Bickering in the Dominican Republic over tax raise

The National Hotels and Restaurants Association (ASONAHORES) warned that the 10 percent tax hike levied on the price of imports and decreed by the government with February 18 as the date to go into effect, punishes the leisure industry by slashing its earnings.

The association asserts that while most products affected by the new tax could be penciled in as unessential in both homes and offices, in the case of hotels and restaurants they account for part of the raw materials used to provide the level of comfort guests and patrons call for. He mentioned the specific cases of carpets, chinaware, silverware, sleepwear, glasses, cups, wines and liquors.

ASONAHORES believes tourism ought to be treated as an exporting sector and authorities are to give its raw materials the same level of recognition they bestow on other industries.