European Academy lauds MESCyT’s work in the strategic training of tourism talent

Recognition highlights the State’s leadership in the transformation and professionalization of tourism

Santo Domingo. – The International University Center of Tourism, Hotel and Gastronomy (CETT), attached to the University of Barcelona, will award the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT), Franklin García Fermín, the CETT Alimara Special Award 2026, in recognition of a management that has placed university education as the “strategic axis of tourism development” in the country.

The award ceremony will be held on March 16 in Barcelona, Spain, and highlights more than two decades of institutional work by the MESCyT focused on strengthening Dominican human capital, considered key to consolidating a competitive, innovative tourism aligned with international standards. In that sense, the European academy values that the historical growth of Dominican tourism is not limited to record numbers of visitors, but is supported by a structural vision based on knowledge, professionalization, and sustainability. CETT representatives emphasized that the management of MESCyT has been crucial in anticipating the challenges of the sector, betting on a long-term strategy focused on the preparation of professionals capable of sustaining and raising the quality of the Dominican tourism model, beyond economic situations or expansion cycles.

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The recognition particularly highlights the strengthening of international scholarship programs, specialized training itineraries, and academic mobility schemes, which have allowed thousands of Dominican youth to train in key areas such as tourism, hospitality, gastronomy, and experience management. Upon their return to the country, these professionals contribute advanced technical skills and a global vision that directly impacts innovation, service quality, and the sustainability of the sector. Likewise, the Catalan academy valued the strategic alliance between MESCyT and CETT, which has facilitated the training of Dominican students in Barcelona through programs aimed at the internationalization of talent, the transfer of knowledge and the promotion of responsible and high value-added tourism. Beyond the award, this international recognition reinforces a key message: the sustainable tourism development of the country, driven during the government of President Luis Abinader, has in higher education, innovation and the training of youth its fundamental pillars to generate quality jobs, competitiveness and lasting social progress.