SANTO DOMINGO. – Tourism mogul Frank Rainieri today became honorary director of the Los Haitises National Park, and sworn in by Environment minister Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal.

Fernandez Mirabal said the president of the Punta Cana Group is a successful businessman who’s shown efficiency, for which he’s confident he’ll protect and promote the park.

He said Rainieri’s appointment is based on his record as a tourism leader and in private management.

Rainieri said he felt “forced” to assume that responsibility, without pay, to improve the park.

He said he’ll work together with the farmers to solve the problems in Los Haitises; a protected area he said has been a source of discord for a long time, adding that among his proposals is to create a foundation to collect funds for its protection.