SANTO DOMINGO– The Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) and the United States Embassy signed an agreement focused on creating a cooperative alliance between the different institutions with the goal of guaranteeing the safety of the thousands of US citizens who visit the Dominican Republic as a tourist destination each year.
David Collado, head of the Ministry of Tourism, said that the Dominican Republic is a truly safe country, after highlighting that his administration spares no effort to guarantee the greatest safety for tourists visiting Quisqueya.
“The safety of tourists is and will continue to be a priority for us. That is why we are here signing this cooperation agreement to continue taking concrete actions that guarantee the peace of mind and enjoyment of those who visit us,” the official stated upon signing a memorandum of understanding with the United States Consulate in the country, the Tourist Police (POLITUR), and the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (ASONAHORES), during a ceremony held at a hotel in the capital.
The agreement was signed by Collado, the United States Consul General in the country, Greg Segas; the Director of the Tourist Police, General Minoru Matsunaga; and the President of ASONAHORES, David Llibres, in the presence of the main actors in the sector.
The agreement includes creating a protocol for handling potential events involving U.S. citizens, as well as the timely exchange of information between the different parties regarding U.S. tourists in the country.
It also includes training for hotel staff, as well as security personnel to prevent and manage situations that may arise within the tourism sector.
The United States Consul General in the country, Greg Segas, highlighted the importance of the agreement, as more than 4 million Americans visit the Dominican Republic each year.
“The signing of this memorandum will facilitate better communication and effective collaboration between all of us. We are trusted partners and friends, and given the scope of our collaboration, there is no bilateral relationship in the Caribbean as broad, complex, and rich in content as the one that exists between our two countries,” the US diplomat said.
He stated that this agreement formalizes the program that began with training hotel staff who are the first point of contact for tourists experiencing a crisis, from losing their passport to being arrested or suffering a life-threatening accident.
“Our responsibility in every country is to guarantee the safety of Americans. Mitur, Asonahores, and Politur remain allies in keeping our citizens safe,” Segas stated.
It is worth noting that the United States is the leading source of tourists to the Dominican Republic.
Last year, of the total number of non-resident tourists who arrived in the country, Americans represented 47 percent, for a growth of 22 percent.
