Escarlin Pozo
El Inmobiliario
SANTO DOMINGO. - The Dominican Republic is a dream destination that embraces people with its diverse landscape. Beyond its idyllic beaches, the country boasts mountains, waterfalls, and rivers that invite visitors to experience unique and soul-nourishing adventures.
Talking about this type of experience, in which the balance between mind, body and spirit takes center stage, is to delve into the world of wellness tourism that seeks to help people feel good and connected with themselves.
This is how Flavio Acuña, vice president of the Ibero-American Association of Health and Wellness Tourism, describes it, stating that the Dominican Republic is being seen worldwide as one of the preferred nations for wellness retreats.
Their main interest lies in helping people discover the island from a different perspective, promoting the country as a key destination within wellness tourism.
Acuña, who is the ambassador of the World Wellness Weekend in the Dominican Republic, revealed that, currently, wellness tourism is positioned as the second fastest growing industry globally.
He specified that this market, based on statistics shared by the Global Wellness Summit, closed last year with 4.4 trillion dollars and that it is estimated that by 2030 it will reach US$ 8.5 trillion.
Flavio Acuña, ambassador for World Wellness Weekend in the country. (Fidel Pérez / El Inmobiliario)
In light of this trend, it is worth noting that sun, beach and sand tourism is well established in the country, with 10 million tourists arriving last year.
In that sense, he argues that people are showing an interest in experiencing a different kind of tourism, one that includes new experiences, such as taking yoga or meditation classes in front of a waterfall, hiking, mountain biking, among other activities.
“Today, people are looking to have divine experiences. To go to a place and enter in one way and leave in another. If the vast majority of people live stressed, live without time, with aching legs, headaches, insomnia, waking up ten times a day, having panic attacks, people want to rediscover themselves, reconnect, return to the basics,” he explained.
Flavio, who specializes in traditional Chinese medicine, physiotherapy, and medicinal plants, pointed out that he has been dedicated for the past five years to positioning the country in this field.
To achieve this, he argues that support between public and private institutions is necessary, specifically mentioning the Government and the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), an entity he has been "knocking on" for several years without receiving a response.
An example of the reach of this industry was evidenced during World Wellness Week, held in September and supported by the Mayor's Office of the National District, in which the Dominican Republic ranked first as the most active nation in wellness, with 2,300 free face-to-face activities throughout the territory.
They don't know the places
Regarding the country's preparedness, he explained that there are a large number of therapists, several boutique hotels and wellness centers, but that Dominicans themselves are unaware of these places, some of which are located in Santo Domingo, Samaná, Miches, Jarabacoa and Bayahíbe.
To boost the industry, he explained that it is necessary to work on three fundamental pillars that people will need to experience when they retire: Dominican culture, its gastronomy, and ancestral ceremonies.
He explained that the development of wellness tourism involves a comprehensive approach that includes healthy eating, spaces for reading, body cleansing, and technology-free areas.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of training professionals, certifying wellness spaces at the national and international levels, and designing specific plans for tourists in the four cardinal points of the country.
This article was originally published in the 9th edition of El Inmobiliario print magazine.
