Tourism Minister Calls for “Radical Changes” in Las Terrenas

Dominican Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier García, recently proclaimed that “the moment has come for Las Terrenas to radically change” into a model tourism area. To further that goal, the Minister has announced the undertaking of important construction projects to be developed by the Executive Committee of Tourism Infrastructure (CEIZTUR).

Dominican Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier García, recently proclaimed that “the moment has come for Las Terrenas to radically change” into a model tourism area.

After meeting with and hearing the opinions and proposals of the authorities, business people, promoters, investors and community representatives linked to tourism concerns, Francisco Javier García then made a suggestion of his own which was met with applause: the undertaking of a vast investment plan in the area of infrastructure to take advantage of the formidable tourism potential of this area.

He indicated that, in the coming days official resolution number 02/2008 will go into effect. Its release last July suspended the approval of real estate projects in certain areas of Las Terrenas.

“Immediately the plans for roads will get underway and we’ll make a corresponding agreement with the owners. We will pass the resolution. This will be resolved within 15 days,” said Mr. García.

Among the construction to be developed, García mentioned the building of 19 kilometers of the Sánchez-Las Terrenas road as well as clean-up work that includes filling the potholes, laying down new blacktop, fences and road dividers. There will also be asphalt laid on the streets and a sprucing up along the streams and rivers in addition to a road-sign system that will be extended to the entire country.

In addition, the entrance to the city be cleaned and refurbished so that “when visitors arrive, they’ll feel like they’re entering a tourism area.” He pointed out that these initiatives will be carried out within the framework of the Territorial Organizational Plan that was worked out through a SECTUR bid, the authorities, tourism businesses and other representative sectors in Las Terrenas.

“to all necessary government institutions that have anything to do with Las Terrenas and to get them on board with these projects that need to be done in this community.”

García reiterated his commitment to promote the project “to all necessary government institutions that have anything to do with Las Terrenas and to get them on board with these projects that need to be done in this community.”

He announced, in this order, that this same week he will make a tour of all the areas around the municipality in the company of the Minister of Public Works and Communication, Víctor Díaz Rúa.

“What I want is the for the Public Works Ministry to tell me what they´re going to do and the rest the Tourism Ministry will do” with the available resources from the Executive Committee of Tourism Infrastructure (CEIZTUR)” said the government official.

Among the authorities who attended the meeting held in the Hotel Allgio was Roland Dubertrand, the French Ambassador; César José de los Santos, Undersecretary of Tourism for the Northern Region and the national assistant to the Tourism Minister; Prim Pujals and Miguel Bezi, Senator and Governor, respectively, of Samaná; Elsa de León, Undersecretary of Tourism for the Northeastern Region; José Alexis, from the syndicate of Las Terrenas; Deputy José Acevedo; Braulio Vásquez, manager of the Las Terrenas Tourism Promotion Office and Gabriel Rodríguez, assistant to Minister García.

At the meeting for the business sector of the city was, among others, Gary Hurtado and Ramón Prieto of El Portillo; Orsini Bosch, President of the Association of Alliances of Tourism Services of Samaná; José Manuel Barceló (Marina Puerto Bonito), Joan Giacinti (Las Terrenas Country Club), Luis Espinal (Monte Marina Project); Félix Vásquez, Senator of the Sánchez Ramírez Province; Pedro Catrein and other architects including Marcelo Alburquerque and Iván Collado.

After the meeting, Minister García and the invited business people had lunch at the home of businessman Ramón Prieto.

French Ambassador to the DR, Roland Dubertrand, speaks with Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier García, after the meeting.

Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García speaks to participants of the meeting in Las Terrenas. Beside him is Miguel Bezi, Governor of the province. .

Pedro Catrein speaks with the Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier García.