SANTO DOMINGO.- The growth exhibited by tourism is not accidental; the Dominican Republic has achieved such development that it allows it to offer its non-resident visitors a complete experience, as competitive as the most demanding of the world's destinations.
For Ellis Pérez, one of the experts who knows the country's tourism best, the beach, the sun and the friendly treatment of Dominicans continue to be the best bait for foreigners who set foot on Dominican soil.
“Our sun that gives us a clear view, our beautiful beaches bathed by the blue sky with warm water, and the special people, hospitable, open, willing to serve, to give a smile, to offer you a coffee and talk with you, and this last one doesn't appear in many places today,” Pérez explained in a conversation with El Inmobiliario, a digital newspaper.
He states that although he frequently hears "that we cannot rely on the sun and beach factor because today's tourism requires much more," and in fact he understands this, his opinion is that these three factors (climate, beach and friendliness of the people) remain the key to why the country receives many visitors.
He cites the case of tourists who come from the North and the deep South, such as Chile and Argentina, who describe the country as a paradise.
“I understand that people today require more, they want to live a more complete experience and the Dominican Republic is giving it to them. We have been gradually developing a competitive gastronomy, the restaurants in Santo Domingo are very good, in addition to many other very attractive environments,” comments the veteran communicator.
Added to the above is the aspect of tax exemption on purchases "which has been an attraction for travel and we have that facility as many other places do, but we have it too.".
Regarding the provinces, he notes that they are also promoting their unique attractions, details that draw tourists in and that they enjoy. The Ministry of Tourism recently launched the "Tourism in Every Corner" project, which aims to showcase the charms of each province.
"That is to say, we have a product that has been expanding and improving; you have the entertainment of the hotels. When we started, we had nothing; today we do everything, we have whatever you want, and we compete globally.".
Don Ellis Pérez describes the current climate of difficulties in the world as "uncertainty," and in the face of that word, there are no guarantees, he says, because unforeseen events can occur at any moment. However, he understands that for the Dominican Republic, tourism is a living reality that exists because we have all the necessary elements.
“In the Caribbean, we are the island that is best endowed with water resources, even better than Cuba, which has more territory than us. We have a rich topography, meaning that the basic products that are the fundamental part of our offer as a tourist destination are very rich and extensive.”.
He suggests continuing on the right path, "making sure we do things right." He applauds the plan to renovate 25 beaches and their businesses because "tourism isn't just about going to fairs, but about taking care of the area where tourists are served, and ensuring the quality of the product that will be delivered.".
