Collado unveils plans for new higher education institute in Tourism

Punta Cana.- The Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) is taking proactive steps towards addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in the country’s expanding hotel sector. Minister David Collado recently announced plans for the establishment of a specialized higher education institute in Punta Cana, focusing on tourism.

Collado revealed that the institute will be funded using Mitur’s reserves, with approximately $20 million earmarked for the creation of a top-tier professional school. The land for the institute’s construction will be generously donated by the Puntacana Group for the benefit of the Dominican State.

“We are investing Mitur’s savings to establish a professional tourism school, aiming to enhance service quality and ensure the sustainability of tourism in the long term,” highlighted Collado. Given that Punta Cana and Bávaro collectively welcome an average of 4.5 million tourists annually, reinforcing education in the region is deemed essential.

Collado emphasized that the initiative will be complemented by a collaboration with the Ministry of Education, reflecting the importance and prominence of the tourism sector in the national curriculum.

In addition to the local efforts, the government is in discussions with a European institution to establish the project through an international public-private partnership. Collado clarified that rather than creating new programs from scratch, they aim to form an alliance with an institution with an international profile to develop what would be an unprecedented educational institution in the country and the region.

Collado stressed the significance of training and preparing personnel with technical expertise to ensure the delivery of high-quality service and the long-term sustainability of tourism. “Education in tourism is crucial, as it’s the primary industry that the country has developed,” he emphasized.

As part of Mitur’s educational initiatives, plans are also underway for the establishment of a Tourist Assistance Center, integrating key government offices to provide comprehensive information to non-resident foreigners visiting the Dominican Republic. The center, spanning 1,000 square meters, is poised to become the largest of its kind in the region.

“We are positioning ourselves to become the strongest tourism force in the entire region,” predicted Collado at the twenty-fourth edition of the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE 2024).