"The IAGTO award affirms that the DR has arrived on the internationalscene as an important new 'It' destination for golf. The world is takingnotice of the DR's world-class designer golf courses set amid stunning seasides, beaches and mountains in an accessible and affordable destination," DRMinister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia said.

Each year, the IGTM annual conference brings together golf tour operatorsand the meetings industry with leading hotels, resorts and golf courses of theworld to conduct business and grow the industry. This leading trade showhighlights and honors top golf travel suppliers, destinations and services.

"Since the first designer golf course opening in the DR, which was Teethof the Dog at the world-popular Casa de Campo resort, golf has been a boomingfacet for the country's tourism industry," said Garcia. "The DR, blessed withbreathtaking countryside and pristine beaches, is home to some of the world'smost dramatic and spectacular golf courses designed by legends such as PeteDye, P.B. Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Gary Player, Tom Fazio andNick Faldo."

In honor of the prestigious award, IAGTO will host an official IAGTO FAMtrip that will consist of 50 people, 40 IAGTO members (golf tour operators)and 10 members of the International Golf Travel Writers Association toexperience the golf offerings of the DR first hand.

In addition to this award, the DR was recently recognized by Travel &Leisure Golf magazine, a top-tier golf publication with a circulation of morethan 650,000, as "The Player's Paradise," honoring the Faldo Legacy Course atRoco Ki as one of the top 10 best new golf courses in the world. Also, soonto be released by Golfweek magazine, a top-tier golf publication with acirculation of more than 150,000, Punta Espada Golf Course will be rankednumber one along with the Faldo Legacy Course at Roco Ki to be ranked number20 in the Top 50 Courses in the Caribbean and Mexico article.

Rich in history, the Dominican Republic is a diverse and luxuriousdestination offering both Dominican and European flavors to more than onemillion U.S. visitors each year. It also features some of the best golfcourses and beaches in the world, the largest marina in the Caribbean and is achosen escape for celebrities, couples and families. For more information,visit the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism's official Web site at:http://www.GoDominicanRepublic.com or call 1-888-374-6361.

SOURCE Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism