President Luis Abinader led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Hyatt Ziva and Zilara hotel, which will have 800 rooms in its first phase.
The project is part of the government’s plans to develop Punta Bergantín and rejuvenate the economy of Puerto Plata province by leveraging tourism activity.
Managed by a trust overseen by the Banco de Reservas, the project spans 10 million square meters of coastal land and will include the construction of six five-star hotels, offering a total of 4,500 rooms, along with 1,500 vacation units, 2,500 mixed-use units, a golf club, public beach clubs, and a marine village (a theme park) unique to the area. The Hyatt Zilara is the first in a series of tourist facilities that will position this part of the country as a major attraction for both local and international visitors.
“Today we are firmly starting to relaunch Puerto Plata. It is not an immediate act, but it is a certain, confirmed, and solid action that this area will regain its former strength and development,” said the president.
Tourism Growth
President Abinader stated that, along with Punta Cana and the new hotels starting early next year in Pedernales, the Dominican Republic is expected to end this year with over 11.5 million visitors and anticipates surpassing 12 million next year.
He expressed that today is a special day because he believes it represents a turning point for the development of the Northern region. He noted that since 2002, for various reasons, Puerto Plata has been declining both in absolute and relative terms regarding tourism in the Dominican Republic. “But I can tell you that I have full hope and confidence that today is a turning point, and we will grow from these actions. We needed American brands in the area to attract North American tourists to Puerto Plata, we needed that commercial power, that database that Hyatt has, and also Meliá, although it is a Spanish brand, it has excellent contacts with the North American market,” he explained.
He highlighted the interest from other companies, such as Hilton, which is also in negotiation, and Karisma, a Mexico-Dominican company with strong marketing connections and resources in the U.S.
He mentioned that this project goes beyond the millions of square meters being developed, including the hotel sector, real estate, the innovation hub, and film studies, all combined to create interaction and development throughout the region.
The president reassured investors of government support in terms of tourism marketing, public works, and all related areas, affirming that Punta Bergantín will be a great success and will rejuvenate the entire region.
He stated that the interest of renowned global brands in investing in this project brings hope for the entire region and tourism, particularly in the North, with its impact nationwide, representing acts of confidence in the project and the area.
Tourism Minister David Collado noted that the country is on track to reach 11.5 million visitors, the highest figure in the history of the Dominican Republic. He emphasized that this is due to the government’s well-planned approach.
“This project is a reality; it is not just theory. There has been a groundbreaking ceremony, the funds are in place, and we have the support of Banco de Reservas and Banco Popular. The best is yet to come for Puerto Plata.”
Samuel Pereyra, the CEO of Banreservas, highlighted that the actions taken motivate him to double efforts to achieve high goals in the tourism sector, aligning with the president’s vision, and he expects positive results for economic development. The Governor of the Central Bank, Héctor Valdez Albizu, also attended the event.
Hotel Groups Announce 20 Hotels in Development
Hyatt’s representative, Antonio Fungairino, stated that this project will serve as a high-profile anchor for the development of Punta Bergantín and expressed gratitude for the country’s strategic tourism focus. He noted that they already have nearly 20 hotels and over 8,000 rooms. Enrique Martinon of the Martinon Group congratulated President Luis Abinader for the determination that has driven this project to make its initiation a reality in such a short time. Andrés Marranzini, director of the Punta Bergantín Trust, expressed his thanks to the president for including this significant project in his first act of commencement.
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