In partnership with UN Tourism, QA Legal organized the event “Trends and Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism: Challenges and Perspectives in the Dominican Republic.”

This important gathering brought together key industry experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the tourism sector, with sustainability as the central axis for its transformation.

The event began with welcome remarks by José A. Quiroz A., Managing Partner of Quiroz Advisors – QA Legal, who emphasized the importance of promoting sustainable development as a shared commitment.

He was joined by Carlos Peguero, Vice Minister of Tourism for International Cooperation, and Julio Facal, Member of the Ethics Committee of UN Tourism, who stressed the importance of aligning local strategies with international best practices.

Next, Alicia Gomez Alapont, Director of the Department of Legal Affairs and International Standards at UN Tourism, presented “UN Tourism Legal Tools on the Sustainable Path,” highlighting the role of international frameworks in guiding countries toward sustainable development models.

Julio Facal then presented “The Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism,” emphasizing how this set of principles serves as a foundation for establishing ethical standards in the global tourism industry.

The first panel, focused on Planning, Land Use, and the Environment, was moderated by José A. Quiroz A. It emphasized how proper planning and environmental protection are essential to ensuring responsible tourism development. Panelists included Erick Dorrejo

Medina, Ridomil Alejandro Rojas Ferreyra, and Alicia Gomez Alapont, who shared insights on aligning tourism growth with the preservation of natural resources.

The intervention of tourism entrepreneur Frank Elías Rainieri highlighted the importance of collective efforts to achieve sustainable tourism growth.

The second panel, moderated by Viclenny Liriano Castillo and titled “Social Responsibility and Accessibility as Challenges for Sustainability,” tackled key issues to make tourism a more inclusive and accessible industry. Esteemed panelists included Jake Kheel, Carlos Peguero, Julio Facal, and Yudith Castillo. The discussion made it clear that accessibility and social responsibility are not optional, but essential for ensuring a positive and equitable impact.

The insights gathered from this conference reinforce the importance of integrating sustainability at every stage of tourism development. At QA Legal, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting legal and ethical strategies that drive responsible tourism in the Dominican Republic.

We extend our sincere thanks to UN Tourism, Grupo Puntacana, and the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic for their invaluable collaboration