President Abinader highlights tourism as a dynamic and avant-garde engine in the country

02-03-24

President Luis Abinader highlighted tourism as a leading and vibrant sector within the Dominican economy, underscoring the significant advances and projects carried out under his administration to strengthen this key industry. In his management report, Abinader emphasized the remarkable recovery and expansion of tourism in the country, evidenced by an impressive flow of more than 10 million visitors by 2023, a figure that positioned the Dominican Republic in first place worldwide in tourism recovery, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

This achievement places the Caribbean nation on par with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Albania in terms of post-pandemic tourism growth, reflecting the sector's dynamism and resilience in facing and overcoming global challenges. The president also highlighted an ambitious portfolio of 19 new hotel projects under development, which will total 9,135 rooms with a projected investment of approximately US$2.936 billion, marking a promising future for the Dominican tourism industry.

Abinader's strategy not only focuses on quantitative growth but also on the qualitative development of the sector, with significant public investments in tourism infrastructure throughout the country. Eighty-nine projects have been initiated or completed in 18 provinces, with investments totaling more than 8.4 billion pesos, ranging from the reconstruction of public spaces to the improvement of access to key tourist destinations.

Among the emblematic projects mentioned by Abinader are the renovation of the fishermen's square, improvements in the access to various beaches and boardwalks, as well as the reconstruction of the sub-marine park La Caleta. These initiatives not only seek to beautify and make tourist destinations more accessible, but also to ensure sustainability and positive impact on local communities.

The commitment to tourism development extends to the private sector, where close collaboration with the government is evident in hotel projects that promise to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, especially in emerging areas such as Miches. In addition, Abinader emphasized the potential of cruise ship tourism and the Punta Bergantin project in Puerto Plata, which promises to revitalize this province with a rich hotel history.

Finally, President Abinader assured a special focus on the integral development of the south of the country, noting that change is not limited only to tourism but encompasses multiple sectors and areas, marking an era of transformation and hope for the entire Dominican Republic. With these actions and projects, the Dominican government reinforces its vision of tourism as a pillar of growth, innovation and sustainable development for the country.