Tourism is Critical to the Advancement of Developing Countries

On January 12, Dr. Donald E. Hawkins, professor of Tourism Policy, Department of Tourism and Hotel Management at George Washington University, believes that
tourism represents an invaluable tool as he manifested during his address, "Tourism as a Sustainable Development Strategy: A Challenge for the Dominican Republic" at FUNGLODE.

Tourism generates 2.4 million jobs in the Caribbean and guarantees the conservation of the cultural heritage. It has become a fundamental asset in the advancement of development countries and a tool to breach the gap between poor and rich countries.

Dr. Hawkins described the ailments affecting the industry in the Dominican Republic in particular, the dangers of the "package" formula, the control that tour operators have over the system and the excessive building and degradation of the environment closely tied to the tourist industry.

The positive aspects of the Dominican tourist industry were also mentioned by Dr. Hawkins, with its contribution to the job creation, calculated in some 47,055 direct jobs and almost 117,639 indirect, according to the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants, (ASANAHORES).

Other positive aspects worth mentioning are the development that the industry has brought to the tourist areas and the revaluation and conservation of natural resources and the increasingly active participation of professional and business associations in the achievement of a more sustainable development.

Dr. Hawkins advocates for using tourism as part of a
strategy for a sustainable development, to help countries in the fight against poverty through a redistribution of wealth that the industry brings.

The conservation of historic heritage adds value to the tourist destination as part of the concept of geoturism, tendency that gains more and more adepts consisting of promoting the natural and cultural heritage thanks to the implementation of a sustainable model of tourism. The objective of geotourism is to
involve in the industry sectors and communities that, traditionally, have not participated in the effort, always creating the mechanisms to protect certain areas, recognizing its value and preserving their survival.

Eco-labeling and certifications identifying protected areas must be part of the strategy to add value to the product.

Dr. Hawkins’ conference at the Foundation in Santo Domingo is a part of a collaboration
program between the FUNGLODE/GFDD and the University of George Washington . In the framework of this cooperation, further conferences, seminars and training programs in the area of tourism and sustainable development will be organized and delivered.