Santo Domingo, September 7, 2018.- The Dominican Health Tourism Association (ADTS) and AF Strategic Communication celebrated the fourth edition of the International Congress of Health and Welfare Tourism, with the participation of 50 national and international panelists with the purpose to generate synergies, new business, and knowledge transfer.

During the opening of the event, which welcomed participants and panelists from more than ten countries, Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso, president of the ADTS, indicated that this association favors the best practices of the health and tourism sectors to consolidate the country and the region as a preferred health and wellness tourism destination.

Dr. Cambiaso called for continuous improvement, “we must innovate, reinvent ourselves, and diversify our service and export offers, considering it necessary to define the strategies to reach our maximum potential as a nation.

Prior to the awards ceremony, on the opening night Amelia Reyes Mora, president of AF Strategic Communications, said that coordinated efforts by the public and private sectors are needed to build a solid reputation of the Dominican Republic as a health tourism destination and for the nation to be attractive in terms of trust, competitiveness, quality, and safety for the visitor.

This 4th. Congress had the intervention of Vice President Margarita Cedeño, who highlighted the importance of the development of health tourism in the country, as it is an activity that contributes to the economy and the Dominican population for a large amount of money it generates.

On the last day of the event, the Mayor of the National District, David Collado, spoke about the “Role of the Mayor’s Office for the Development of a Health Destination.”

During the activity, the executive director of the National Competitiveness Council, Rafael Paz, presented the results of the first Competitiveness Study of the Dominican Republic in Health Tourism.

The study consisting of a comparative analysis of different destinations and which has in-depth interviews with public and private sector personalities was carried out by the consulting firm Russa García y Asociados SRL.

The Health and Wellness Tourism Congress ended with a private investment lunch that was supported by the government and the financial sector aimed at local and international investors, whose objective was to identify resources for new health tourism projects, device-free zones doctors and communities for retirees.

During this lunch, Luisa Fernández, executive director of the National Council of Export Free Zones, directed the panel “Free Zones as a platform for investment and development of medical device companies.”

In addition, the executive director of the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD), Marius De León, presented the conference Facilities for Local and International Investment in the Dominican Republic, while the vice president of the Tourism Sector of Banco Popular, Juan Manuel Martin de Oliva, presented on Financial Products and Investor Support.

Within the framework of this biennial activity, held on September 5, 6 and 7 at the facilities of the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel, the ADTS recognized the Metropolitan Hospital of Santiago (HOMS), the Banco Popular Dominicano (BPD), and Medical Tourism Association (MTA), for its contributions in the area of ​​health and wellness tourism.

In the event that had more than 50 sponsors, and in which representatives from the United States, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala, Italy, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Canada met, panels such as: The Global Perspective on Health and Wellness Tourism, the Challenges and Opportunities of its Human Capital, Importance of International Accreditation in Medical Tourism, Strategies and Experiences for the Construction of a Health and Wellness Tourism Destination Brand, Experience of International Patient, Recruitment of International Patients.

Similarly, this meeting brought together representatives of the Vice Presidency of the Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism, National Competitiveness Council, National Council of Export Free Zones (CNZFE), Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (CEIRD), the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES), the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), the National Council of Private Enterprise (Conep), the Dominican Tourism Press Association (Adompretur), Presidents of Medical Societies, and authorities of the main hospital centers of the country.

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