SANTO DOMINGO.- Luis Mustelier, who resides in Miami and traveled to Bavaro on the weekend to stay in a new five star hotel there, asked how was the Dominican capital and why the image sold in the international media goes from Punta Cana’s beaches to the poverty in the country’s 'misery townships.'

Interviewed by newspaper Diario Libre, he was told that, for example, the Alcazar is perhaps one of the oldest constructions in the New World, used by Christopher Columbus’ brother Bartolome and his son Diego; that here there is the Primal Cathedral of America, the first university, interesting museums and art galleries, caves and archaeological sites, a National Theater, three symphony orchestras, the recently staged international book fair and that Dominican Republic is already part of the circuit of markets for the grand stars of show business.

Mustelier couldn’t believe it. And then, why doesn’t anyone know about that? Why would one to be locked up in a hotel without really knowing the country?

Good questions.

All tourists want to know the country they visit. Most of the shows staged in Bavaro’s hotels suffers a capital sin: the lack of live music, which would otherwise be giving musicians opportunities of work, and to pay copyrights.

A few agencies suggest more festivals and the attraction of congresses. Quepe Tours and some others which operate in the country’s east suggest this type of tourism.

The staging of the Merengue Sound tour in the next two weeks is an example, as well as the already-established Latin Music tour in August and other projects.

“The organization of musical or cultural festivals are noble projects which motorize cultural tourism, which in the case of Quepe Tours, shares with Acroarte (show business journalists) leaves only profits,” newspaper Diario Libre says.