Asonahores’ New Boss Lays Out Term Strategy

The new president of the National Association of Hotels & Restaurants (Asonahores) in the Dominican Republic, Luis Lopez has outlined his vision for his two-year term at the helm of the association, emphasizing that Dominican hoteliers need to innovate to ensure the sustainable development of the industry.

He highlighted the fact that today’s tourist destinations need to offer more than what a resort offers. Tourism today, he stressed, needs offer to traveler the people, culture, side attractions, nightlife, adequate transport, communities and public services.

In his work plan for 2006-2008, he listed sea changes such as innovations needed in high school education in tourism areas, improvement of land jurisdiction to attract more foreign investment in vacation properties, and the institutionalization of ground use for tourism areas.

Mr. Lopez also called for new formulas for cooperation between the private and public sector to build the base for a sustainable tourism industry.

He spoke favorably about the burgeoning tourism clusters and their positive role in integrating all participating sectors. In the same breath, Mr. Lopez called for more private sector participation in infrastructure projects in tourism sectors and in the governmental advertising budget.