Francisco Javier Garcia, speaking at an event Thursday coordinated by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic in New York City, reiterated that the Caribbean island is a safe travel destination for tourists from around the world and particularly for visitors from the U.S., who account for more than 3 million visitors each year.

He said a National Committee of Tourism Security has been established by the Dominican government, focused on monitoring and improving security measures in the tourism poles across the island nation.

The committee includes 16 government agencies, including the military and the national police, along with private entities like the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES).

“Tourism in the Dominican Republic is a model for development (of the industry),” Garcia said through a translator. “More than 50 years of hard work, we have the best installations in the Caribbean — the best infrastructure in the Caribbean region.”

The minister said they also have reinforced rules that now require emergency information and the 911 number be clearly posted in every guest room.

The island’s safety came under scrutiny earlier this year after Tammy Lawrence-Daley of Delaware claimed she was assaulted by a hotel employee at the all-inclusive luxury resort Majestic Elegance in Punta Cana. Her claims were amplified after the deaths of at least nine American tourists in the weeks that followed at various hotels across the country.