PUERTO PLATA.- In response to rumors sparked by the official announcement of a two-year intervention in the cable car system of this northern city, the provincial governor, Claritza Rochett de Senior, denied that the attraction will be privatized as has been reported.
“Absolutely not, the Puerto Plata cable car will not be privatized,” the top representative of the Executive Branch in this area stated categorically, guaranteeing that this important attraction will continue to be the heritage of all Puerto Plata residents.
Rochett de Senior indicated that the Puerto Plata cable car will undergo a modernization process to adapt to the changing times, with the government making an investment of over 22 million Euros in various phases, with the aim of continuing to promote this internationally renowned tourist destination.
The government official explained that the decision has been made to undertake the construction of a new and modern cable car in Puerto Plata, a project that will be carried out in 18 to 24 months, in order to expand the service capacity of this attraction that for 49 years has been a symbol of tourism in "The Bride of the Atlantic" which has welcomed thousands of local and foreign visitors.
He clarified that for years the Puerto Plata cable car operated without any maintenance guarantee and after the incident (technical failure) that the funicular suffered in May 2021, the State contracted the Colombian company INTECKNO that provided maintenance services to the funicular for the payment of 10 thousand dollars per month, but its contract expired a week ago, exactly last Thursday, May 30.
He noted that President Luis Abinader personally spoke via Zoom with the vendors who work at the attraction, guaranteeing them protection and authorizing the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, to ensure their livelihood during the cable car's general renovation.
“I can testify that, upon being informed of the cable car renovation, the first thing President Abinader warned us about was that we must protect the vendors and give them guarantees so that they are not left without support until this important project is completed,” the governor of Puerto Plata emphasized.
In that regard, he said that the head of Tourism will announce plans to hold activities and shows at the top of Isabel de Torres hill to attract a greater number of visitors by land, and that with funds from CEIZTUR the 3.4 kilometers of road leading to the mountain from the community of San Marcos will be improved.
