NewsWhore
02-13-2009, 03:10 PM
The United States Agency for International Development has created the Fondo Destinos, making available RD$17.8 million for investment in sustainable development projects. The fund seeks to stimulate innovative products, improve visitor satisfaction and promote a good image for the country abroad. It can serve as an incubator for small and medium-sized tourism companies that guarantee economic benefits and improve the quality of life of communities, while promoting local participation in the management of the tourism destinations. USAID director in the DR, Richard Goughnour says that the fund strengthens strategic alliances between government and private sector at local community level to promote sustainable tourism that protects the environment and Dominican cultural values. The initiative is part of the Dominican Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (DSTA) program that USAID launched in September 2007. Projects can bid for up to RD$2 million, but participants need to secure one-to-one counterpart funding.
The deadline for submitting project proposals is 10 March 2009.
The funds may be used for tours to communities, natural areas and bird watching, improving the finishing, packaging and distribution of local products, including arts and crafts sold at gift shops, hotels and restaurants. Projects may also be devoted to developing cultural attractions, local identities and historical contributions at a local level, or enhancing the value of archaeological, historical, neighborhood and architectural values. They may also be used to support small community efforts to provide lodging, arts and crafts, folklore, ethno-botanical trails, horseback rides or adventure tourism. Projects may also consist of facilitating direct sale of products and services to tourists by people in a small community, creating and improving tourist routes (agriculture, ecology, archaeology and culture).
For more information, call 809 221-9192 or email destinos@impulsar.org
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)
The deadline for submitting project proposals is 10 March 2009.
The funds may be used for tours to communities, natural areas and bird watching, improving the finishing, packaging and distribution of local products, including arts and crafts sold at gift shops, hotels and restaurants. Projects may also be devoted to developing cultural attractions, local identities and historical contributions at a local level, or enhancing the value of archaeological, historical, neighborhood and architectural values. They may also be used to support small community efforts to provide lodging, arts and crafts, folklore, ethno-botanical trails, horseback rides or adventure tourism. Projects may also consist of facilitating direct sale of products and services to tourists by people in a small community, creating and improving tourist routes (agriculture, ecology, archaeology and culture).
For more information, call 809 221-9192 or email destinos@impulsar.org
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)