Santo Domingo.- The main associations of the tourism sector requested the Government to review the way in which the fee established in Law 225-20 on Comprehensive Management and Coprocessing of Solid Waste is being applied, considering that it disproportionately affects micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the sector.
During a press conference, representatives from the Dominican Association of Tourism Operators (ADOTUR), the Dominican Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (ADAVIT), the Organization of Tourism Professionals (OPETUR), and the Association of Receptive Tour Operators (ASOTURE) explained that many tourism companies work as intermediaries and invoice for services that belong to other companies, which is why they do not generate the same amount of waste as an industry or a large commercial establishment.
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The president of ADOTUR, Bladimir Monegro, who spoke on behalf of the organizations, pointed out that charging the contribution based on total billing does not reflect the reality of the sector and may affect the economic stability of tourism MSMEs.
The associations indicated that the same tourist service can be charged multiple times during the commercialization process.
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As an example, they explained that a travel agency buys services from a wholesaler, which in turn hires hotels, transport, or excursions, and each company ends up paying the contribution, even if not all of them produce significant solid waste.
In his view, this situation increases operating costs, reduces the competitiveness of companies, and mainly affects small businesses, which also face other economic burdens.
The entities clarified that they support environmental protection and compliance with Law 225-20, but they understand that its application must be adjusted to technical criteria and take into account factors such as the amount of waste generated by each economic activity.
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They also requested that the authorities report how the resources collected through this contribution have been used and what results have been obtained in solid waste management.
Finally, OPETUR, ASOTURE, ADAVIT, and ADOTUR requested the creation of a working group with the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII), and other institutions, with the objective of reviewing the application of the contribution and finding a solution that allows for compliance with the law without affecting the competitiveness and sustainability of MSMEs in the tourism sector.
