Dominican Republic - Sustainable Tourism Fuels Dominican Republic

This note describes the efforts of The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to combine competitiveness and environmental protection in the Dominican Republic. It states that:

• The Dominican tourist industry has grown dramatically over the past decade;
• This growth has thrust the service sector ahead of agriculture as the country's largest employer;
• There is now a need to better manage the country's natural resources and develop its tourism industry;
• USAID is helping Dominicans to capitalize on this growth through eco-tourism clusters;
• These clusters bring together different groups that have a stake in the tourism industry to work together, increase cooperation and develop brand names for these regions.

The note goes on to describe:

• The potential of beaches as tourist hubs;
• Their attraction to tourists from the United States;
• Rating systems that assess the eco-friendliness of hotels and resorts, thus increasing their brand value;
• The pressure of development on the country's fragile ecosystems.

The note argues that:

• Growth in tourism can be sustained only if the Dominican Republic protects its environment;
• Media coverage has helped to increase awareness among consumers;
• Non-government organizations (NGOs), treaties and conventions have also highlighted sustainable tourism.

The note concludes by describing similar efforts of USAID in other countries.