German leader lauds the country´s tourism competitiveness

Santo Domingo.- Germanchancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday lauded Dominican Republic´s competitive edge as atourist destination and the sector’s work to increase arrivals from hercountry.

Merkel also praised president Danilo Medina’sadministration for the country’s economic growth and sector policies enacted byTourism ministry Francisco Javier García.

Speaking to the more than 500 delegates in Berlin’s20th annual BTW Tourism Summit, the Chancellor also stressed the importance ofsustainable tourism.

For her part Petra Cruz, Dominican Republic’sTourism Promotion Office (OPT) director in Germany, said that country has wageda sustained campaign to protect one of Dominican Republic’s most exclusivetourist attractions; the humpback whales

"For 7 years the OPT in Germany hasdeveloped the successful and award-winning sustainable campaign through socialnetworks, ‘The Whale Whisperer,’ whose purpose is to protect humpback whales inSamana Bay."

Upbeat figures

The official said the figures for the last 12months show that the Dominican Republic has become the German market’s top long-distance destination.

She added that tourism’s 7.4% growth fromJanuary to August positions the country at the top in Latin America.