PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic -- To further boost the return of travel, the Dominican Republic this week launched a Covid-19 vaccination campaign that prioritizes tourism workers.
The effort, launched through a public-private partnership, began this week in Punta Cana and will expand across the country, officials said.
Luis Nunez, regional commercial director of AMResorts, told travel advisors about the new campaign at a dinner Wednesday night at the Secrets and Dreams Royal Beach resorts here for ALG Vacations' 500 Club Silver, the company's first post-pandemic incentive trip for top-selling advisors.
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Nunez said he expects all of AMResorts employees to have the first of the two-dose vaccine within about a week.
"This is a huge selling point," Nunez told advisors, saying they can now assure clients who might remain hesitant about traveling during the pandemic that they "can come here in confidence."
Workers are being given the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine.
Dominican Republic president Luis Abinader was in Punta Cana on Wednesday to witness the rollout of the vaccination campaign.
He is scheduled to address the group on Friday to talk about tourism recovery, including efforts to restore more airlift, ALG Vacations president Ray Snisky said.