Tomorrow, January 4th, the first cruise ship will arrive in Pedernales, docking at the port of Cabo Rojo, and will be received by President Luis Abinader.
SANTO DOMINGO - The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, published the figure of 2 million 250 thousand visitors on his Instagram account on December 30, 2023, citing statistics on the number of visitors who arrived in the Dominican Republic by sea during the recently concluded year.
While the Dominican Port Authority (Apordom) stated on December 29 that projections for this type of tourism indicate it will account for 23% of total visitors to the country in 2023, highlighting that cruise tourism played a decisive role in the arrival of tourists to the Dominican Republic, contributing 2,198,578 passengers by sea as of December 26, an increase of over 110% compared to the 1,044,700 cruise passengers received in 2019, according to a press release from the entity.
Jean Luis Rodríguez, executive director of Apordom, said that significant investments have been made in the country to strengthen port infrastructure and meet the growing demand from cruise passengers.
"This success is a direct result of the strategic vision and transformations carried out during the government of President Luis Abinader, the administration of Jean Luis Rodríguez and the collaboration of the private sector.".
Large investments
In the press release, Apordom highlighted among the transformations the inauguration of the expansion of the La Romana Cruise Terminal, with an investment exceeding 15 million dollars and whose expansion has allowed the reception of Oasis-type vessels, the largest class in the world, to consolidate La Romana as a key port of call in the region, as well as the recent opening of said port as Homeport of the Norwegian Cruise Line.
Also noteworthy is the expansion of Taíno Bay in Puerto Plata, with an investment of $95 million. The modern cruise terminal has significantly improved the visitor experience and contributes to the sustained growth of tourism in the province of Puerto Plata, complementing the Amber Cove cruise terminal, which has welcomed more than one million cruise passengers so far in 2023.
In addition, the Dominican Port Authority announced that it has begun construction on Samaná Bayport, a cruise terminal with a $22 million investment. Once completed, the terminal is projected to have the capacity to receive up to 10,000 cruise passengers daily, with an estimated 3 million passengers per year.
66 cruise ships to Puerto Plata
66 cruise ships will arrive during this month of January 2024 at the different seaports that Puerto Plata has, reported the Regional Directorate of Tourism based in this northern town.
Of the total number, 28 are scheduled to arrive at Amber Cove Port, while the remaining 38 will arrive at Taíno Bay Port. This variety of arrivals promises to offer visitors a rich and diverse experience, highlighting the unique versatility and charm of the Bride of the Atlantic.
“This impressive influx of visitors reinforces Puerto Plata’s position as one of the most outstanding tourist destinations in the entire Caribbean,” said Atahualpa Paulino, regional tourism manager.
This large number of ship arrivals underscores the continued appeal that the province of Puerto Plata has to offer to major cruise lines, and also demonstrates the industry's confidence, the official highlighted.
Cape Rojo
Tomorrow, January 4, 2024, the first phase of Port Cabo Rojo in Pedernales will be inaugurated, a new chapter in the tourism development of the southern region of the country, with an investment of nearly 100 million dollars, it is projected to receive up to one million cruise passengers per year once all phases are completed.
President Luis Abinader, along with government officials involved in the matter, will lead the welcoming ceremony for the first cruise ship in history to arrive in the South, the least developed region of the country. Norwegian Cruise Line is responsible for bringing the Norwegian Pearl safely to port, as reported yesterday, January 1st, by the newspaper El Nacional.
A coordinated effort from the public and private sectors
Rodríguez emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors: “This historic achievement would not have been possible without the combined efforts of both the public and private sectors, along with the dedication and vision of President Luis Abinader and the Ministry of Tourism, led by David Collado. This collaboration has been key to strengthening our infrastructure and promoting the Dominican Republic as a premier tourist destination.”.
He added that "this achievement underscores the ongoing commitment of the Dominican government and the Dominican Port Authority to the sustainable development of tourism, to position the Dominican Republic as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the Caribbean, with the aim of becoming the Caribbean Cruise Hub.".
