Tourism Ministry Will Build Infrastructure in Bayahíbe

Tourism Ministry Will Build Infrastructure in Bayahíbe

The Ministry of Tourism is about to undertake a series of infrastructure projects in Bayahíbe, in the eastern area of the country. The building is part of the Territorial Organizing Plan that will raise the quality of the tourism offering as a destination as well as raise the quality of life among the residents in the region, said the Ministry’s Press Office.

“…The zone possesses extraordinary characteristics such as a national park and natural resources that elevate its tourism offering to that of a representative destination of the Dominican Republic,”

The building program includes the reconstruction of the Romana-Bayahíbe highway, the asphalt covering of the access roads to the hotels, reconstruction, paving and sidewalk repair as well as curbs in the town of Bayahíbe; they will also build of a special park for buses that take tourists to the boats to Saona Island.

The announcement was made by Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García who added that they will also be building an artisan’s plaza in the promenade of the Bayahíbe wharf. The projects include a program of signposting in the tourism areas where they will build an information booth and put into operation a training center in coordination with the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD).

The Ministry will implement an international promotion campaign in the areas that are less exploited by the hotel chains in the area. The goal is to attract new vacationers.

In a meeting held with the members of the Association of Hotels of La Romana-Bayahibe, García Fernández said the moment has come for the Tourism Ministry to pay more attention to this community, stressing that “Bayahíbe should be considered the Emerald Tip of the Eastern Region,” due to its beauty and the variety of tourism attractions it possesses.

“This area deserves major attention and the moment has come to give it. The zone possesses extraordinary characteristics such as a national park and natural resources that elevate its tourism offering to that of a representative destination of the Dominican Republic,” he said.

He instructed his assistant, José Gabriel Rodríguez and the director of the Planning and Projects Department (DPP), Maribel Villalona and director of the Infrastructure Committee in the Tourism Zones (CEIZTUR), Jocelyn Vásquez, to work with the Deputy Ministers of Bayahibe and La Romana, Manuel Elías Nolasco and Ernesto Raymer, and the Hotels Association in the carrying out of these projects.

He concluded that it is necessary for Bayahibe to begin to receive the benefit of tourism as soon as possible especially taking into account the excellent qualities the area has to offer.

The main executives of the tourism community of Bayahibe and La Romana participated in the meeting. Among them were Nelly Robinson de Schaun, Executive Director of the Hotels Association of La Romana and Bayahibe and the Administrator of the La Romana Airport, Luis Emilio Rodríguez.

Also attending were hotel executives Javier Estelrich, of Dreams La Romana; Pablo Jaureguizar, of Oasis Canoa de Globalia; Ectorre Colusi and Máximo Carugati, of Viva Diminicus; Yves Colman, of Iberostar La Hacienda; Ivan Cunillera and Andrés Páez of Catalonia Gran Dominicus; and Daniel Flaquer, of Tropical Tours.

The official guest list accompanying the Ministry of Tourism included officials from the Business, Services, Press and Communications offices, Dayhana Prod´Homme and Rossanna Figueroa, respectively.

García Fernández said that where ever there is tourism development, the communities should benefit. An area can only develop to its full potential on the back of the community, such as is the case of Bayahibe where residents live with the tourism activity.

In this sense, he noted that, by the very latest next week, they should begin the infrastructure. He encouraged officials from DPP, CEIZTUR and deputy ministers from La Romana and Bayahibe to work together with the AHRB.

“Here in Bayahibe there will be no problems, no pot holes in the hotel areas nor in the streets of the town. The town should feel the advantages of the development of the tourism activity,” he added.