The tourism event was formally inaugurated today with the traditional ribbon-cutting of the Dominican Republic stand by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, businessmen, representatives of the main Dominican banks and hoteliers, and the gaze of visitors to this edition of the ITB Berlin 2023 international fair. The Minister of Tourism said that work was done here and that it is time to move forward and be innovative so that the Caribbean continues to talk about the Dominican Republic. The showy and colorful Dominican stand showed the Germans and Europeans the joy of the Dominicans with the song Dominicano Soy in the voice of Carmen Elena, who danced and sang in tune with the merengue, added to the immersive screens with beaches, coconut trees, whales in the high seas, fish and other attractions.
The president of Asonahores, David Llibre, highlighted the interest of the visit to continue growing in the German destination. Frank Rainieri valued the minister’s visit to Germany and highlighted his leadership in reaching this fair in a fundamental market for the development of the sector, which allowed it to grow as a tourist country. Rainieri pointed out the importance of rescuing this market together with the Swiss, and Italian and commented on the assessment of the “Roadshow” of the minister the night before. He asked to repeat that presentation in five European markets such as Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, and Hamburg. The executive vice president of Asonahores, Andrés Marranzini, also appreciated the importance of the ITB Berlin and congratulated Collado on the “Roadshow”.
Present at the inauguration of the stand was the ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Berlin, Germany, Francisco Caraballo; the president of Asonahores, David Llibre; the vice president of the entity, Andrés Marranzini; the administrator of the Reserve Bank, Samuel Pereyra; the vice president of international business of Banco Popular Dominicano (BPD), Juan Manuel Martín de Oliva; José Marte Piantini, director of the Civil Aviation Board (IDAC), and Frank Rainieri, president of the Board of Grupo Puntacana. Subsequently, the minister signed an agreement in which he announced that for the first time, the Republic will have a chair in the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) since the 118th meeting of the UNWTO Council will be held in Punta Cana.