He indicated that during 2021, 21 tourism infrastructure projects worth $965 million were resumed, and nine projects were started in the main tourist destinations

SANTO DOMINGO.- Pedernales and Miches represent the new tourist destinations that the Government of the Dominican Republic will focus on in the coming years, where it is projected that around 17,000 rooms will be built, which will significantly boost the economy of those areas.

During his State of the Nation Address yesterday, February 27, at the joint session of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, President Luis Abinader announced that the estimated investment for both projects is $3.245 billion. These projects will generate approximately 70,000 direct and indirect jobs in the affected areas.

He explained that the Pedernales megaproject will be developed in four phases, over a period of 10 years and with an estimated investment of 2.245 billion dollars, which ultimately aims to make twelve thousand housing units available to that region.

The president stated that in the first phase, $1.3 billion will be invested in the construction of 4,700 rooms, which will become 12,000 by the end of the project.

“Eight hotels will begin operations during the opening of that first phase, for which the hotel chains Hilton, Marriott, Sunwing, AmResorts, Iberostar Group and Karisma Hotels & Resort have already signed a letter of commitment to begin construction from the middle of this year,” he explained.

On the 178th anniversary of National Independence, the head of state assured that the development of this new and spectacular tourist hub will create nearly 20,000 direct jobs and more than 50,000 indirect jobs, with all that this implies for the economic dynamism of the southern region.

Abinader maintained that the tourism development of Pedernales is one of the most important initiatives of his administration, because "it will transform the lives of thousands of people in the province of Pedernales and throughout the southern region of the country.".

“This project, which begins in Cabo Rojo, and in which we have put all our effort, will mark a before and after in the tourism development of our nation,” he pointed out.

He added that in the first phase, an international airport and a shopping center will also be built, and all the necessary basic infrastructure works will be completed, such as an aqueduct, a water treatment plant, and an electrical transmission system.

Also Miches

Miches, in the province of El Seibo, was also part of the president's 2022 accountability report. He announced that this municipality will go from one hotel in operation to at least four more under construction, with inaugurations planned for 2022 and the following two years.

"Together with ProMiches, a master plan for the region will be developed, prioritizing environmental protection and identifying the necessary public investment.".

He explained that to date, various projects have started or continued their development processes, including the Four Seasons Tropicana, Hotel Zemí, Viva Miches, and Secrets Playa Esmeralda.

He added that these projects represent more than $1 billion in investments, some 2,900 hotel rooms and 2,000 real estate units, and more than 10,000 jobs during the development process and 6,000 jobs for the area during operation.

He added that a completely innovative project will begin in the northern region, in partnership with allies committed to the Dominican Republic. “I’m referring to the Punta Bergantín project, whose designs are already complete, and we will be launching it soon.”.

Tourism 2021

President Abinader noted that, in the tourism sector, for example, pre-pandemic levels were surpassed during the last quarter of the year, and December saw the highest number of arrivals in the country's history with more than 720,000 visitors. 

He said that the arrival of tourists meant more than 5.4 billion in foreign currency, adding exchange rate stability in the face of a high external price environment. 

“We acted responsibly and decisively, and the results came,” he emphasized.

He noted that more than 5,200 flights arrived each month, with eight out of every ten seats filled. Cruise ships began arriving during 2021, and by the last quarter of the year, 61% of cruise passengers had recovered, and Taino Bay, a new cruise port in the city of Puerto Plata, was inaugurated.

He added that 47 new tourism projects were approved in 2021, representing 9,423 rooms and $1.7 billion in investment. "This, along with the more than 8,000 rooms already under construction, prepares us for the strong growth we expect over the next three years," he said.

He indicated that during 2021, 21 tourism infrastructure projects worth $965 million were resumed, nine projects were started in the main tourist areas, such as the Cabrera boardwalk, the renovation of Laguna Gri-Gri, and several investments in beaches, such as Playa Las Galeras, Playa Esmeralda, Playa Macao, Playa Guayacanes, and in the south, Playa los Patos and Playa el Quemaito.