as Punta Cana, B\u00e1varo, Puerto Plata, Saman\u00e1 and Las Terrenas. This area offers a different type of tourism where we have lakes, rivers, endemic species, exotic animals and, best of all, the people of the area: southerners are not at all timid and this is what visitors enjoy, hospitality,\u201d said the Minister. <\/P> After highlighting the Southern region\u2019s numerous qualities, Garc\u00eda Fern\u00e1ndez said \u201cwe need to take a decision. The Tourism Ministry cannot push this on its own; we need you to work with us.\u201d <\/P> To begin tourism development in Pedernales, he designated the architect Maribel Villalona, Director of the Planning and Projects Department (DPP), to be the link between the Tourism Ministery (SECTUR) and the eco-tourism clusters of Barahona, Pedernales, the hotels, the authorities and social organizations in designing the master plan for the development of the potential tourism of the Southern region. <\/P> He also proposed that the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (ANONAHORES) offer its expertise in tourism development. He promised to hire the best technicians and professionals in eco-tourism from Costa Rica. This Central American country is recognized around the world as a model for its successful implementation and development of eco-tourism. <\/P> He added that no one, not even those who live there, are aware of the potential of Padernales. People always talk about Bah\u00eda de las \u00c1guilas but there is extraordinary potential in this area that needs to be developed so that the eyes of the world will begin to see what is happening in this part of the country. <\/P> “We are going to sell Barahona and Pedernales at the national and international tourism trade fairs so that tourists will begin their exploration routes through this part of the Dominican Republic. We have the most important element for success when developing a tourism area: a good highway,\u201d he explained. <\/P> He reiterated that SECTUR is prepared to work for the promotion of tourism in this area and that it considers this activity to be the starting point of elimination of poverty in the South. <\/P> “This region needs a healthy push, one that will move it toward development and that will help the local people develop without having to leave their towns,\u201d he said. <\/P> He said it is also necessary that Pedernales resolves it problem of land registration. \u201cThis issue has to be dealt with. I do not fear that tourism development will create any difficulties nor that it will harm the environment nor the delimited areas. There are conditions for designing a development plan without difficulty. No one is suggesting that the protected areas will be touched. What we need to do is take the first step.\u201d <\/P> The Encounter<\/STRONG> <\/P> The encounter was headed by the Tourism office of the Pedernales province. Others at the meeting were Governor Francisco Jim\u00e9nez Sena; Senator Dionis S\u00e1nchez; Deputy Tati Matos; the Parish priest, Antonio Fern\u00e1ndez; and the president of the Eco-tourism Cluster, Marino Ponceti, among important people from the province. <\/P> Others at the meeting included Haydee Kuret de Rainieri, president of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (ANONAHORES); Frank Rainieri of the Punta Cana Group; Abraham Selman of Puerto Plata Village and Juan Manuel Mart\u00edn de Oliva, vice president of the Dominican Banco Popular for the Tourism Sector. <\/P> Official representation included Gabriel Rodr\u00edguez, assistant to the Minister; deputy tourism ministers C\u00e9sar Jos\u00e9 de los Santos and Jos\u00e9 Santana, responsible for the Northern and Southern regions of the country, respectively, and Maribel Villalona, Director of the DPP. <\/P> <\/P>
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