During the signing of the agreement, Minister Collado emphasized that this marks a historic step for the industry, setting a “new standard of universal accessibility” intended to inspire best practices across other regions of the country. The ceremony was attended by business leaders Andrés Fernández and Rafael Blanco, representing the private sector and reinforcing the vision of joint responsibility among government, hoteliers, and the local business community. La Romana–Bayahíbe had already established itself as a destination committed to environmental quality, with several beaches maintaining the prestigious international Blue Flag certification—a fitting precedent for the safety, cleanliness, and accessibility that this new recognition requires.
The program’s scope goes well beyond physical infrastructure adjustments. It encompasses process reviews, clear and high-contrast signage, accessible menus, improved pedestrian routes, construction of ramps and platforms, availability of amphibious wheelchairs where appropriate, and staff training in inclusive service and accessible emergency protocols. The involvement of international technical experts will enable regular audits and the standardization of indicators, ensuring that progress is measurable and comparable with other destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Bayahíbe is not starting from scratch. In recent years, road upgrades, public space improvements, and urban beautification projects have enhanced safe mobility and connectivity between communities and hotel areas. These investments have laid the foundation for Bayahíbe to emerge as a “model destination,” providing the solid base needed to advance toward comprehensive accessibility. Looking ahead, the challenge is to establish fully accessible corridors linking hotels, beaches, restaurants, museums, shops, transportation, and nature activities, along with reliable information resources to help travelers plan barrier-free trips.
The announcement comes at a time of strong performance for Dominican tourism, which aims to diversify and upgrade its offerings with a focus on sustainability, safety, and inclusion. Positioning La Romana–Bayahíbe as a leader in accessibility places the Dominican Republic at the forefront of the region and adds value for source markets that prioritize social responsibility and inclusive travel experiences. Dominican public policy, increasingly aligned with international standards, stands to gain both in reputation and in market reach by opening the destination to millions of travelers who require specific conditions to enjoy leisure and culture.
The next stage will involve consolidating a roadmap with measurable targets: certifying a growing number of accessible establishments, equipping beaches with adaptive infrastructure, training more staff, and maintaining up-to-date information in accessible formats. Continued cooperation among Mitur, hotel associations, and local tourism clusters will be critical to sustaining implementation and extending the model to other areas such as Samaná, the Amber Coast, Miches, or the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. The shared leadership demonstrated in Bayahíbe offers a powerful proof of concept: when the public and private sectors coordinate with specialized technical guidance, accessibility ceases to be an add-on and becomes central to tourism competitiveness.
With this declaration, the Dominican Republic sends a clear message: the tourism of the future will be inclusive—or it will not be. La Romana–Bayahíbe is leading the way with a replicable model that dignifies the travel experience, enhances destination quality for the entire community, and places the country firmly on the path toward fairer, more sustainable, and more human-centered growth.
