Tourism development plan set for Verón and Las Terrenas

Santo Domingo.- Juan Bancalari, president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores), emphasized the urgency of establishing clear land use plans to guide hotel development and safeguard investments. He noted that the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) has already proposed a National Sustainability Strategy, with initial focus on Verón (La Altagracia) and Las Terrenas (Samaná), two areas with high tourist density. Bancalari stressed that these plans must be designed jointly by the public and private sectors to avoid conflicts such as hotels in industrial zones or infrastructure deficiencies that undermine the visitor experience.

Solid waste management was highlighted as the second most pressing challenge for hoteliers. Asonahores has submitted recommendations to Congress regarding proposed reforms to Law 225-20, warning that the bill could foster monopolistic practices harmful to efficient waste handling. At the same time, hotels are working to reduce single-use plastics by adopting recyclable alternatives like paper and cardboard.

Beyond infrastructure and sustainability, Bancalari underlined the growth of complementary offerings such as gastronomic, sports, golf, and nautical tourism, which have diversified the country’s appeal beyond the traditional all-inclusive model. These initiatives, coupled with higher hotel standards, have raised average tourist spending by about US$40 since 2019.