Puerto Plata tourism, ‘a great moment’

Puerto Plata.- "Puerto Plata isexperiencing a great moment," said north region Deputy Tourism minister JulioAlmonte, who affirmed that 900,000 tourists will visit the destination thisyear.

The official called Puerto Plata’s growth unstoppable,attracting up to 1.6 million of the country’s nearly 7 million visitors expectednext year.

Almonte spoke during the fifth annual DiscoverPuerto Tourism Fair Plata Marketplace of the region’s Tourism Cluster at IberostarCosta Dorada Hotel, with representatives from more than 20 countries andregions.

Former Puerto Plata Cluster president MaximoIglesias said the fair "has become an important business area for touristservice companies, helping the surge of this tourist destination."

He stressed that the cluster’s effort andpublic-private partnerships led to the upturn.

Cassoni

For Cluster president Roberto Cassoni, the fair’scontribution catapulted the north coast’s tourism revival.

"We have a diversified offer throughoutthe destination, with new hotels and old structures converted into luxuriousapartments," the business said, adding that the Carnival cruise port boostsarrivals.

Bountiful destination

In addition to some 800 tourist attractionsand15,000 rooms in numerous hotels, Puerto Plata’s true claim to fame is its 40kilometers of beach.