Govt.: 70,000 rooms ready to house twice the number of tourists

Santo Domingo.-Government communications director Roberto Rodriguez Marchena on Wednesday saidthe country has 70,000 hotel rooms poised to welcome twice the number of visitorsas last year.

He said the figure leddomestic producers to earn around US$500 million from the sale of vegetables,fruits, meats and other items consumed by the around five million tourists whovisited last year.

Speaking in theNational Palace, the official said construction companies and other sectors suchas cement makers, steel mills, and paint and textile companies also profitedfrom tourism´s impact.

Recently Hotels andRestaurants Association (ASONAHORES) vice president Arturo Villanueva said touristarrivals to the various destinations have increased during the three years of presidentDanilo Medina´s administration.

He said all the workswhich the hoteliers had demanded have been completed during the first two years."More than double the figures the Dominican Republic, is becoming the mostimportant destination in the region, as well as in infrastructure, according tothe World Tourism Organization."