The eastern region is the main tourist area of the Dominican Republic, where there are currently 45,800 rooms and 3,000 that are under construction. Of this universe, 80% of the hotel installations in the area are based on Spanish investment.
According to Ernesto Veloz, president of the Association of Hotels of the East (Asoleste), Spanish investment in the tourism sector is “vitally important” to the development they have achieved in the eastern part of the country.
“We currently have 45,800 rooms and a further 3,000 under construction, which should be added to inventory by the end of this year, beginning of 2023, plus others that have not yet been started,” he said.
Ernesto Veloz offered these statements when participating in the business breakfast “A journey through the history of Dominican tourism”, organized by the Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain in the Dominican Republic, where he indicated that hotel occupancy in the eastern region is currently around 78%.
Rafael Blanco Tejera, president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores), said: ” Spanish investment is fundamental for us in Asonahores. It really is the main source of investment in the tourism sector, with more than 40,000 rooms operating today.”
He pointed out that since the onset of the tourism industry in the 70s and 80s, Spaniards have been an integral fundamental part of the development of tourism in the Dominican Republic.
Although he did not indicate the amount, he expressed that there is great interest in investing in the Dominican Republic in all areas.
“We see that there is an interest at the geographical level, as in Punta Cana; in the Miches area, which is a new destination; Samaná too, in the south, and in Santo Domingo. So, we are overwhelmed by this interest, and I think it reflects the confidence that we are achieving as a country, as an economic sector, and also, undoubtedly, as a tourism sector, because we are becoming a reference in the Caribbean, “said the president of Asonahores.
When asked by Diario Libre, Blanco Tejera said that the prospects for this year are extremely positive and he believes that 2022 will break the record with more than seven million arrivals, if nothing changes.
“We are making every effort to achieve this. We are supporting the initiatives of the Ministry of Tourism and we are confident that this year will be historic for Dominican tourism,” he said.
Spanish investment in the DR up to 2019 in numbers
According to a publication by the Dominican Embassy in Spain, 24 Spanish hotel chains are based in the country which own 98 hotels composed of 46,142 rooms accounting for 56% of the total Dominican tourist offer.
According to the report, the companies include: Meliá, Ríu, Barceló, Iberostar, Be Live (Globalia), Bahía Príncipe, NH, Paladium, Catalonia, H10, Fiesta, Piñero, BlueBay, Majestic, Sirenis, Occidental and Martinon, among others.
The embassy also highlighted that more than 200 companies with Spanish capital have been established in the Dominican Republic, including Santander, Acciona, Naturgy, Mapfre, Inypsa, Boluda, Eulen, TSK, Mango and Zara.
In Puerto Plata
The executive president of Amhsa Marina Hotels & Resorts, Luis López, said that the All Inclusive is consolidated in Puerto Plata as a concept of including food, drinks and entertainment within the hotels, in addition to accommodation.
He also said that all the American chains are promoting and creating all-inclusive brands.
“I take this as a recognition of a product that was born in the Dominican Republic and is being promoted worldwide,” he said.
López stressed that Puerto Plata faces the challenge of modernizing the entire area and added that cruise tourism is a success in the province.
“Puerto Plata is making an excellent recovery in real estate and the sale of units as second homes, both in Plata Dorada and in other areas such as Cabarete and Sosúa, where many residential projects are being built, and Puerto Plata faces a great challenge of attracting new investments from the large capital investors at home and abroad ” said the CEO of Amhsa Marina Hotels & Resorts.
He said that the project that President Luis Abinader has launched in Playa Bergantín, Puerto Plata, will attract large investments and American and Spanish brands, among others.
He pointed out that the recovery in Puerto Plata has been unlike other destinations, in addition, the outlook has become following the war in Ukraine which affects all of Europe.
“The entire incoming market to Puerto Plata has dropped significantly. However, the American market continues to come, the statistics are there, we have not fully recovered from the pandemic, but we are well on our way,” he said.
Source:
Diario Libre
