Doïna de Campos, President of the incoming agency Turmaya

Everyone knows the Dominican Republic...

Doïna de Campos - No, precisely! What has been publicised for years - sandy beaches and coconut palms - is too simplistic an image. The Dominican Republic is "more than an island, it's a country", according to an old campaign that I found very accurate. Historically, it is the cradle of the New World, the highest mountain in the Caribbean, one of the rare biosphere reserves, exceptional beaches, and not just in Punta Cana. The island is bathed by the Caribbean Sea to the south and the Atlantic to the north, creating totally different seaside landscapes. And most of all, they are a hospitable and generous people. I always say to visitors: "Your fondest memories will not be of the beaches, but of the kindness and warmth of the Dominicans...". That's why it's important to get away from the big hotel complexes and see something else, to meet the people, because that will bring you much more than beaches and sunshine.

How has the incentive market evolved over the last five years?

D. de C. - This market is currently developing in the United States and South America. As for France, it has slowed down a bit, in terms of volume at least, which is quite normal: the French were the pioneers of the incentive business in the DR, where they arrived in 1995... You might as well say that most of the companies have come! So now I'm keen to offer a new facet of the island, which is exciting given the diversity of the country, which is as big as Switzerland and offers a wide range of destinations.

What are these new proposals?

D. de C. - The interior of the country with Santiago, cradle of the merengue and the little-known cigar culture, the Samana area for whale watching between January and March, and also the discovery of Los Haïtises. And then there's the south-west, the area around Barahona, the most surprising region, wild, untouched by tourists, totally unspoilt because it's difficult to get to and there are no logistics involved. The area, classified as a "Biosphere Reserve" by UNESCO, is of unparalleled beauty. We have designed a programme there called "The Magic South", which holds some wonderful surprises in store, such as the discovery of Lake Enriquillo. This salt lake, located 45 metres below sea level, is home to crocodiles, iguanas and a multitude of birds, including pink flamingos and herons. The site, which includes three islands, offers some unusual activities: curative mud massages, sulphurous water baths... We gave priority to meeting the local population, the shamans, an American adventurer who knows all the legends of the region, the miners of Larimar, the famous local blue stone... With a programme like this, we find the essence of the incentive: sharing unique moments, a luxury more remarkable than a top-of-the-range hotel.