At a cocktail party at the Ritz Carlton Berlin, Germany, Banco Popular Dominicano (BPD) celebrated with clients, investors, hoteliers, the presence of Tourism Minister David Collado and Julia Simpson, CEO of WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council). Tourism); and Zurab Pololikashvili, president of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for their traditional hospitality at international tourism fairs.
Juan Manuel Martín de Oliva, vice president of international business and the tourism area of the BPD, said that this institutional cocktail of the BPD, as part of the ITB Berlin tourism fair, takes place at a time when there is great enthusiasm that symbolizes the recovery of world tourism and finds the country with a growth in arrivals and a strengthened sector. He welcomed the guests on behalf of the BPD and its CEO Christopher Paniangua.
He pointed out that in the morning Minister Collado told him that tourism is the only sector of the economy that had grown in double digits, according to figures from the Central Bank, generating great applause from the guests.
The BPD is convinced that Dominican tourism will continue to grow, he said, and appreciated the country’s policies headed by Collado and the public-private alliance that has led to “cruise speed” tourism, for the benefit of the country and its people.
Martín de Oliva recalled that the country received more than 8.5 million visitors and more than US$8.400 million in income from tourism with rosier prospects.
“There are not many countries in the world that can show these numbers and this potential for growth,” he said.
In the same way, he stressed the vision of the BPD for three decades in the sector and since the last eight years they have supported the tourism industry with more than US$1.6 billion, whose investor commitment is seen in zero delinquency.
In addition, they have contributed to the remodeling and construction of more than 15,000 rooms that have generated growth of more than 28,000 jobs. Martín de Oliva said that the BPD turned 59 in January.
Minister Collado appreciated that in the most difficult moments of the recovery of tourism, the BPD was always present, the support of the directors of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC); of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), and the luxury that he affirms is given to the country with the presence of the presidents of the UNWTO and the WTTC in this activity.
Collado told an anecdote to highlight the work, support and vision of Frank Rainieri in tourism in the country. The moment was applauded by those present.
At the celebration, which was attended by the ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Germany, Francisco Caraballo and the president of Grupo Puntacana, Frank Rainieri, among various personalities. The president of Asonahores, David Llibre; and Minister David Collado.
Regarding German tourism, he stated that he is determined to recover that market that in 1992 was more than 192,000 Germans and already in January and February there are 27,000, so the idea is to exceed the 265,000 that arrived in the Dominican Republic in 2016.
While David Llibre, president of Asonahores, highlighted the growth of the sector and the historic relationship of Dominican tourism with Germany and the Berlin fair. He said that this country was one of the great markets and only in 1992, 354,000 tourists arrived in the Dominican Republic by air through Puerto Plata. Of these, 25% were German and spent US$119 million per day on a 16-day stay, more than Americans who spent US$111 per day on an eight-day stay.
The president of Asonahores and thanked the Germans for this relationship, as well as Banco Popular for its support of more than three decades, which has earned it to be the Dominican tourism bank and the recognition of the UNWTO.