SANTO DOMINGO.- National Hotels and Restaurants Association president Luis Lopez yesterday defended the bill which creates the National Tourism Development Institute (Indetur), whereas Tourism minister Felix Jiménez (Felucho) didn’t comment on the piece that would grant sweeping powers to that government agency’s chief.

But Dominican Municipalities Federation president Fausto Ruiz said he’s concerned the initiative could increase the concentration of powers, and instead prefers that the city councils take part in the decision-making process if a zone with tourism potential is within their territory.

Lopez said the bill was drafted under consensus with the private sector. “The spirit of that bill is to take functions away from Tourism to give them to the Directive Council made up of seven members who’ll attend tourism infrastructure and zoning plans for tourism, together with Economy, Planning and Development Ministry.”

The legislation has sparked conflicts in the Chamber of Deputies, from concern it would give what some say are unchecked powers to the Minister of Tourism.

Source DominicanToday.com