NewsWhore
07-08-2008, 05:30 PM
Airport Department director Andres Van der Horst is urging the government to give priority to the tourism and export sectors. Interviewed by Manuel Jimenez on Channel 27, he observed that at a time when the government is making concessions to the land transport unions, including a recent freeze on fuel prices, they need to turn their attention to aviation issues. He said that tourism is currently at the core of our economy. Airlines are feeling the effects of rising aviation fuel costs, and legacy airlines are cutting their flights to the DR, one of the Caribbean countries with the most expensive fuel, in order to make savings.
Van der Horst also called on Agriculture Minister Salvador Jimenez to authorize the export of mangoes and vegetables to New York. He said that the Agriculture Minister has yet to sign the phyto-sanitary permit for the export of the produce on cargo planes, despite numerous petitions. He said he has not been able to meet with the minister to discuss the matter, and this is affecting local producers.
Van der Horst criticized the rising aviation fuel prices. A large portion of local prices consists of taxes, to the point that the government earns more taxes as the price increases. "Here we have to think about what is more important, the development of the tourism and agricultural sectors, or only the tax part," said Vanderhorst, as reported in Hoy.
He commented that efforts are being made to replace flights by American Airlines and Continental, which announced cancellations come this September. The cancellation of the regular flights affects cargo operations as well as passenger transport.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
Van der Horst also called on Agriculture Minister Salvador Jimenez to authorize the export of mangoes and vegetables to New York. He said that the Agriculture Minister has yet to sign the phyto-sanitary permit for the export of the produce on cargo planes, despite numerous petitions. He said he has not been able to meet with the minister to discuss the matter, and this is affecting local producers.
Van der Horst criticized the rising aviation fuel prices. A large portion of local prices consists of taxes, to the point that the government earns more taxes as the price increases. "Here we have to think about what is more important, the development of the tourism and agricultural sectors, or only the tax part," said Vanderhorst, as reported in Hoy.
He commented that efforts are being made to replace flights by American Airlines and Continental, which announced cancellations come this September. The cancellation of the regular flights affects cargo operations as well as passenger transport.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)