Dominican tourist industry warns of local lingering challenges

Santo Domingo, Sep 27 (Prensa Latina) The Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES) exposed Friday the challenges this local sector is facing, which could weaken its performance compared to other destinations, despite current stability.

September 27, 2024
15:50

ASONAHORES indicated that although tourism is growing significantly in the Dominican Republic in order to meet the high occupancy demand, it is essential to build additional rooms, which is not currently the case.

In this regard, the former President of the Simon Suarez Association assured that in order to achieve the Government’s goal of 20 million visitors “we need to be more competitive and invest in the construction of hotels through the incentives law.”

Meanwhile, the current Director of ASONAHORES, David Llibre, when comparing the Dominican Republic with Mexico -his main competitor in the region- pointed out that the cost of the structure in the hotel sector is 50 percent less in that country.

He further referred to the high cost of electricity in the Dominican Republic and to hotel employee lodging expenses, which are almost 43 percent.

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