Above: the Be Live Grand Marien

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Discover Puerto Plata conference in the Dominican Republic will be hosting travel agents and journalists from more than 17 countries, organizers announced at an official launch this week.

The initiative, which is being organized with support from the Dominican Ministry of Tourism and the US Agency for International Development, intends to strengthen trade relations with tour operators and develop Puerto Plata as a tourist destination. The latter is a major stated priority for the government.

The conference, which is in its second year, will take place from Oct. 16 to Oct. 18 at the Hotel Be Live Grand Marien Costa Dorada.

There are delegations signed on to attend from the United States, Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Germany, Poland, France and other countries.

So far, the conference has signed on 49 exhibition stands.