SANTO DOMINGO. – Seeking to continue strengthening the tourism industry as the engine of the country's economy, through firm and sustained growth of all actors in the sector to achieve the goal of 15 million visitors, the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association, Asonahores, announced the election of Juan “papo” Bancalari as its president for the period 2024-2026.
The new president of Asonahores stated that the organization is committed to supporting various tourist destinations and diversifying their offerings; cruises in Puerto Plata, Samaná, La Romana, Santo Domingo and now Pedernales, as well as regulated real estate tourism and complementary services to raise standards and attract visitors with high purchasing power.
“This new board assumes the commitment and institutional challenges to reach the goal of 15 million tourists, in addition to overcoming aspects that directly affect competitiveness such as legal security, the adaptation of the labor code that represents a true modernization and encourages productivity, an electrical system that responds to the demand of the sector in quantity and quality; as well as, from the point of view of sustainability, the management of the coasts, the fight against sargassum and solid waste,” said Bancalari.
He highlighted the importance of promoting ecological and adventure tourism, as well as cultural, nautical, sports and gastronomic tourism, due to their potential to attract tourists and contribute to the constant growth of the sector.
Juan Bancalari, new president of Asonahores. (EXTERNAL SOURCE).
David Llibre, in his farewell speech, expressed that he is concluding one of the most important and challenging experiences of his life, but also a rewarding one, having achieved objectives during his tenure based on three fundamental pillars: Sustainability, Regulation, and Connectivity.
“In each of these aspects mentioned, I am very proud of the team that tirelessly and with 24/7 availability works with an approach and vision towards the competitiveness of the tourism sector, leadership in the growth of the region and the Dominican economy,” Llibre pointed out.
Professional profile
The new president of ASONAHORES graduated with a degree in Business Administration from APEC University in 1984. He is the founding president of Bancalari & Asociados, SRL since 1982, a company specializing in providing insurance advice to major companies and institutions in the Dominican Republic, which for more than 40 years has been among the top 10 insurance brokerage firms in the country.
Also in the business sector, in 2006 he developed the Puerto Bahía Marina & Residences Tourism and Real Estate project, and he is currently president of Marina Puerto Bahía, one of the four most important private marinas in the country. He is a partner and member of the board of directors of Bahía Capital, a company dedicated to the development and operation of shopping centers. He is also a founding partner of Perpetual Energy Group, SRL, the company that developed the Las Colinas Equestrian Club.
In the institutional area he has been president of the Dominican Association of Insurance Brokers (ADOCOSE), the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE), the Stock Exchange of the Dominican Republic, the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo, founding president of the Dominican Association of Tourism and Real Estate Companies (ADETI), Director of the Institutionalism and Justice Foundation, 4th Vice President of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (ASONAHORES), of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Companies of Samaná (AHETSA) and the recently founded Dominican Association of Sports Marinas and Nautical Clubs (ADMC).
