Santo Domingo. A legislative bill aimed at designating sports tourism as a national priority in the Dominican Republic was submitted to the Senate on October 14. The proposal has been referred to the Permanent Sports Committee for further examination.
The initiative, backed by the Dominican Association of Sports Tourism (ADOTURD) and introduced by Senator Gustavo Lara Salazar from San Cristóbal, seeks to establish the National Council for the Development of Sports Tourism (CONDETUDE). This council would facilitate collaboration among government entities, the sports sector, and private industry.
Key components of the bill include the development of a National Sports Tourism Strategy, a registry for organizations involved in the sector, and a one-stop shop designed to simplify procedures related to sporting events and investments. The proposal also outlines methods to stimulate investment and sponsorship while avoiding the implementation of new taxes or increased government spending.
Yerik Pérez, President of ADOTURD, emphasized that the initiative aims to formulate a cohesive national policy that would attract international sporting events, enhance investment, and create economic opportunities throughout the country. “The Dominican Republic has the potential to become a leading sports tourism destination,” said Pérez, noting that the proposed framework would aid in the organized growth of the sector and amplify its economic benefits.
In addition to these measures, the proposal encourages private-sector involvement in the development and monitoring of public policies. It also calls for the creation of statistics and economic impact assessments to evaluate the sector’s contributions to the economy.
