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View Full Version : Hotels call to end transport monopolies



NewsWhore
07-28-2008, 02:50 PM
The National Association of Hotels & Restaurants wants free competition for transport services. In a press release, the leading hotel organization says that the present government policies that allow for monopolies in the transport industry affect the quality of ground transport to the tourist zones.
"The development of the country, the right of citizens to efficient transport service and the consolidation of the tourism industry demand that there be freedom to do business in the transport sector," stresses Asonahores.
Asonahores says that the Office of Ground Transport (OTTT), the government authority in charge of regulating ground transportation routes, violates the Constitution when it bans a company from competing on a route after the legal requirements have been met. The case of Caribe Tours has been making headlines after OTTT rescinded its right to transport passengers on the Santo Domingo-Santiago-Dajabon-Cap Haitien route under pressure from small commuter companies.
El Nacional denounced that OTTT has banned Caribe Tours from also carrying passengers on the new Samana tolls highway. Asonahores called the decision "unheard of."
The hoteliers say that important tourist areas are underserved with inefficient and low quality transporters that receive the protection of the government.
Asonahores says that it is absurd that organizations such as OTTT instead of protecting the interests of the communities and passengers become accomplices to those who resort to illegal and violent methods to maintain the monopolies in violation to the Constitution.

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