Dominican Hoteliers Brace for Impact, Look Beyond

Santo Domingo. - Dominican hoteliers know they won’t escape the global economic crisis, but are confident that they will manage that lull in visits and strive to bolster advertising the country abroad, said a source quoted by in the industry.
The first effects have been already felt as expected hotel reservations fell ten percent compared with last year, but the industry expects a recovery in the next few months.
The president of the hoteliers and restaurateurs grouped in Asonahores, Haydée Rainieri, told the agency Efe that she’s confident the industry will be able to withstand the deceleration. “We see the future thinking that we’re going to have a certain reduction in the number of visitors, but that this reduction is going to be manageable."
She said in the coming months the stays of the visitors will be reduced, as they look for closer countries and with a better currency for their vacations.
“In those aspects the Dominican Republic has great advantages, because it has an excellent geographic location. Our distance to the localities of the United States coast east is a minimum and we’re also nearer to most of the European countries than the countries of Africa and Asia."