The head of state announced the construction of the Amber Highway, which will connect Santiago, Moca, and Puerto Plata.
In Puerto Plata, President Luis Abinader inaugurated the construction work on the Meliá Bergantín Beach Hotel this Tuesday, a project by the Puntacana Group and Meliá Hotels International that marks the beginning of a new stage for Dominican tourism, aimed at positioning Puerto Plata as a world-class destination , under the sustainable development model of Punta Bergantín.
During the event, the president stated that Punta Bergantín is a project that will mark the relaunch of hotel tourism in Puerto Plata, noting that the region has a real estate development and a cruise tourism sector in the country.
He explained that the project combines the experience of Spain's leading hotel chain, Meliá, with the local leadership of the Rainieri family, guaranteeing its success. He also highlighted that other international brands, such as Westin and Hyatt, will soon begin new construction, further solidifying the region's tourism revival.
The governor stated that the project is being developed through a public-private partnership model, at no cost to the government, which will boost the local economy and create investment opportunities. He noted that this type of collaboration was key to the development of Playa Dorada and that it will now be applied with equal success in Bergantín.
The head of state announced the construction of the Amber Highway, which will connect Santiago, Moca, and Puerto Plata, facilitating access to airports and improving mobility for tourists and investors. He also mentioned the revitalization of other tourist areas, such as Sosúa, where efforts are underway to restore its historical value and eliminate negative aspects to strengthen the region.
Finally, President Abinader assured that Puerto Plata has all the conditions for a hotel and tourism revival, supported by prestigious international brands and a modern infrastructure.
Five-star hotel with 400 rooms
The Puntacana Group and the Spanish hotel chain Meliá Hotels International reaffirmed their commitment to this initiative that seeks to restore the north coast's prominence within Caribbean tourism.
For his part, the CEO of Meliá Hotels International, Gabriel Escarrer, expressed that they are proud to be part of this new stage that seeks to position Puerto Plata as a world-class tourist destination and explained that the Puntacana Group and Meliá Hotels International will develop a five-star hotel with 400 rooms, which will be part of the Punta Bergantín master plan.
He added that Meliá Hotels International acts “as a company that is close to and committed to local communities and their progress, as we have demonstrated for decades in the Dominican Republic.”.
Meanwhile, Frank Elías Rainieri, CEO of the Puntacana Group, stated that each new hotel brand reinforces international credibility and sends a clear message that the north coast is once again a leading force in Caribbean tourism. He emphasized that for those who have dedicated their lives to the country's tourism development, returning to this land is an act of gratitude and hope, as Puerto Plata evokes the roots of Dominican tourism and inspires them to look toward the future.
Rainieri pointed out that Punta Bergantín “will not be a collection of beachfront hotels, but a meeting place for nature, culture and innovation; the model of the new Dominican tourism: a tourism that combines luxury with authenticity, investment with impact and growth with sustainability.”.
He indicated that Punta Bergantín represents the point where tourism development, environmental sustainability and human opportunities meet, and pointed out that the hotel component is the heart of the project and that each hotel will not only contribute rooms, but also jobs, confidence, infrastructure and hope.
Escarrer and Rainieri expressed their gratitude for the support of Banco Popular Dominicano and Banco de Reservas, entities that finance the hotel project that unites the Meliá Hotels International chain and the Puntacana Group.
Punta Bergantín: Engine of the Dominican “new north”
Furthermore, Andrés Marranzini Grullón , the general manager of the Punta Bergantín tourism project, emphasized that the addition of the Meliá Bergantín Beach hotel, with an investment exceeding USD 100 million , represents a decisive boost for the development of the northern coast. He explained that this project alone will generate approximately RD$500 million in payroll, in addition to significant demand for local goods, services, and human resources, strengthening the productive chain throughout the region.
Marranzini highlighted that the first phase of Punta Bergantín, with approximately 1,500 rooms, will bring an additional 30,000 tourists annually, increasing Puerto Plata's share of international visitors from 3% to 9% of the national total. This growth, he added, will also lead to a doubling of airline seats to the area, revitalizing its long-standing hotel industry and restoring the tourist prominence of the north coast.
The executive noted that Punta Bergantín is not just a tourism project, but a comprehensive development vision that combines investment, sustainability, and opportunities for the community. He thanked President Abinader and Minister David Collado for promoting policies that restore balance and dynamism to tourism in the northern region. With over RD$4 billion in closed sales and a growing number of founding investors, Punta Bergantín is consolidating its position as the driving force behind the Dominican Republic's "new north."
For his part, the CEO of Banreservas, Leonardo Aguilera, highlighted the bank's commitment to Dominican tourism, with a loan portfolio that has grown from RD $22 billion to more than RD$50 billion, currently financing more than 7,000 hotel rooms.
Aguilera highlighted the Punta Bergantín project, a joint initiative between Banreservas and the government, which aims to strengthen Puerto Plata as a tourist destination. The complex will occupy 9.5 million square meters and will include 4,000 hotel rooms, 4,000 residential units, a golf course, beach clubs, shopping centers, and recreational areas, with investments from international brands such as Westin and Meliá totaling more than $220 million.
In addition, Banreservas is evaluating 22 new projects worth RD$115 billion, which will add more than 10,000 rooms, two convention centers, cruise ports and a theme park, distributed in destinations such as Punta Cana, La Romana, Santo Domingo, Miches, Pedernales and Montecristi.
Likewise, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, highlighted that the recovery of Dominican tourism was made possible thanks to the leadership and determination of President Abinader, who decided to open the borders in the midst of the pandemic, promoting projects such as Punta Bergantín in Puerto Plata and encouraging investments together with the private sector.
Collado noted that between 2022 and 2024, more than 40% of the country's economic growth came from tourism, reaching record figures with more than 11 million visitors in 2024. He also highlighted that 70% of hotel investment is already Dominican capital and that the Ministry has allocated more than 1.8 billion pesos to tourism projects in Puerto Plata, where the arrival of 454,000 visitors is projected for 2025.
Similarly, Luis Espínola, highlighted that tourism has consolidated itself as one of the main economic pillars , generating jobs and foreign exchange thanks to investor confidence. He stated that, in the last year, more than 11 million tourists visited the Dominican Republic, a result of a comprehensive strategy supported by Banco de Reservas and Banco Popular as historical allies of the sector.
Among those present were the Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza; Governor Claritza Rochtte; Senator Ginnette Bournigal; Vice President of the Reserve Bank, Isidro García; and the Director of IDAC, Igor Rodríguez, among other personalities.
