The new team is working on an institutional development plan for the next two years.
SANTO DOMINGO.- Journalist and lawyer Sarah Hernández was sworn in last Tuesday, August 19, as the new president of the Dominican Association of Tourism Press (Adompretur), along with a management team made up of journalism and communication professionals.
At an event held at the Catalonia Hotel in Santo Domingo, the organization's new leader affirmed that her administration will be guided by three pillars: institutional strengthening, professionalization, and strategic communication. Her objective, she said, is to consolidate Adompretur as "the most authoritative voice in tourism journalism in the Caribbean."
In his inaugural address, Hernández emphasized that the organization, founded in 1977, has been key in building a legacy that unites journalism with the development of the tourism industry. He stated that he hopes to have the support of the branches in provinces and cities abroad, as well as that of the sponsors who have historically supported the profession.
In addition, he announced that his team is already working on an institutional development plan for the next two years.
Among the first actions is the modernization of Adompretur's website, with the aim of making it a more interactive platform, featuring reports, analyses, and research papers produced by the association's own members. "Our voice must transcend borders and set a standard, becoming a national and international benchmark," he affirmed.
Another immediate measure is the review of the organization's statutes , with a view to strengthening its regulatory framework and adapting it to the current challenges of journalism and the tourism industry.
Looking to the future, Hernández announced that the Press and Tourism Summit will resume in 2026 , a forum that will bring together authorities, businesspeople, journalists and civil society to discuss the present and future of tourism communication in the Dominican Republic.
He also announced the new board's intention to begin work on creating the Dominican Tourism Museum: “a project that will combine historical memory and modernity. It will be an immersive and interactive space where the history of our industry is told and the personalities and events that have shaped national tourism are recognized,” he explained. The museum will also house Adompretur's offices, with meeting rooms and classrooms for workshops, talks, and conferences, in what he described as “a dynamic space for continuous learning.”
The new president also emphasized the role that Adompretur's branches must play in the dynamism of the association. She announced a seminar-workshop to be held on September 13 at INFOTEP. This event will serve as the starting point for reviewing the organization's mission, vision, and objectives and ensuring its relevance over the next ten years.
Directive
Along with Hernández, the members of the board of directors were sworn in: Millizen Uribe (vice president), Carmen Bretón, general secretary; Ramón Chávez, finance director; Héctor Méndez, training director; Raysa Feliz, regional affairs director; Jairon Severino, institutional relations director; Rosa Lidia Lora, communications and public relations director; Cristina Rosario, tourism and culture director; Omar Rivera, events director; and Marcos Cadet, marketing director.
The Ethics Committee is headed by Osvaldo Soriano, and includes Nereyda Álvarez, Marivell Contreras, Carmen Luz Beato, and Yubelkys Mejía. The oath of office was administered by the president of the National Electoral Commission, Miguelina Santos, along with Aurelio Henríquez and Barnadiz González. The appointment of the regional coordinators was also formalized: Livio Segundo Cedeño (East), Leonardo Medrano (North), and Benny Rodríguez (South).
Delegations from various provinces and cities - including Barahona, Pedernales, Samaná, Puerto Plata, Santiago, Higüey, Bávaro-Punta Cana, La Romana, as well as New York and Miami - participated in the ceremony, which was sponsored by several companies in the tourism and private sector.
The event was attended by Aguie Lendor, executive vice president of Asonahores; the Minister of Energy and Mines, Joel Santos; Roberto Henríquez and Carlos Andrés Peguero, vice ministers of Tourism; Alicia Baroni, vice minister of Culture; José R. Gonell Cosme, director of the National Copyright Office; José Antonio Aybar, president of the Commission of Public Shows and Radio Broadcasting (CNEPR); Yamilka Cruz, director of the Municipal Tourism Office in Jarabacoa; Aurelio Henríquez, president of the Dominican College of Journalists; José Beato, secretary general of the SNTP; Rainier Maldonado, of Banco Popular, among other personalities.
