The economic impact of Punta Bergantín: an estimated 11,000 direct jobs annually

The Punta Bergantín tourism development project could generate 6 to 9 total jobs (direct, indirect, and induced) per hotel room during its initial construction phase and between 7,000 and 11,000 direct jobs annually between 2025 and 2030, primarily benefiting the residents of Villa Montellano.

This is the estimate for the study “Economic Impact of the Operations of the Punta Bergantín Project in the Municipality of Villa Montellano, Puerto Plata,” prepared by consultants and teachers from the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (Intec).

The research was presented as a tool to understand the municipality’s socio-economic reality, listen to the community’s voice, and identify the opportunities and challenges that accompany the project’s development.

The study also analyzes the direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts of Punta Bergantín, quantifies the positive externalities and the challenges associated with its implementation, evaluates its impact on the tourism value chain and on local productive dynamics, and measures its impact on employment, household income, business activity, and the economy of the municipality.

Andrés Marranzini, executive director of Punta Bergantín, stated that “the project will have a positive impact on increasing local consumption, expanding retail and personal services, boosting transportation and logistics, growing the real estate sector, and stimulating production linkages with agricultural, fishing, and manufacturing suppliers.”

Meanwhile, Juan Carlos López Pérez, a professor and researcher at INTEC, stated that “our study shows and analyzes the various ways in which the Punta Bergantín project would impact the community of Villa Montellano, from both an economic and social perspective. The results—obtained through surveys and multiple econometric projections—demonstrate the positive effects that will materialize from the project’s implementation, yielding benefits and improvements for the municipality’s residents and the entire province. In short, Punta Bergantín has great transformative potential for the territory and the regional economy.”

The study projects that the project’s development will significantly boost Villa Montellano’s economy. Among its key findings, it estimates a 25% to 30% increase in sales for local businesses and services, and a 14% to 17% increase in household income within the municipality as a result of the project’s economic activity. Over the next decade, the project is expected to generate approximately $200 million in total added value annually.

It also identifies significant job placement opportunities for community residents. According to projections, 1,347 people with specialized profiles could be hired from the current stage of the project; within six months, approximately 2,153 people with moderate training would have employment opportunities; in 18 months, the figure would rise to 3,709 people; and over 36 months, up to 8,187 residents could benefit from the job opportunities generated.

In this regard, Punta Bergantín reiterated its commitment to prioritizing hiring residents of Villa Montellano before resorting to outside labor. Simultaneously, it is developing language training programs, technical skills development, and tourism initiatives, as well as projects aimed at strengthening the capabilities of local businesses, restaurants, artisans, and other entrepreneurs to facilitate their incorporation as suppliers for the project.

The report also reveals a high level of interest from local businesses in integrating into the Punta Bergantín value chain. 71.7% of the business owners surveyed expressed willingness to become suppliers for the project, highlighting the opportunities tourism development offers for companies in the area.

In addition to the economic impact, the research identifies opportunities to strengthen road infrastructure and community services, establish permanent communication channels to keep the population informed about the project’s progress, and preserve the cultural identity of Villa Montellano throughout the transformation process.

For the preparation of the study, interviews were conducted with 322 families, 92 businesses and 15 community leaders, complemented with official information from the National Statistics Office ( ONE ), the Single System of Beneficiaries ( Siuben ), the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, the Ministry of Tourism ( Mitur ) and the Ministry of Finance, which were used together with data from the WTTC to make econometric estimates for the medium-term projections (and scenarios) on employment, added value and other variables of interest.