World Tourism Day 2025: AVSI’s commitment in the Dominican Republic

Since 2023, AVSI and the Italian University of Turin have joined forces to promote sustainable local development in the Dominican Republic. Through ten-week academic internships, seven students from the Italian university—three in 2024 and four in 2025—have worked closely with Dominican communities and organizations in the Sierra de Neyba and the Lake Enriquillo area, two regions with great tourism potential.

These areas offer unique natural landscapes, biodiversity, and underappreciated cultural resources, ideal for developing sustainable, community-based ecotourism. The Sierra de Neyba features mountain trails and tropical forests, while Lake Enriquillo is home to rare species.

Francesca Errigo, one of the participants, said that the AVSI-UNITO project allowed them to learn in a context very different from their own, developing creativity, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity.

To promote community-based ecotourism, the students also engaged with and supported local organizations such as COOPROCASINE, a cooperative of coffee producers in the Sierra de Neyba.

For Francesca Scotti, the experience was key to understanding the importance of listening to the community. Visiting cooperative members and learning about their challenges brought them into the daily reality of these communities and opened them to a valuable cultural exchange.

The project combined technical learning with human and cultural enrichment. Roberta Agnusdei said she improved her Spanish and learned to use the technical language of the coffee sector. She also observed how the coffee market and partnerships with large companies work in practice, from the perspective of local producers.

Simone Cortina, the first intern of the 2025 program, described his experience as the most enriching of his academic and personal life. Living with the communities, participating in project writing, and reporting activities helped him grow professionally and feel part of something meaningful.

One of the project’s highlights was the Fam Trip (familiarization trip) organized in August 2025, which brought together national tourism agencies, communities, and youth associations to showcase and enhance the ecotourism potential of the Lake Enriquillo area. It was a true exploratory journey aimed at fostering dialogue and establishing agreements between local actors and agencies, with the goal of co-creating sustainable packages that could be included in tourism catalogs, generating new job opportunities for families and youth in the region.

Over two intense days, students, communities, and operators shared experiences: from the Ruta de la Uva to visits to Lake Enriquillo and Isla Cabritos, from meetings with the Red de Jóvenes de la Biosfera to a cultural moment with the youth volunteer group of Villa Jaragua. Francesca Errigo said they felt part of the community, committed to convincing agencies of the value of local ecotourism.

The initiative produced tangible tools: a brochure delivered to agencies, a digital poster—both outlining all the stops of the Fam Trip—and a detailed report with observations and suggestions to improve the quality of the ecotourism offer.

Funded by the School of Administration of the University of Turin, the project is now in its second year of implementation and is expected to continue in the coming years. The shared goal is for more students to experience this transformative journey, which combines academic training, social engagement, and environmental conservation.

The students concluded by expressing their hope that others can live an experience that contributes not only to their professional development but also to their personal growth.

Through this alliance, AVSI reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development in the Dominican Republic, building bridges between academia, local communities, and the productive sector to promote new opportunities, strengthen local capacities, and protect the environment.

On September 27, World Tourism Day 2025 is celebrated, established by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). It’s an opportunity to reflect on the role of tourism in sustainable development, the enhancement of local cultures, and the promotion of inclusion. Each year, the chosen theme highlights a global challenge or opportunity in the sector. Responsible tourism can positively impact the economy, environment, and communities. AVSI promotes forms of tourism that put people and respect for territories at the center.