The initiative, which will have an estimated investment of US$60 million, proposes the rehabilitation and construction of an infrastructure that allows the arrival of vessels with up to 8,500 passengers, Oasis type, in addition to developing a maritime terminal with capacity to receive 4 cruise ships at the same time.
SANTO DOMINGO.- The new cruise terminal in Arroyo Barril-Samaná, whose conversion process was announced by the competent authorities, will generate revenues for the country of US$31.2 million in the first year due to the total spending of cruise passengers and crew.
The Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM) and the General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP) announced the start of the competitive process for the private initiative to convert the Duarte Port in Arroyo Barril-Samaná into a cruise terminal and tourist facility zone, under the modality of a public-private partnership, pursuant to Law 47-20 and its implementing regulations.
The CEO of DGAPP, Sigmund Freund, highlighted that this project is part of President Luis Abinader's government's decision to position the country as a Caribbean Cruise Hub.
Freund explained that, in addition to the new cruise terminal in Arroyo Barril-Samaná, the project includes a complementary tourist facilities area where cruise passengers will have access to leisure and entertainment options. He added that the project is estimated to generate US$31.2 million in revenue for the country in its first year, based on total spending by cruise passengers and crew.
He added that this new terminal will boost tourism and trade in the province and create approximately 1,050 new direct and indirect jobs.
Likewise, Jean Luis Rodríguez, executive director of APORDOM, indicated that currently, the Duarte Port, inaugurated in 1977, has 19 permanent employees and its operations are based on the reception of general loose cargo, so the cruise terminal will represent a great employment opportunity for the area, which will lead to social and economic development for the entire Northeast Region and the Central Cibao.
Jean Luis Rodríguez pointed out that this process is the first time in the history of the Dominican Republic that the concession of a port is carried out through a public-private partnership, since they are generally established through concessions, as provided by Law 70-70 that creates the Dominican Port Authority.
The initiative, which will have an estimated investment of US$60 million, proposes the rehabilitation and construction of an infrastructure that allows the arrival of vessels with up to 8,500 passengers, Oasis type, in addition to developing a maritime terminal with capacity to receive 4 cruise ships at the same time.
This port is expected to receive 161 cruise ships per year from Miami, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Curaçao, Barbados, Montego Bay, St. Lucia, Tampa Bay, and New York. The cruise terminal to be developed in Arroyo Barril would join the existing Amber Cove and Taino Bay terminals in Puerto Plata, and Port Cabo Rojo in Pedernales, a project currently under construction, making them the only four tourist terminals in our country with the infrastructure to receive Oasis-type vessels.
