Dominican Authorities Bemoan Lost Jobs, Higher Fares in Local Travel Industry

Dominican Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez said recently that airline tickets have gone up somewhere between $10 to $15 in the last few days as a result of hikes in fuel prices. He was similarly concerned about the effect this would have on the flow of tourists to the Dominican Republic.

Meanwhile, Enrique de Marchena, president of the National Hotels & Restaurants Association (ASONAHORES), revealed that over 10,000 jobs have gone down the drain in the Dominican tourist sector over the past few months.

Tourism provides roughly 40 percent of the Dominican Republic´s income and ASONAHORES feels the level of service in several resorts across the Caribbean country has dropped compared to last year.