As the UNWTO executive council held a meeting in the Dominican Republic for the first time, D.R. minister of tourism David Collado issued an appeal for a united effort to tackle the problem of sargassum, the macroalgae coming ashore in large amounts in Mexico, Florida and the Caribbean.

"The solution to the sargassum problem cannot be individual," Collado said in his opening speech in Punta Cana. "And organizations like this should help small countries find solutions when we don't have them."

Collado thanked the UNWTO for having chosen the Dominican Republic to hold its 118th meeting. He sees it as a recognition of the tourism industry's success over the past few years, making it a regional leader.

He said tourism is not a luxury for the D.R., but an essential sector because of the massive impact it has on the economy, representing more than 25% of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Opening the meeting, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili highlighted the D.R.’s tourism achievements, especially its rapid recovery from the pandemic. He said that the Dominican Republic has become a world benchmark for tourism.

The UNWTO meeting brings together ministers and delegations from the member countries of the UNWTO. There are representatives from 38 nations, including 19 tourism ministers and 200 delegates.

Delegates are discussing progress, experiences, strategies and challenges for the future, with the development of more sustainable tourist destinations as a main theme. Collado has made sustainability a focus of the country’s efforts "to promote the development of responsible, sustainable and respectful tourism environment aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”