With the presence of the main authorities of the city and national tourism, the twenty-seventh edition of Expoturismo was inaugurated yesterday in Santiago de los Caballeros, which will run until tomorrow, Sunday, June 9, at the Hodelpa Gran Almirante convention center.
During the opening ceremony, the organizers recognized President Luis Abinader for his contributions and investments in Santiago during his first term in office.
The award to the president was received by Daniel Rivera, senator-elect of Santiago, who praised the progress the city has made in the last four years.
He stated that developing tourism is fundamental for generating jobs and "this goes hand in hand with reaching the eleven million visitors expected this year, and this is due to the creation of tourist territories.".
He highlighted the importance of tourism in the Cibao region and how the Puerto Plata Cluster, together with the Santiago Cluster, are planning the Amber Highway, which will be of great benefit to both provinces and surrounding areas.
Rivera said that the Dominican Republic is number one in health tourism, with dentistry being the most in-demand service.
For his part, Ramón Paulino, president of the Fair, highlighted that one of the fundamental pillars of Dominican tourism development has been the importance of the outbound market that the Cibao represents for Dominican domestic tourism.
“Thousands of Dominicans leave this region to stay in hotels and use tourist services both domestically and internationally. This constant flow of travelers not only boosts our economy but also strengthens cultural and social ties within our country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Executive Director Yomaris Gómez expressed her gratitude to the exhibitors who for 27 years have trusted Expoturismo to showcase the best of the Dominican Republic's tourism offerings.
He said that the trust and continued support of the exhibitors have been the driving force behind the success of this fair year after year. “Thank you for your participation and interest, and for making Expoturismo the flagship event it is today, the most comprehensive platform for marketing and selling national tourism,” he emphasized.
The mayor of Santiago, Ulises Rodríguez, spoke about the impact of this fair on Santiago, the region, and the country, and how business institutions have become involved in the city's progress and hotel growth with the construction of four new hotels.
Furthermore, he highlighted the development of health tourism being implemented in this city, as a fundamental axis for its promotion.
During the fair, recognition was given to President Abinader, the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Production on its 110th anniversary, the emblematic company La Aurora on its 120th anniversary, and the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) organized by the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores).
Expoturismo has the official sponsorship of the Ministry of Tourism, as well as the support of the Santiago City Hall, the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), the Institute of Technical and Professional Training (INFOTEP), the Northern Medical Union, Banreservas, Hodelpa Hotels & Resorts, Copa Airlines, Air Europa, among others.
The fair also has the support of the González Group (Wholesale Tour Operator), the Santiago Hotel Association (ASHORESA), City Tour Santiago, the Santiago Gastronomic Union, the Gómez Tours Travel and Tourism Agency and the Santiago Tourist Destination Cluster.
