Santo Domingo.- Despite the economic crisis and the A-H1N1 pandemic, Dominican Republic’s tourism continues climbing and the number of foreign visitors grew 2.41% in May.

Caribbean Tourism Bourse president Felipe Aquino made the affirmation last night during 13th BTC 2009 fair, inaugurated in the capital’s hotel Dominican Fiesta. "Those negative external factors haven’t been able to shut off the lights of hope for our tourism industry."

Aquino, speaking to a packed salon of tour operators, travel agents, investors, real estate leaders and government officials, hailed the country efforts to diversify the tourist product and to adapt them to the international market’s tendencies.

He said the contracts and the promotion of tourism have attracted a global market, contributing to the increase and the expectation of a good summer season.

DominicanToday.com, 3 July 2009
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2009/7/3/32472/Dominican-tourism-still-climbs-despite-sputtering-economy-bug