News for the Hospitality Executive |
SANTO DOMINGO,
Dominican Republic, Dec. 3, 2010
-- The Dominican Republic (DR)
Ministry of Tourism is providing the facts to ensure travelers have all
of the information on the health situation in the DR concerning
cholera. DR Health Minister Bautista
Rojas Gomez reported that the DR government has a proactive
disease prevention system and is implementing public education efforts
to prevent cholera noting that it is very unlikely any long-term
cholera outbreaks will take hold in the country. In addition to excellent surveillance, monitoring and health programs, the DR just launched a sweeping National Program of Education and Prevention of Cholera that will reach over one million families and involve 100,000 volunteers. The national mobilization also has the support of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the Dominican Medical Association and the Dominican Society of Infectious Diseases. "This educational campaign has awakened an unprecedented interest in the Dominican Republic, to such a degree that from the most humble citizens to the President of the Republic, they will all be taking part in all the activities prepared for this purpose," said Rojas Gomez. More than seven thousand public and private schools in the country will join in the program that seeks to raise public awareness on how to prevent contracting cholera. Despite identifying and successfully treating a small number of cases, the country of 10.5 million residents and over four million annual visitors remains a safe and secure destination. Daily life, business and tourism activities are robust and thriving. The World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend restrictions to international travel or trade due to the cholera outbreak in Haiti. At this time, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has not issued any travel warnings for the DR. The DR features well-managed, globally recognized world-class resorts and hotels with high standards of health, quality and safety. Headquartered in the UK, Cristal Food Safety Ltd.'s CheckSafetyFirst.com website provides travel safety and health tips to consumers, hotels and resorts around the world. Jason Burnett, technical director, Check Safety First, Ltd. said, "We work with the majority of tourist hotels within the Dominican Republic to ensure the highest standards of food hygiene and safety are maintained. We have been working with hundreds of hotels there to ensure they have all preventions in place and are fully prepared. So far, over 1,000 people within the DR hotel industry have been trained in cholera prevention." All of the DR's cities and tourism regions, including hotels, resorts, beaches, attractions, airports, seaports and marinas in Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, La Romana, Santo Domingo and Samana are open and welcoming visitors. The DR Ministry of Health emphasized that "everything is proceeding normally" in the country. Tourists planning on visiting the DR's famous beaches and resorts do not need to cancel their trips and should follow basic food safety recommendations. Useful Information:
DR Tourism Update:
For more information on the Dominican Republic and the tourism regions of Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Romana, Samana and Puerto Plata, visit: www.GoDominicanRepublic.com. The Dominican Republic's
first tourist was Christopher Columbus
in 1492. Rich in history, the DR has developed into a diverse
destination offering both Dominican and European flavors to more than
one million U.S. visitors each year. Named #1 Golf Destination in Caribbean & Latin
America by the International Association of Golf Tour
Operators, the DR boasts 25 designer golf courses, upscale resorts,
pristine nature, and sophisticated cities and quaint villages filled
with warm Dominican people. The DR's major tourism regions of Punta Cana, Puerto
Plata, La Romana, Santo Domingo
and Samana feature the best beaches, fascinating history and culture,
and are a chosen escape for celebrities, couples and families alike.
Visit the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism's official website at:
www.GoDominicanRepublic.com.
|
Contact: Vanessa Welter of BVK PR, +1-850-980-3760, +1-414-247-3803, [email protected], for DR Ministry of Tourism http://www.GoDominicanRepublic.com |