The province is on track to register 557 port calls during the year, with more than 2.2 million visitors in both ports.
Carlos Atahualpa Paulino, regional director of Northern Tourism, announced yesterday the arrival of 86 cruise ships to Puerto Plata during this month of December, a figure with which the "Bride of the Atlantic" will surpass the record for arrivals, exceeding by 15 vessels the record of 71 that arrived in December 2022, the highest number recorded in a month in the country.
According to the official, the Taíno Bay terminal will be where the largest number of visitors will disembark with 54 vessels, while Amber Cove, located in Maimón Bay, will be the arrival point for 32 cruise ships.
Paulino highlighted that during four days in December, Puerto Plata will receive five cruise ships on the same day, distributed between both terminals, consolidating the dynamism and operational capacity of the receiving ports.
He highlighted that this milestone reflects the success of the initiatives promoted by the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) to increase the flow of visitors to the Dominican coasts.
"Puerto Plata is ready to welcome the thousands of visitors who will arrive, showing the world its natural wealth and its unparalleled hospitality," the official said.
The regional director also pointed out that the growth in cruise ship arrivals is due to Puerto Plata's strategic positioning as a destination that combines nature, culture, and unique tourist attractions.
"The growing awareness of Puerto Plata sets a precedent in the history of Dominican tourism. Most cruise lines are promoting our destination as an essential stop on their itineraries," he added.
Only three days of the month are free of cruise ship arrivals: the 13th, 28th and 29th, registering at least 2 ships each day, and the 3rd, 16th, 23rd and 24th at maximum capacity with 5 cruise ships simultaneously.
With the cruises scheduled for December, the province is on track to register 557 port calls during the year, with more than 2.2 million visitors in both ports.
Central Bank statistics, up to October, record 428 arrivals of tourist vessels, 212 at the port of Amber Cove and 216 at Taíno Bay, with a total of 1,741,561 visitors. In November, 43 vessels arrived, and with the 86 that arrived in December, the total would reach 557 vessels.
With over 2 million visitors, the province ranks among the leaders of maritime tourism in the Caribbean region.
Cover photo: Pixabay.
