Tourism wealth coming ´soon´ to poor Dominican region

Madrid.- Tourism ministerFrancisco Javier García on Wednesday saidnew investment projects in southwestern Pedernales province, Dominican Republicwill be announced in “soon,” once the master plan to develop the region is completed.

At the opening of the36th annual International Tourism Fair (Fitur 2016), the officialsaid Pedernales´ "tourism will be of a rank superior to those in DominicanRepublic" with a room density lower than other resorts, “so it won’tcompete with them,”

He said Pedernales provincehas the highest number of protected areas, with 55% in its territory.

Quoted bydiariolibre.com, Garcia said the Enriquillo basin (Independencia and Bahoruco)and Barahona provinces –which form part of the country´s most impoverishedregion-, would also form part of the master plan. "Pedernales´ wait hasbeen long, but the wait will be worth it." He called Pedernales´ tourism "high-end."

Cruise ships

Garcia said since AmberCove opened in Maimon, Puerto Plata as a Carnival Cruises port-of –call, its passengershave already spent RD$238 million in that region.

Flights

He said he signed asecond agreement with Iberia airlines president Luis Gallego on Wednesday, topromote Dominican Republic in the Spanish carrier´s routes.

The Dominican official addedthat after signing an agreement to resume Iberia flights into the country, thearrival of Spanish tourists has jumped 16% in 2015.