The Dominican Association of Health Tourism (ADTS) and AF Comunicación Estratégica celebrated the 4th International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress with the participation of 50 national and internationals panelist aimed to generate synergies, new businesses and transfer of knowledge.

During the inauguration of the event, one which hosted participants and panelists from more than 10 countries, Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso, President of The Dominican Association of Health Tourism (ADTS), informed that ADTS promotes best practices in healthcare and tourism sectors, ones that are termed to consolidate the country and the region as a preferred health and wellness tourism destination.

Dr. Cambiaso voiced a call for a continual improvement: “we must innovate, reinvent ourselves as to diversify and export healthcare services, bearing in mind that strategies are to be defined as to reach our maximum potential as a nation”.

Before presenting awards on the inaugural event, Amelia Reyes Mora, President of AF Comunicación Estratégica said: “our country requires coordinated efforts of both the public and the private sectors as to achieve build-up of a solid reputation as health and wellness destination and for the Dominican Republic to be attractive in terms of trust, competitiveness, quality and safety for the ones that visits our country”.

This 4th International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress was attended by the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, Margarita Cedeño, who highlighted the importance to further develop the health and wellness tourism of the country, one that she envisioned as: “the activity that largely contributes to the economy of our country”.

On the final day of the event, the Mayor of the city of Santo Domingo, David Collado, delivered speech: “Mayor’s Office Role for the Development of a Healthcare Destination”.

During the activity, the Executive Director of the National Competitiveness Council, Rafael Paz, presented the results of the Dominican Republic’s First Competitiveness Study on Health and Wellness Tourism.

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

The 4th International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress was closed with a private luncheon sponsored by the government and by the financial sector, one that focused on the local and international investors and aimed to identify resources for new health and wellness tourism projects, medical device free zones and to open retirees communities.

During the private luncheon for investors, Luisa Fernández, Executive Director of Consejo Nacional de Zonas Francas (Free Zones´ Council), led panel “The Free Zones as investment and development platform of medical device companies”.

In addition, the Executive Director of the Dominican Republic’s Export and Investment Center (CEI-RD), Marius De León, addressed public present with conference entitled: “Local and International Investment Opportunities in the Dominican Republic”. Likewise, Banco Popular´s Tourism Sector Vice President, Juan Manuel Martin De Oliva, outlined on “Financial Products and Support for the Investor”.

As part of this biennalle activity, one which was carried out on September 5, 6 and 7 at the installations of Hotel Renaissance Jaragua, the ADTS recognized Hospital Metropolitano de Santiago (HOMS), Banco Popular Dominicano (BPD), and the Medical Tourism Association (MTA), for its contributions in the area of health and wellness tourism.

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

Similarly, this event assembled representatives of the Vice Presidency of the Dominican Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Tourism, the National Competitiveness Council, the National Council of Free Export Zones (CNZFE), the Dominican Republic Export and Investment Centre (CEI-RD), the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (ASONAHORES), the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) , the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP), the Dominican Association of Tourist Press (ADOMPRETUR), and hospital bodies presidents, officials and directors of the most important hospitals, clinics in the Dominican Republic.