NOVEMBER 2008

Dominican Republic in collaboration with Vietnam

Dominican Republic in collaboration with VietnamTourist sector

HANOI, Vietnam. – The Dominican Republic will offer its collaboration so that students in hotel business and in tourism of various universities of Vietnam can perform specialization training courses in various Dominican hotels.

During a work meeting between the Secretary of State Miguel Mejía and the Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Mr Hoang Tuan Anh, which took place in Hanoi, the two civil servants decided to increase the ties between the two countries and to seek alternatives so that the students of the tourist career can come to share the Dominican experience in this matter.

Mejía announced that the country received almost four million tourists per year, coming from Europe, Canada, United States and Latin America.

He also described the facilities and modern hotel centers available in the Dominican Republic, in addition to the beauty of its beaches and its natural resources.

Mejía indicated that after the signature of this Scientific and Technological Cooperation agreement between the governments of Dominican Republic and Vietnam, a new rapprochement space with the Asian nation was created.

He quoted that tourism, sport and culture could not be dissociated in the new bilateral relations between the two nations.

The secretary of State announced that events will be organized like a film festival produced in Vietnam and projected in cinemas of Santo Domingo and in other cities.

He detailed that through the Secretariat of Tourism, a Vietnam gastronomical festival will be set up and that conferences on the history of Vietnam as well as an exhibition of photographs would be organized at the Global Democracy and Development Foundation, (Funglode).

Within the sporting framework, the civil servant stated that with the Secretariat of Sports, a program with common disciplines between the two nations will be organized.

On his side, the Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Mr Hoang Tuan Anh, was very satisfied of the meeting with Miguel Mejía and predicted a successful future for the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Dominican Republic.

Al Momento, 14.11.08

The American Crisis does not affect tourism in Las Galeras, the region receives Europeans

The American Crisis does not affect tourism in Las Galeras, the region receives EuropeansTwo charter flights from France per week

Las Galeras, Samaná. - The European visitors are the backbone of the tourism of Samaná, reason for which the effects of the American crisis felt in other tourist poles of the country do not affect this province.

Henry Ulloa, managing director of the Grand Paradise Samaná Hotel, of the Amhsa Marina chain, explained that the American tourists who arrive in Samaná make it normally by their own and not through a Tour Operator.

He said that, contrary to zones like Punta Cana, where the majority of the visitors are American, Samaná does not feel a change in its tourists’ flow.

He expressed that charter flights arrive twice per week from France to El Catey Airport , and once per week from England, Sweden, Germany, Canada and The Netherlands.

Ulloa said that quickly, tourism in Samaná generated a great interest and increased by 40% in few months.

This province also changes its tourist style, by making more and more incursions in the real estate goods.

From the town of Samaná to Las Galeras there are currently 40 small and great real projects.

Ulloa stressed that this was the tendency of the entire province, especially of Las Terrenas. Grand Paradise will start the next year its Bahía Azul project, which will begin with 50 luxury apartments.

But, contrary to other local hotels, both will offer the two services at the same time, (apartment sales and resort).

The cheaper of these apartments will be sold for a half million dollars and the more expensive will reach one million and half.

Grand Paradise Samaná has 334 rooms which are already reserved till the Holy weekend.

For December, 84 additional rooms will be open.

This hotel counts more than 300 employees, and thanks to the Secretariat of Tourism and the Town council of Las Galeras, the employees and the community can follow courses of qualification.

Hoy Digital, by Mayelin Acosta Guzmán, 21.11.08

17 municipal councils recognized for taking care of environment

17 municipal councils recognized for taking care of environmentThe village of Las Galeras is among them

The United States Agency for the International Development (USAID) recognized 17 town halls which take care and defend the environment.

The recognition was made after the launching of book entitled « Strategic Alliances for Municipal Environmental Management » ; which includes the results obtained by the municipal councils recognized in their localities for the defense and the conservation of the environment.

The book contains a guide of municipal environmental management, which directs the municipal authorities and the interested authorities of the commune towards the ways of establishing a control program of environmental quality in each commune, as well as on the responsible authorities for their implementation.

Among the town halls which received a recognition there are Santo Domingo Norte, Juan Herrera, Villa Altagracia, San Gregorio de Nigua, Gaspar Hernández, Altamira, Sosúa, Santo Domingo Oeste, Puerto Plata, Las Galeras, Barahona, Duvergé, Vicente Noble, Sabana de la Mar, Higüey, among others.

Diario Libre, 28.11.08