Dominican Republic diversifies its tourist offer

The Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), the Institute of Technical Professional Training (INFOTEP), the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPYD), and the Japan International Agency (JICA), presented some community groups that, for years, have worked to create an authentic and local proposal with quality standards under the framework of the Sustainable Community Tourism Project at Discover MarketPlace 2018.

The initiative that responds to a strategy of diversification of the national tourist offer, responds to trends in international markets that seek more action, more cultural contacts and adventures in the destination; which in turn contributes to local economic development.

The event served to present the effort and achievements of the development and implementation of the project in the provinces of the Northwest Line, the routes and circuits created in addition to seeing the progress of the Productive Units (UPs) of the Cibao-Norte which shows that all this it will add value to the region and that tourism in the area is and will be more vast and richer than imagined.

Likewise, under the leadership of the Ministry of Tourism, this TCS Project is carried out in the 14 Provinces of CIBAO, allowing this modality of tourism to be positioned as part of the country's current offer by 2021.

Today, the Community Tourism Project (TCS) is executed with the aim of supporting the articulation and consolidation of the attractions found throughout the CIBAO Region by applying a "regional tourist destination" approach, with products, specialized routes and circuits created under the criteria of competitiveness and sustainability.

As indicated in the statement of the exponents at the press conference, "studies of the World Labor Organization (WTO) indicate that the 21st century tourist will seek more integrated experiences with communities around the resource to be visited and that for this reason, it is necessary to continue adding value to the success of Dominican tourism to maintain leadership in the Caribbean region. "

The Project originated in the National Development Strategy by 2030, and the Central Government's goals of attracting 10 million tourists by 2020 and that this dynamic will benefit the Dominican population even more.

The act of presentation of the Project concluded with the presentation of "Música Dominicana" a tourist-cultural offer of the UMPC Guananico Productive Unit that identifies the essence of our merengue was declared as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2016.

About the Sustainable Community Tourism Project (TCS)
The Project for the Strengthening of the Mechanism of Development of Sustainable Tourism based on the Community in the North Region, aims to articulate and consolidate the community tourist attractions that are scattered in the North Region, applying a "Regional Tourist Destination" approach, with the intention to create and sell the attractions of the North Region.
The objective of the project is to strengthen the capacities and coordination mechanisms for the facilitation of the development of Sustainable Community Tourism (TCS) with public-private participation in the North Region. The areas of execution of this project are the 14 provinces of the Northern Region, among them: Puerto Plata, Santiago, Espaillat, Montecristi, Santiago Rodriguez, Dajabón, Valverde, La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, María Trinidad Sánchez, Hermanas Mirabal, Duarte, Sánchez Ramírez and Samaná.

Considering the Framework of the National Development Strategy 2030, the objectives of Promotion of Sustainable Community Tourism in the Dominican Republic are: First, the diversification of Sustainable Tourism offers; second, the increase of economic and social benefit of the communities and third, the empowerment of the communities.

The vision of this project is to position the Cibao Region (North) as a destination for Sustainable Community Tourism, differentiated with other destinations in the country, with a solid offer and quality where communities are organized, committed and prepared for the management of cultural heritage and natural, with established support policies, for its incursion into the diversified and sustainable tourism offer of the Dominican Republic.

The executing institutions of this project are: the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPYD), the National Institute for Technical Professional Training (INFOTEP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).