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Santo Domino.-  The new Minister of Tourism yesterday asked the media’s Tourism and Economy editors to have a clear direction to mend what needs to be fixed in the country, in order to increase the arrival of investors and visitors.

Francisco Garcia spoke about efforts to improve the competitiveness in the area of road infrastructure and said he has clear picture of "what has to be done" in the four years in the post.

As to tourist development of the South, the official said the region’s only guarantee is through tourism and even higher education, because when students finish high school they simply have to move to Santo Domingo or abroad to continue their studies or find work.

The country's south has a such tourism potential that if developed, he said, would have to bring people from other regions because those living there wouldnt be enough to work on the projects.

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COMMENTS
10 comment(s)
Written by: skysail, 11 Oct 2008 10:20 AM
From: Holy See (Vatican City)
Reduce or remove Taxes for the Airlines !!!!!
Written by: JimHarrington, 11 Oct 2008 11:08 AM
From: United States
Stop corruptioon at all levels.
Written by: buenoha, 11 Oct 2008 11:32 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
Please increase security and enhance mass public transportation (train/trams/metro's). Those two things would permit tourists to go around the country with relative ease and safety.
Written by: delante, 12 Oct 2008 4:44 PM
From: Netherlands
Sounds like tourism is the buzzword. How about computer software, finance.... Do you really want these herds of decadent tourists all over the country. Most of them do not even care about seeing and understanding your country. Staying put in a resort, drinking and eating themselves down and getting pampered is sufficient for the majority of tourists.

Mind you, tourism provides only low value jobs!
Written by: Matthew, 13 Oct 2008 5:32 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Delante, I belive that most tourist that stay on the east and north coasts at the "all inclusives" don't give a damn about this country, the ones that make it all the way out to Barahona and Eagle bay come to explore and enjoy the culture, at least that is what I have experienced. But tell me and my neighbors that tourism only provides low value jobs and I'm sure that we would all agree that it's better than no job!!!!
Written by: delante, 13 Oct 2008 8:58 AM
From: Netherlands
Yes Matthew, if you put it that way, then of course you are right. I feel on the otherhand that it should be a government effort to do some long term strategic thinking as well. In europe we have the example of spain which used to be booming and so much hotels and so on build for tourists until they decided to go to turkey and many buildings were never used.

And .... protect your RD nature for those who come for culture and nature and are willing to pay a premium price for it.
Written by: Matthew, 13 Oct 2008 9:17 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Well noted that the resource that draws the tourists to this area could very well be destroyed by facilitating their access. I sure don't want to see that happen. Eco all the way!
Written by: ahardedge, 13 Oct 2008 10:17 AM
From: Canada, Alberta
Delante, I belive that most tourist that stay on the east and north coasts at the "all inclusives" don't give a damn about this country......comments like this are just what you need to boost economy. I stay in the east when i come there. I dont just hang out at the resort. I have been to lots of different areas that tourist dont go to and i see all the garbage that is discard in ditches and in the bush that wasnt put there by any tourist...who dont care...really think about it.
Written by: delante, 13 Oct 2008 10:21 AM
From: Netherlands
Exactly Matthew, that is what is underneath my first comment... tourism can be devastating... in RD resorts have already monopolized many beach areas and converted them to tourist access only. In The Netherlands all beaches are public.

There are still many beautiful areas in RD, please have them protected and limit acccess in balance with nature. In the long run this will pay off.

I advocate priority on the digital highway to get information and eduction to the people all over the country, over real roads for transport. I do not mean either... or..., I mean right priority, right balance.

Small entrepreneurship will do more for RD and its people than becoming servants in resorts owned by foreign investors.
Written by: Matthew, 13 Oct 2008 10:55 AM
From: Dominican Republic
delante, AMEN!!!
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