SANTO DOMINGO. – The Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM) announced this Thursday that the first phase of the Cabo Rojo Port in Pedernales is ready to receive the first cruise ship of 2024 and that on Thursday, January 4th at 10:30 a.m., the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, will lead the welcoming of the first tourists to this port.
In a press release, the entity explains that the first stage, which has been completed, consists of 200 meters of dock, plus a mooring point, features that will allow it to receive several vessels at the same time. The release also highlights the current situation in the Dominican Republic, which closed out a year with 10 million visitors, with cruise tourism playing a key role, contributing 2,198,578 passengers by sea as of December 26th, an increase of over 110% compared to the 1,044,700 cruise passengers received in 2019.
"Under the leadership of President Luis Abinader and the director of APORDOM, Jean Luis Rodríguez, cruise tourism has played a key role in achieving the goal of attracting more tourists to the country, fostering investment in strategic projects such as the Port of Cabo Rojo, which will generate significant economic activity in the Enriquillo region," the report highlights.
A historic year for cruise tourism
With just a few days left in 2023 and 18 cruises scheduled before the end of the year, projections for this type of tourism are at 23% of the total visitors for this year, according to data from APORDOM.
The press release emphasizes that during Jean Luis Rodríguez's management at APORDOM, significant investments have been made to strengthen port infrastructure and meet the growing demand from cruise passengers.
"This success is a direct result of the strategic vision and transformations carried out during the government of President Luis Abinader, the administration of Jean Luis Rodríguez and the collaboration of the private sector.".
Large investments in cruise ports
Among the transformations cited are the inauguration of the expansion of the La Romana Cruise Terminal, with an investment exceeding 15 million dollars and whose expansion has allowed the reception of Oasis-type vessels, the largest class in the world, to consolidate La Romana as a key port of call in the region, as well as the recent opening of said port as Homeport of the Norwegian Cruise Line.
Also noteworthy is the expansion of Taíno Bay in Puerto Plata, with an investment of $95 million. The modern cruise terminal has significantly improved the visitor experience and contributes to the sustained growth of tourism in the province of Puerto Plata, complementing the Amber Cove cruise terminal, which has welcomed more than one million cruise passengers so far in 2023.
In addition, the Dominican Port Authority has begun construction on Samaná Bayport, a cruise terminal with a $22 million investment. Once completed, the terminal is projected to have the capacity to receive up to 10,000 cruise passengers daily, with an estimated 3 million passengers per year.
Meanwhile, on January 4, 2024, the date on which the first phase of Port Cabo Rojo in Pedernales will be inaugurated, a new chapter in the tourism development of the southern part of the country, with an investment of nearly 100 million dollars, is projected to receive up to one million cruise passengers a year once all phases are completed.
A coordinated effort from the public and private sectors
APORDOM's CEO, Jean Luis Rodríguez, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors: "This historic achievement would not have been possible without the combined efforts of both the public and private sectors, along with the dedication and vision of President Luis Abinader and the Ministry of Tourism, led by David Collado. This collaboration has been key to strengthening our infrastructure and promoting the Dominican Republic as a premier tourist destination.".
This achievement underscores the ongoing commitment of the Dominican government and the Dominican Port Authority to the sustainable development of tourism, to position the Dominican Republic as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the Caribbean, with the aim of becoming the Caribbean Cruise Hub.
