In Bogotá, Colombia, the Dominican Republic's Minister of Tourism, David Collado, presented the promotional campaign "Taste Paradise" this week during a roadshow before hundreds of tour operators and travel agents.
It was their 65th international promotional event, RoadShow RD around the world, this time seeking to build loyalty and increase Colombian tourism, which grows every month towards the Caribbean country.
Collado highlighted the alliances that Colombia and the Dominican Republic have built in many aspects, which in his opinion is evidenced by the increase in Colombians visiting the island, choosing the country as their favorite tourist destination to enjoy the beaches, culture, gastronomy and Dominican hospitality.
In his presentation, he highlighted that in 2022 the Dominican Republic received 257,716 Colombian tourists, figures that were surpassed the following year when 306,000 Colombian visitors were received.
“To date, thanks to you, 264,000 Colombians have arrived in our country, and we are going to end up with over 330,000 visitors from this country, the highest number in history,” Collado said.
David Collado recounted the success story achieved by the Dominican Republic after the blow dealt to the travel and tourism industry by the pandemic, which served as a model for the world as a way to recover tourism and position itself as the number one country in that recovery during the years 2021 and 2022.
“The truth is that it has been a difficult road, a road full of obstacles and difficulties, where we decided to move forward with conflicted hearts. At many times we lost hope, at many times we didn't know what to do,” the official recalled.
He said that the experience of overcoming the onslaught of the pandemic showed that Dominicans were inspired to become experts in hospitality.
He told Colombian tour operators and travel agents about the results of the recovery program for all the country's beaches and docks as part of the actions to turn the Dominican Republic into a "true Caribbean tourism powerhouse.".
Do Travel Rewards global loyalty program
More than 300 travel agents and tour operators participated in the meeting.
Before presenting the various destinations of the Dominican Republic to the hundreds of Colombian tour operators and travel agents who attended the Roadshow, Rebeca Fernández del Pino, director of the Dominican Republic's destination loyalty program, DO Travel Rewards, presented the global initiative for travel agents who sell the DR destination.
Fernández del Pino spoke about the plan's incentives, such as raffles, exclusive discounts, special offers, and a cash bank of one euro for every night booked per tourist to any tourist destination in the country. DO Travel Rewards offers participation in press trips and a training program with seminars and webinars on new routes, new tourist destinations, and niche tourism offerings in the Dominican Republic. He said that the program was a dream a year ago, but today it is a reality that everyone is truly proud of.
He explained that, despite the current perception that tourists no longer use travel agencies and tour operators, statistics show that of the more than 10 million non-resident visitors who arrived in the country last year, 32% did so through these services.
Taste Paradise
David Collado. (EXTERNAL SOURCE).
“We want to present the Dominican Republic’s new campaign, but it has a special meaning because the Dominican Republic’s creative team worked with creative teams from Colombia. This campaign was designed here. I’d like to ask for a round of applause,” said the Minister of Tourism before sharing the Dominican Republic’s new promotional campaign, “Taste Paradise,” with Colombia.
Collado explained that the campaign has already been launched in Miami and New York and now in Colombia. With it, they want to convey the feeling of nature, the landscape, and the love that is felt in the Dominican Republic.
As usual, David Collado's roadshow, using modern audiovisual resources, projected the different pieces of the campaign that show the beauties and temptations of the different tourist destinations of the Dominican Republic.
The main elements of the campaign are Punta Cana, Samaná and Puerto Plata, considered three Dominican jewels where visitors can enjoy the best of the Caribbean: unparalleled landscapes, adventure, history and, of course, a gastronomy that will make you fall in love.
These three destinations offer the best of the Dominican Republic with options for those looking to relax in a luxury resort, explore unspoiled nature, or immerse themselves in the local culture.
“Love, the power and strength of love have no limits,” Collado said, concluding his presentation to an audience thrilled by the landscapes and seductive messages of the “Taste Paradise” campaign commercials.
He said that there are people who have a love for money, a love for work, a love for people, a love for their neighbor, assuring that what is being done in the country for tourism is inspired by love.
“Everything we have done in our country has truly been done with great love, and we didn't want to end this year 2024 without telling you (Colombians) that you are extremely important to our country and our economy.
"Thank you very much," David Collado said to conclude his Roadshow with a surprise for the audience: a performance by Dominican artist Eddy Herrera, very well known and loved in Colombia.
