NewsWhore
09-07-2009, 04:10 PM
Government authorities and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have described the prevailing Dominican tourism model as "highly unsustainable." The UNDP criticizes the lack of diversification, the irresponsibility of tourism project developers and the thirst for fast profits from businesspeople in the sector. Also criticized is the culture of exploitation and poor management of natural resources. These and other issues are part of the conclusions in a draft of a national, inter-ministerial dialogue that was organized by the Ministry of the Environment and the United Nations Development Program that met to discuss climate change for 3 days in Santo Domingo.
The real estate development model and its short-term bias that hurts the hotel industry was also discussed.
The discussions also identified the absence of clear cadastral registries that allow for tourism projects to be located within vulnerable coastal areas. Construction projects within the 60-meter mark were also criticized.
For tackling the situation, the adhering to a territorial and tourist zoning plan that emphasizes the coastal ecosystems that are being impacted by climate change was recommended.
The forum, according to El Nuevo Diario, also called for incentives for more sustainable tourism models and development in areas with reduced environmental risks. The forum stressed that better zoning codes need to be introduced and fiscal incentives should be established to stimulate more sustainable models.
One point stood out: better roads are needed to stimulate projects in other areas. Tourism contributes between 8% and 9% of the Gross Domestic Product and is the main hard currency provider, followed by remittances and duty free export zones.
Nevertheless, eco-tourism expert Bolivar Troncoso said that the story came as a result of a leak by someone who stole the preliminary draft of the conclusions. He criticized the statements as malicious, when "we are taking effective measures for tourism sustainability here," he said.
Meanwhile, the vice president of the National Hotels and Restaurants Association (Asonahores), Arturo Villanueva, said that the UNDP officials have never had to pay a payroll. He rejected criticism of the all-inclusive model and now the real estate development model that has taken off in the DR. He said the Dominican tourism model has been copied in Mexico, Jamaica and Cuba, as reported in Hoy.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)
The real estate development model and its short-term bias that hurts the hotel industry was also discussed.
The discussions also identified the absence of clear cadastral registries that allow for tourism projects to be located within vulnerable coastal areas. Construction projects within the 60-meter mark were also criticized.
For tackling the situation, the adhering to a territorial and tourist zoning plan that emphasizes the coastal ecosystems that are being impacted by climate change was recommended.
The forum, according to El Nuevo Diario, also called for incentives for more sustainable tourism models and development in areas with reduced environmental risks. The forum stressed that better zoning codes need to be introduced and fiscal incentives should be established to stimulate more sustainable models.
One point stood out: better roads are needed to stimulate projects in other areas. Tourism contributes between 8% and 9% of the Gross Domestic Product and is the main hard currency provider, followed by remittances and duty free export zones.
Nevertheless, eco-tourism expert Bolivar Troncoso said that the story came as a result of a leak by someone who stole the preliminary draft of the conclusions. He criticized the statements as malicious, when "we are taking effective measures for tourism sustainability here," he said.
Meanwhile, the vice president of the National Hotels and Restaurants Association (Asonahores), Arturo Villanueva, said that the UNDP officials have never had to pay a payroll. He rejected criticism of the all-inclusive model and now the real estate development model that has taken off in the DR. He said the Dominican tourism model has been copied in Mexico, Jamaica and Cuba, as reported in Hoy.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)