UN representative advocates for inclusive tourism in the Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.- UN representative in the Dominican Republic, Mauricio Ramírez Villegas, has called for the development of a more inclusive tourism approach that involves vulnerable communities and contributes to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To achieve this objective, a new cooperation framework has been formulated for the 2023-2027 period, addressing the specific needs and development strategies of the country. Ramírez emphasized that this framework aims to support the implementation of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development in the Dominican Republic, which is highly vulnerable to climate change and faces environmental challenges.

The focus is on promoting an inclusive tourism model that goes beyond the traditional sun and sand concept. It seeks to leverage the country’s natural, cultural, and ecological wealth by exploring alternative activities such as mountain tourism, adventure tourism, and ecotourism. Ramírez stressed the importance of inclusivity, stating that the current tourism model is concentrated in wealth and lacks broad participation. He highlighted the need to create opportunities for the most vulnerable populations in the country to benefit from tourism development.

Ramírez’s remarks were made during the thematic session “New Narratives in Tourism” held as part of the 118th meeting of the UNWTO Executive Council in Punta Cana. The event brought together around twenty ministers from the tourism sector, with a focus on sustainability and the future of tourism.