A new edition of ASONAHORES DATE began

Paola Rainieri, president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES), reaffirmed at the opening ceremony of the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE), that this fair reflects the growth and maturity of the Dominican Republic as a tourist destination

In that sense, Rainieri mentioned that the year 2019 started well, at the same pace that marked the 2018 in which the growth of tourist arrivals exceeded 6%, and proposed to promote a regional alliance to increase tourist flows to the Caribbean.

The president of Asonahores, said that the twentieth edition of the fair, receives the 742 delegates (a record for this event), with good news, and cited that along with the growth of arrivals also grew the offer of rooms in a 6 %. The Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier García, was also present at the event. This ministry is the main sponsor of the meeting.

In 2018 we received 6.5 million tourists by air for growth above 6.2%; which exceeds the world average of 6%, that of the Americas of 3% and of Central America and the Caribbean, which decreased by 2%. It is worth remembering, said the entrepreneur, that historically, the Dominican Republic tends to have growth rates above the world and regional average reported by the World Tourism Organization.

Our main markets, explained Rainieri, which are the United States and Canada, exceeded 8%, and Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France and England, maintained their vitality; and this year started very well with a growth of 6.4% in the months of January-February.

As for hotel development, he said, last year 4,365 new rooms were added to close the year with 80,256 for a growth of 6%, without affecting the average occupancy rate that improved from 77.1% to 77.6%.

Rainieri de Díaz proposed to the tour operators and travel agents present at DATE 2019 to give new impetus to tourism in the Caribbean, adding wills from all stakeholders to promote the integration of the regional industry and create new products to attract long-stay visitors willing to visit more than one destination.

In the coming months, he explained, we will insist on this idea through the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), which represents the Caribbean private tourism sector, and invited the Minister of Tourism to join this initiative and take it to the Tourism Organization Caribbean (CTO), which brings together governments.

While the Minister of Tourism once again congratulated the Board of Asonahores, for this new edition, reflecting the work they develop as a link in one of the most important economic activities in the country.

Minister García, made a recount of the figures that position the country, as a leading destination in the Caribbean and Latin American region, as well as the work that is being developed to increase the arrival of tourists to the country.

In this regard, he mentioned part of the results of the work that has been developing with the beginning of relations with the People's Republic of China, on the occasion of the visit of a major delegation of this eastern nation to the country this week, and with whom the president medina held a meeting and addressed tourism, which detailed that the Dominican Republic has met all the necessary requirements to start flights between the two nations.

Therefore, the Dominican Republic must work intensively, since at any moment the arrival of the first flights of Chinese airlines in the country can be announced.

Participants
This year DATE, the international trade fair of ASONSHORES, attracted more than 750 delegates, 120 stands of companies that supply tourist services and more than 40 sponsors. In addition, 40 journalists from abroad attend.

Acknowledgments
During the opening event of DATE, the DATE Awards were presented, recognizing the contribution of international and local companies to the development of national tourism. In this edition, Sunwing Travel Group, Hotelbeds, Meeting Point Dominicana and Jetblue Airways Corporation were recognized; in the categories of international tour operator, online travel agency, local tour operator and line area, respectively.

Sponsors
The Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) is the main ally of DATE. In addition, Aerodom, Algeanova / Education First, American Express, Banco Popular, Banesco, Banreservas, Bluemall Puntacana, Café Santo Domingo and Codelpa participate as sponsors.