I agree with Asonahores chairman David Llibre’s brief, but fitting, description of the main ingredients moving the gears of tourism and upholding the industry’s fundamental importance in the Dominican economic recovery which has caught the attention both here and abroad. Speaking at the DATE opening ceremony he said:
1. While world tourism is still hobbling along, Dominican Republic has reached first place in the recovery of tourism and is a leader in growth, a privileged position that is summarized as today we receive more international flights, more tourists, more investments, and more projects underway.
2. Tourist infrastructure is growing, improving in quality and reputation. Our inventory of 425 hotels speaks highly of us, with more than 82 thousand quality rooms for the international market, 7 airports, 5 operating cruise ports, 3 ports under development and another two in the pipeline, as well as a vast offer in excess of 5 thousand restaurants.
3. A network of highways connecting the country’s capital with the East, Northeast, North and the entire Atlantic coast, served by an efficient road assistance system (COMIPOL) under the Public Works and Defence Ministries.
4. The interesting Cabo Rojo-Pedernales project is taking shape, together with the famous Bahía de las Águilas, with a focus on sustainable development and meeting with nature. 8 major hotel chains are involved, and the first 2 hotels and supporting infrastructure are being built.
5. Punta Bergantin is hatching on the North Coast, 20 minutes from downtown Puerto Plata. It includes hotels, holiday homes, countryside golf course, film studio, a project for academics and space for digital nomads.
6. A dynamic and thriving development is underway in Miches, the new destination in the eastern region with a fabulous beach, one hour from Punta Cana airport. 3 hotels are already operating and another 4 are in the initial phase (they will add more than 2 thousand rooms).
7. Punta Cana is boosted with two new theme parks. The modern and impressive Kathmandú linked to Meliá, and El Dorado Park, a water park under construction.
8. The construction of a modern convention center in in a prime downtown location Santo Domingo by the sea and close to the Colonial City and the main hotel areas.
9. They are expanding and refurbishing establishments and building new hotels in Samaná province, while urban infrastructure is being improved in Samaná city, a modern cruise port is underway, and the old commercial port will become a tourist port.
10. Puerto Plata is livened by its two cruise ports. Something similar is happening in La Romana. This energy is also seen in air traffic, which led to the International Air Transport Association to recognize us as the first country to recover this sector after the pandemic. All this points to us reaching the goal of 10 million tourists very soon and has a lot to do with good Government/ASONAHORES understanding. Dominican tourism today is an example of what can be achieved when the government and the private sector march together in their endeavors.
Source:
Resumen Turismo
