SANTO DOMINGO.- In what was described as a “historic” step to consolidate the country’s tourism industry, the government and the hoteliers announced a joint effort to classify the hundreds of lodgings and resorts, and coincides with more positive figures in occupancy and tourist arrivals released today.

Tourism minister Felix Jimenez, in a press conference this morning, said the implementation of the National Hotels Classification System (SNCH) was begun to establish standards of quality, and “optimize the international positioning of the Dominican tourism industry.” He said although a first classification took place in 1991, the one announced today applies wider criteria.

Accompanied by industry leaders grouped in the National Hotels and Restaurants Association (Asonahores) in the Hotel El Embajador, the official said the Spanish company ECA-Instituto de Calidad, was contracted via tender to design and apply the hotel classification system, at a cost of US$381,353, with partial funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). He said the National Competitiveness Council in addition to Tourism and Asonahores take part in the classification.

Tourism deputy minister Radhames Martinez Aponte, who heads the effort to classify the hotels, said it would be a topic debated among the industry representatives, to reach a consensus.

He said the evaluations- to take 250 days and cover that same number of hotels- include the installations for guests such as size, the availability of amenities such as pools and other facilities, and their environmental sustainability. “Now investors have a guide to design and build hotels, it’s a historic moment for the Dominican hotel business.”

The figures of "a very good winter"

Today the Central Bank posted the figures for tourist arrivals to the country, with a growth of more than 5 percent in non-resident arrivals, whereas the Punta Cana International Airport continues as the country’s busiest terminal, with 53 percent of the passenger traffic.

Asonahores president Luis Lopez also said hotel occupancy currently averages 95 percent, which makes this “a very good winter for Dominican tourism.”