By Yamalie Rosario
El Inmobiliario
SANTO DOMINGO.– The National Association of Hotels and Restaurants of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores) is betting that the country can achieve sustainable development in tourism with the implementation of Law No. 368-22 on Territorial Planning, Land Use and Human Settlements.
From the point of view of Andrés Marranzini, executive vice president of that entity, the correct implementation of that regulation, which came into force in December 2022, constitutes one of the challenges of tourism in the country.
In an interview with El Inmobiliario, the tourism spokesperson stated that the application of this regulation: “Is probably the most strategic public policy to achieve the development of the tourism sector in the coming years and coexistence with different tourism products,” such as real estate tourism.
He is convinced that the government authorities, through the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD), are focused on preparing the regulations for the application of Law No. 368-22 because even Asonahores has collaborated in that process.
He assured that as soon as the regulations are approved, investors will enjoy greater legal guarantees, which will contribute to increasing confidence in this tourist destination.
Short-term rentals
Marranzini stressed that clear rules must coexist to guarantee fair competition in the "Smokeless Industry," which is why in recent years Asonahores has advocated for the regulation of short-term rentals in the Dominican Republic.
He acknowledged that many of the members of the entity he represents have investments in that type of tourism service.
“We must coexist with clear rules… The process of regulating this shouldn't be delayed much longer. It should be a priority because it could tarnish our country's image,” he analyzed.
“For the owners of those real estate assets… regulation should be in their interest, because when an event occurs on the property, it would seem that they are jointly responsible, and there have been regrettable events; illegal transactions, illegal parties. There are many not-so-good things that happen,” he reflected.
Another reason he said that these short-term rentals should be regulated is because there are "pirates" who offer spaces unsuitable for tourists, and when these situations occur, it affects tourism in general because it negatively impacts the country's brand image.
He also pointed out that it is necessary to define the development spaces of the properties according to the type of service offered because there are cases that do not necessarily coexist in a very healthy way with the family ecosystem.
Sargassum with “homemade” solutions.
When questioned about the sargassum issue, the executive vice president of Asonahores explained that, although no country in the region has found a definitive solution to this problem, at the national level, sustainable alternatives have been sought that are less harmful to the environment because they are safer. He stated that “homemade” solutions have been presented to address the sargassum problem because they are still in the early stages of development, although he believes they have great potential.
Furthermore, he stated that there is still work to be done to find suitable uses for sargassum so that it can be utilized by industries.
The executive vice president of Asonahores stated that "not all beaches in the Dominican Republic receive sargassum" and that there are even hotels that are affected by these macroalgae, while other tourist establishments, located adjacent to them, are not affected.
Regarding the challenges and achievements of tourism, Marranzini noted that since taking power, the current government administration has incorporated Asonahores into the Tourism Cabinet, an initiative that, he says, was very wise.
Furthermore, he praised the private sector's inclusion in the Marketing Committee Cabinet of the Ministry of Tourism. He stated that in both instances, Asonahores has been allowed to participate, which, in his view, has been very beneficial.
He noted that during its 60 years of existence, Asonahores has contributed to the development of the country and praised the fact that the authorities, whenever they have to make an important decision regarding tourism, consult this entity and take its recommendations into account.
After seven years as executive vice president of Asonahores, Andrés Marranzini will leave that position and, starting October 1st of this year, will be in charge of the Punta Bergantín tourism project, which will be developed in the coastal area of Puerto Plata.
Interview originally published in the print edition of El Inmobiliario .
Cover photo: Fidel Pérez/El Inmobiliario.
