The cable car ceased operations in June 2024.
SANTO DOMINGO.- José Ignacio Paliza, Minister of the Presidency, presented yesterday, Wednesday, at the IV Puerto Plata Business Forum, the progress of Meta RD 2036, the Government's strategic vision aimed at doubling the size of the Dominican economy in the next ten years, based on planning, evidence and measurable results.
During his speech, the official announced the presentation of the Puerto Plata Municipal Territorial Planning Plan, which will define a compact, resilient and sustainable urban growth model, aimed at protecting natural resources, ordering expansion and guaranteeing quality services.
Similarly, he reported that the Government will launch a tender for the rehabilitation and modernization of thePuerto Plata Cable, with a proposal that will increase its capacity from 16 to 50 passengers per cabin, reduce the travel time to five minutes and adapt it to international safety and operation standards.
He emphasized that the country is progressing on solid foundations, highlighting that the Dominican Republic currently has over 5.1 million employed people, with more than 133,000 new jobs generated in 2025. He also underscored the reduction of monetary poverty from 19% to 17.3% in the last year, as well as the record-breaking attraction of more than US$5 billion in foreign direct investment.
“Meta RD 2036 is not just a government plan; it is a national vision that challenges us to grow with purpose, inclusion, and a territorial focus. The State must be an ally of the productive sector, and together we must continue building a more competitive, fairer country with opportunities for all,” he stated.
Paliza highlighted that Puerto Plata is consolidating itself as one of the main examples of how this vision is materialized in the territory, through projects that combine investment, planning and sustainability.
Among the key initiatives, he highlighted the development of Punta Bergantín, which will integrate thousands of hotel rooms, an academic campus, a film studio, and a golf course, with the aim of increasing the destination's competitiveness and diversifying its offerings. The project has already registered nearly US$100 million in real estate sales.
The Minister of the Presidency also highlighted key connectivity and mobility projects, such as the Amber Highway, which will connect Santiago with Puerto Plata in less than 30 minutes, boosting the economic integration of the Cibao and the North Atlantic.
Paliza explained that these advances are part of a results-based management model, with performance monitoring and evaluation systems, including specialized units that guarantee the achievement of strategic goals.
In that regard, he indicated that the Government has defined concrete objectives towards 2036, such as raising life expectancy to 77 years, reducing the homicide rate to 7 per 100,000 inhabitants and increasing GDP per capita to US$15,000.
The Puerto Plata Business Forum 2026 is organized by the Puerto Plata Chamber of Commerce and Production and the Free Zone Corporation.
The hustle and bustle of the cable car
In June of 2024, Vladimir Santana, representative of the Association of Cable Car Shop Owners, revealed yesterday, Thursday, that the Puerto Plata Cable Car will be closed for 18 to 24 months for remodeling and modernization.
He said the projected investment is $20 million and that during the dialogue with the Government, they discussed compensation for time and losses, "the amount of which has not yet been established.".
He indicated that the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, along with the members of the Cable Car Board, were informed that the tourist destination will be rebuilt “completely”.
The cable car ceased operations with plans to replace the old system with a modern one, due to advanced structural deterioration and the loss of safety certifications necessary for its safe operation.
This closure has lasted for more than a year, generating complaints and concern among merchants, workers and other local stakeholders who depend directly on the operation of the cable car as a tourist attraction.
In January of this year, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, reported that technical executives from TransMilenio, the public transportation system of Bogotá (Colombia), were formally invited to come to the Dominican Republic and carry out a technical survey of the Puerto Plata Cable Car with the objective of presenting formal recommendations to determine the feasibility of its rehabilitation or reconstruction, without this process representing any cost to the Dominican State.
The invitation, as Collado explained in his public statements, will also be sent to the Dominican ambassador in Colombia as part of the institutional procedure to coordinate international technical assistance.
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