Government launches off season domestic tourism PR campaign ... Conseturismo not happy

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, April 28, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan Confederation of Tourism Chambers (Conseturismo)  has criticized the National Tourist Board (Inatur)  for restricting a PR program promoting domestic tour deals to Venezolana de Television (VTV) and Las Ultimas Noticias tabloid . 

Conseturismo president, Alvaro Montenegro says he agrees with the government proposal to offer off-season deals to boost the domestic market but disagrees with the PR campaign worth 3.2 billion bolivares. 

"Only 2% of inhabitants watch State VTV ... other television channels should be allowed to place TV ads as well, based on the percentage of viewers ... and the same goes for print media."

The initiative to boost domestic tourism and lift the sector out of the doldrums is an initiative coming from Tourist Minister,General Wilmer Castro Soteldo.  

Inatur director, Silvia Arteaga says the board is considering the private sector's objectives and will reach a decision soon. 

Consecomercio also objects to the approval under the last Minisiter of $106,000 to be spent on salaries of Cuban tourism coaches and teachers saying it is a waste of time since no concrete project has been presented on the matter.