On December 18th of this year 2023, the port of Cabo Rojo, Pedernales, will receive the first cruise ship which, according to statements by President Luis Abinader, will arrive with 3,000 tourists aboard the Royal Caribbean.
“We are working to ensure that cruise ship passengers can enjoy the best experience, and at the same time, the town of Pedernales is ready to meet their needs, which will have a social and economic impact on Pedernales and the entire Enriquillo region,” the governor stated.
To enable the area, the Pedernales tourism development plan includes the readjustment of public spaces for recreation, knowledge of the culture and gastronomic enjoyment of cruise ship passengers.
These include ecological destinations such as Oviedo Lagoon, Hoyo de Pelempito, Bahía de las Águilas, and Pozos de Romeo. In addition, the boardwalk, artisan plazas, and artistic murals have been renovated.
Abinader reiterated that this project will become the engine of economic development for the southern region, specifically the Enriquillo region and also the Del Valle region, because it will impact San Juan and Elías Piña in their agricultural production.
Zero plastics
In line with the protection of the environment, President Abinader emphasized that the use of plastics will not be allowed inside the port, thanks to an agreement between the Ministry of Environment and the development company, ITM Group.
For his part, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, stated that the promotion of Pedernales as a tourist destination will be developed in conjunction with the private sector.
In addition, the businesses and services offered to each visitor will be inspected to ensure their quality, as well as the safety of the destination.
Meanwhile, Rafael Santos Badía, director of INFOTEP, revealed that they have already certified some 7,000 people in areas such as nursing, customer service, housekeeping, baking, electricity, and crafts, among others. A training center will also be established in Oviedo.
Report on the progress of works
The Director of Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP), Sigmund Freund, reported on the water and sanitation works, electrical works, road works, the recovery of the coastal front, solid waste management and the construction of the first hotels, in which, to date, 400 million dollars have been invested.
He explained that prior to the date indicated for the opening of the port, the treatment plant, the aqueduct, the electrical power infrastructure, as well as the access roads and highways will already be ready.
Regarding the Pedernales International Airport, he explained that aeronautical feasibility studies are being commissioned and progress is being made on clearing and grubbing the runway. The georeferenced altimetric survey has been completed, and preparations are underway to begin the bidding process for the design and construction of airport infrastructure and services.
The process of rescuing the coastal strip was also initiated, and the solid waste management plan was detailed to achieve the closure of two current landfills, the construction of an emergency cell, and the construction of a definitive sanitary landfill.
Visit to Iberostar hotel construction site
Finally, the president toured the area where the Iberostar chain hotel is being built with 580 rooms, which together with the Secrets and Dreams hotels, from the Hyatt chain, total 1,591 rooms.
These would be ready by the middle of next year, so "by the peak season in December 2024 there will be rooms available and we will be able to have tourists arriving," Freund said.
Present were the ministers of the Presidency, Joel Santos; Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza; Minister of the Environment, Miguel Ceara Hatton; Minister of Public Works, Deligne Ascensión; Minister of Housing, Carlos Bonilla; and Minister of Culture, Milagros Germán.
Similarly, the directors of Apordom, Jean Luis Rodríguez; of INDRHI, Olmedo Caba; of Border Development, Ramón Pérez; of the Airport Department, Víctor Pichardo; of INAPA, Wellington Arnaud; of Promipyme, Porfirio Peralta, among others.
With information from Listín Diario.
