By Amelia Cuesta
El Inmobiliario
SANTO DOMINGO –To commemorate World Tourism Day on September 27, 2022, the Pinero Group proposed six key points for rethinking tourism together. After two years of significant challenges that impacted all economic sectors worldwide, tourism has experienced both its highs and lows.
And after enduring long periods at home and experiencing atmospheric phenomena such as Hurricane Fiona, the need for keys that allow for improved tourism – in synergy – becomes increasingly necessary.
Through August of this year, the Dominican Republic received more than five million visitors, thanks to which the growth of tourism in the country has been exponential and according to figures from the Central Bank, the sector contributed 1.8% of 5.6% in the expansion of the country's economy, between January-June 2022.
In light of this, Grupo Piñero, a Spanish tourism company with almost 50 years of history, recommends six key points for the new era of Dominican tourism and tourism around the world:
- Digitizing processes: these improvements lead to more efficient businesses and destinations. Technology applied to processes helps improve the experience for all users, both employees and visitors.
- Another key element for the future of tourism is social responsibility. Responsible tourism begins with synergy between workers and the local community, as well as raising awareness among tourists, in order to achieve sustainable development and define ethical guidelines.
- The practice of sustainable tourism: as a sector, we must promote the sustainable use of resources, both for ourselves and for consumers. Preserving the essence of the environment in destinations and improving the surroundings are two major challenges we face in ensuring responsible tourism.
- Along the same lines, continuing to contribute to sustainable mobility with increasingly cleaner, more durable, comfortable, and environmentally friendly transportation is the trend to follow. Centering the entire tourist experience around respect for the environment is gradually shaping how we travel worldwide, especially in such a crucial factor as mobility.
- Working hand in hand with the local community: Community members are fundamental to the development of a tourism business. Maintaining an ongoing dialogue will help both parties build tourism that is aligned with human rights.
- Investing in youth, starting now: having the vision of young people, as tourists and potential professionals in the sector, is key to responding to the needs that the sector will have to face in the future.
For the Dominican Republic to continue being a role model in tourism for the world, working together with government authorities and other sectors is vital; therefore, it is necessary to continue focusing efforts on strengthening alliances within the sector to face new challenges.
Source: Piñero Group (press release)
