The Dominican president assured that one of his government's greatest efforts has been focused on developing the tourism industry, strengthening it, fostering its sustained growth, and consolidating the Dominican Republic as a true powerhouse in that sector.
SANTO DOMINGO – “No one will regret it. The Dominican Republic is in fashion and we have returned to conquer the world from our coasts and ports,” President Luis Abinader said yesterday as he announced that construction of a cruise port in Samaná will begin next July.
This project is part of the groundbreaking program his administration is carrying out, focused on construction projects aimed at enhancing the Dominican Republic's tourism offerings. Last May, Abinader traveled to Pedernales, where he inaugurated the Cabo Rojo port, a US$98 million private investment project with the capacity to receive up to one million cruise ship passengers annually, scheduled to begin operations in December of next year.
The president gave the information at a time when, together with the Minister of Tourism David Collado, he also announced that the Dominican Republic will host the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Annual Conference, which will be held from October 12 to 14 of this year.
Regarding the port's construction, he stated that it will be done in conjunction with a Dominican company that will be announced in the coming days.
The conference
Abinader highlighted the importance of the largest cruise conference and trade fair in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, where more than 60 cruise executives, including presidents and directors, the main government leaders from more than 40 countries, as well as more than 500 representatives from various parts of the world will participate.
The Dominican president assured that one of his government's greatest efforts has been focused on developing the tourism industry, strengthening it, fostering its sustained growth, and consolidating the Dominican Republic as a true powerhouse in that sector.
"This 28th edition of the FCCA conference will be the ideal platform for the country to showcase the products and services it offers to the cruise industry, which has registered sustained growth in the Dominican Republic," he said.
Last May 2022, 82,199 cruise passengers arrived in the Dominican Republic, on 10 cruise lines, carrying out 32 operations, of which 19 were cruises and 13 were ferries.
David Collado explained that between January and May, more than 450,000 tourists arrived in the country. Likewise, from July 2021 to May 2022, a total of 754,760 cruise passengers were recorded, across 51 cruise lines and 458 operations.
The Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) has been an active platinum member of the FCCA since 2001. Belonging to the organization is vital to being able to negotiate new arrivals, technical support for the improvement of existing ports or future projects, improvements in customer service programs and other key points of the industry that help to further strengthen this segment for the country.
