This megaproject consolidates Punta Cana as the epicenter of structural tourism in the Caribbean.
SANTO DOMINGO.- Real estate tourism, a model that combines investment in properties with integrated tourist experiences, is the driving force behind the expansion project of Cruise On Land, which is now international and has found fertile ground in Punta Cana to grow and replicate itself.
It's not just its infrastructure or its theme park. From its base in La Otra Banda in Higüey, La Altagracia province, the project has attracted the interest of international buyers looking to acquire apartments for tourist operations, as revealed to El Inmobiliario by Hernando Gómez, the company's PMO manager.
“Our main clients come from the Dominican diaspora in the United States and Spain, as well as from Latin America, Canada, Europe, and African American communities in the Global North. Cruise On Land Real Estate is hospitality, but it's also property; it's tourism that you buy,” Gómez stated.
Punta Cana doesn't just host tourists: it attracts investors with a global vision and Caribbean roots
Cruise On Land's growth and global expansion are not solely due to a well-structured business strategy. According to Hernando Gómez, the true catalyst has been the country: “There has been significant growth thanks to the Dominican Republic as a destination. And Punta Cana is well-ranked in international financial markets as an investment destination. That has made everything easier for us. I think Cruise wouldn't have been the same if it had stayed in another country or destination.”
This international recognition, he says, has allowed the real estate tourism model, based on the purchase of properties for tourist operation, to consolidate and project itself towards other markets.
The incentives of the Confotur regime have turned Punta Cana into a magnet for those seeking to invest in the Caribbean with a return on tourism.
This is how they have won over the Dominican diaspora, along with Latin American, European, African American and Canadian buyers, who lead the demand for apartments in Punta Cana, attracted by the stability, connectivity and return on investment.
This model has allowed for the structuring of an investment exceeding $1.2 billion, with a first phase of 15 condo-hotel type buildings and a projection of 7,600 rooms.
The expected profitability, combined with the stability of the destination and the incentives of the Confotur regime, has made Punta Cana a magnet for those looking to invest in the Caribbean with a tourist return.
Cruise On Land International is not only developing a mega-tourism project from this destination to the world. It is also attracting a diverse community of international buyers who see the Dominican Republic as an opportunity for investment, returns, and emotional connection.
“And interest from single people is growing,” Gómez added, referring to individual buyers looking for properties for tourist use or personal investment.
Details
The real estate development is part of a broader tourism ecosystem. It's not just about buildings: the project includes office towers, a health clinic, a shopping plaza, a convention center, and a theme park with over 130 attractions. In total, 7,600 rooms are planned, distributed across 15 condo-hotels, with the first phase scheduled to open in the first half of 2027.
The Dominican tourism model, exported from the eastern region with its Caribbean DNA and international focus, has been accelerated by its official classification under the Confotur regime. The entire macro-project is expected to be fully operational by 2031, generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Hernando Gómez explains with great pride that Cruise On Land International “is not just building infrastructure: it is designing a global Caribbean district , with clients who reflect the diversity of those who believe in the potential of the Dominican Republic.”
The company's vision is to replicate this model in other international destinations, exporting from the country a formula that combines hospitality, investment, and experience. Expansion is already underway, but its origins and essence remain rooted in the Caribbean, supported by real estate tourism, which not only builds rooms but also creates communities, jobs, and new centers of development.
