SANTO DOMINGO - The Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM) announced the construction of the first cruise port in the city of Santo Domingo, with an estimated investment of 400 million dollars and completion planned for 2028.
This project will be part of a port transformation process that has attracted more than $1 billion in investments, mainly private, in recent years, explained Jean Luis Rodríguez, director of the agency.
The new pier will be located near the Hotel Jaragua, on the Malecón, facilitating direct access for visitors to the Colonial City and boosting local commerce, especially hotels, bars and restaurants.
This project is part of a public-private investment model, where the private sector assumes the investment and operation, while the State maintains the regulation and permits, the official explained when interviewed on the program Su Mundo, which is broadcast on Claro channels 101 and 1101 Claro HD.
Along with Santo Domingo, projects are also progressing in Samaná, Arroyo Barril and Barahona, expanding the network of terminals that, in four years, went from three to five, including Taino Bay and Cabo Rojo, with more than 930,000 cruise passengers received in 2023 alone. It is estimated that this year that figure will exceed one million visitors by this route.
According to Rodríguez, this boost in port infrastructure not only strengthens maritime tourism, but also reflects a more transparent, modern and efficient management model, with a direct impact on the local and national economy.
With a long-term vision, the country aims to consolidate itself as a regional cruise hub, in a context where security, institutional cooperation and sustainability become key pillars of development.
