The Dominican Republic was named �Golf Destination of the Year for the Caribbean and Latin America� by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) at its annual award ceremony for the golf tourism industry recently held in Marbella, Spain.

On receiving the award, Francisco Javier Garcia, Minister of Tourism, Dominican Republic said: �It is very important to receive this award. This constitutes a real consolidation of the development of golf in the Dominican Republic. At the moment we are developing courses of exceptional quality in the Dominican Republic. The new projects represent higher investment in 2009 than for the past four years. We will certainly use this award to continue working not only to be the number one golf destination for Latin America and the Caribbean, but to be the number one golf destination in the world.�

"Since the first designer golf course opened in the Dominican Republic, which was Teeth of the Dog at the world-popular Casa de Campo resort, golf has been a booming facet for the country's tourism industry," said Minister Garcia. "The Dominican Republic, blessed with breathtaking countryside and pristine beaches, is home to some of the world's most dramatic and spectacular golf courses designed by legends such as Pete Dye, P.B. Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Gary Player, Tom Fazio and Nick Faldo."

In addition to this award, the Dominican Republic was recently recognized in it�s November/December 2008 issue of �Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine�, a top-tier golf publication with a circulation of more than 650,000, as "The Player's Paradise," honouring the Faldo Legacy Course at Roco Ki as one of the top 10 best new golf courses in the world.

Also, soon to be released by Golfweek magazine, a top-tier golf publication with a circulation of more than 150,000, Punta Espada Golf Course will be ranked number one along with the Faldo Legacy Course at Roco Ki to be ranked number 20 in the Top 50 Courses in the Caribbean and Mexico article.

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About Dominican Republic: Rich in history, the Dominican Republic�s first tourist was Christopher Columbus in 1492. Since then, it has developed into a diverse and luxurious destination offering both Dominican Republic and European flavours to more than 220,000 British visitors each year. A leader in eco-tourism, the Dominican Republic created the world�s first Whale Sanctuary and has established protection zones for more than 20 percent of its land and coastal areas. The country boasts some of the world�s best golf courses and beaches, the largest marinas in the Caribbean and is a chosen escape for celebrities, couples and families. Visit the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism�s official Web site at: www.godominicanrepublic.com or call +44 (0)20 7242 7778.

Contact: Sabrina Cambiaso: dominican.rep@btconnect.com Tel 020 7242 7778 - www.godominicanrepublic.com