Q & A with Felix JimenezDominican Republic´s Tourism secretary

by Jose Carlos de Santiago

Within the framework of the World Travel Market´s latest edition in London, Caribbean News Digital talked exclusively with tourism secretary of the Dominican Republic Felix Jimenez and he tackled a number of issues, including some changes inside the organization to give his country a clear-cut edge as a top-notch destination other than just a sun-and-sand spot in the Caribbean.

Q.- What steps is the Dominican Tourism Department taking to lure new investors in the field of leisure and travel?

A.- We´re firmly determined to turn our country into a destination in which our current hotel room stock could be augmented, not only in terms of quantity, but also as far as quality is concerned. And we´re planning to do all that without giving up on our incoming tourists. Nevertheless, there´s an impending need to lure tourists with a much higher purchasing power who look for exclusive services, willing to stay in fancier, smaller hotels with all the conveniences money can buy.

Q.- What are those new projects really all about?

A.- They are not only projects, but realities. The super exclusive Casa Colonial boutique hotel was opened not too long ago in Puerto Plata. A second boutique facility, El Sivory Punta Cana spa & resort owned by a Spanish group, is slated to open next year. On the other hand, America´s Westin Hotels is building a magnificent and exclusive resort in the exceptional enclave of Punta Macao, not far from Punta Cana. As a matter of fact, the opening of the first Cap Cana hotel, is another project in stock for 2006.

Q.- What is your country planning to do in order to carry out those new projects and improve existing infrastructure?

A.- In the first months of 2006 we´ll begin the construction of a road that will eventually hook up La Romana International Airport with the Bavaro hotel area. We hope to finish that road before December 2006, except the bridges that are going to take a tad longer. By opening this road, any trip between the two destinations could take less than one hour. We´re also planning to start groundwork for a tourist corridor in Punta Cana that must be wrapped up by the end of next year. And last but not least, the road between Higuey and Punta Macao will also be completed in 2006.

There´ll be approximately nearly two dozen golf courses with less than 60-minute drives from one another, and this is something that has never been done in the Caribbean or in the Americas. It´s certainly going to be an exclusive compound.