Senate and Tourism Ministry collaborate on ecotourism development

Santo Domingo.- Senator Ginette Bournigal, president of the Senate’s Permanent Commission on Tourism, led a meeting with Vice Minister of Tourism Patricia Mejía and other senators to discuss the designation of ecotourism provinces. A technical committee was formed to oversee the initiative and ensure effective implementation.

Bournigal emphasized that the traditional “sun, beach, and sand” tourism model is evolving, making ecotourism a key opportunity for showcasing the country’s natural resources. While laws have declared certain areas as ecotourism provinces, past efforts lacked funding and coordination with the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR). However, the government has now committed to allocating funds based on factors such as population density and infrastructure development. Provinces that did not receive funds this year will be supported in preparing for the 2026 budget cycle.

The senator stressed the importance of transparency in managing these resources and reiterated that legislators will act as supervisors rather than direct decision-makers. She also called for stricter adherence to legislative intent when implementing tourism policies, ensuring that ecotourism initiatives benefit communities across the Dominican Republic.