President-elect Luis Abinader announced that he would head the Tourism cabinet. Abinader has personal experience leading hotel ventures in Puerto Plata.
Abinader named former National District mayor David Collado his Tourism Minister and former president of the National Hotel & Tourism Association (Asonahores) Joel Santos the Tourism Advisor to the Executive Branch.
The announcement of Miguel David Collado Morales for Tourism Minister comes at a time when occupancy in the local industry is at an estimated 10%, as the country begins to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. There has been a soft reopening of hotels and resorts since 1 July 2020 with the restart of commercial flights.
Collado is a former legislator for the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) from 2010 to 2016. Collado directed the Tourism Commission of the Chamber of Deputies. He has had a media platform dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship.
Collado was recognized for appointing a professional team in his effort to reorganize the city government.
Despite high popularity ratings to continue as mayor for the National District in the 2016 municipal election, Collado announced he would not seek reelection. He would join the Abinader campaign at its end.
Collado was born on 29 September 1975 in Santo Domingo. He studied at the San Juan Bautista high school. He has a degree in Tourism Relations at Atlantic University