Above: the Sanctuary Cap Cana

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Dominican Republic projects an increasing number of visitors from Italy to the country in 2012, following a jump in 2011, according to Vice Minister of Tourism Magaly Toribio.

The Italian market grew by 5 percent in tourist arrivals in 2011 relative to the previous year, according to Vice Minister of Tourism Magaly Toribio, who recently led a Dominican delegation to the BIT International Tourism Exchange in Milan.

“Our participation in this exhibition can be considered a success,” she said, calling the Italian market “one of the most important markets in Europe.”

Toribio said agreements had been reached to keep flights arriving from Italy throughout the year. Air carriers servicing the Dominican Republic now include Air Italy, Alitalia and Blue Panorama.

The BIT exchange in Milan was attended by 5,000 companies in 130 countries. Dominican Republic firms attending included Colonial Tours, Viva Wyndham Grand Hotel, Paradisus Punta Cana and Cap Cana Golf and Spa.

The Dominican Republic is not alone in attracting Italian tourists to the Caribbean, however. Last year, Andrew Humphries, General Manager of the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis, spoke about the growing strength of the Italian market on that island.