Tourism Ministry Prioritizes Land Use and Development in the Southern Region

Tourism Ministry Prioritizes Land Use and Development in the Southern Region

At the beginning of his second year as head of the Minister of Tourism (SECTOR), Francisco Javier Garcia, announced that his priority is to consolidate all land use plans in the different areas and promote development of the southern region as the fourth tourist destination in the country.

“The ASONAHORES fair clearly shows the strength of tourism in the Dominican Republic, but also something more, the quality and professionalism of the different companies that offer products and services in the local tourism sector,” he exclaimed.

Garcia said the plan will also include tree plantings, sidewalks and curbs, and visual works in the tourist areas, and above all, safety reinforcement with security cameras and a greater number of tourist police (Politur), according to the SECTUR’s Office of Press and Communications.

“The priority this year is to launch development in the southern region of the Dominican Republic, build the breakwater in Barahona, install cable cars and also work with new projects there, as we Dominicans say, a boca de jarro (pointblank),” Garcia explained.

Garcia emphasized that the actions include development in the area of Pedernales, as well as “constructing what we call the circuit of Enriquillo Lake, because it is one of the most beautiful areas in the Dominican Republic and it can enhance economic development in both the province of Independencia as well as the province of Bahoruco.”

He immediately added, “during this second year we are going to consolidate what we call the planes de ordenamiento territorial (land use plans) in the different tourist areas and I say ‘consolidate’ because one of the things set as a basis in those plans was the complete restoration of all communications systems,” he explained.

Garcia pointed out that in the areas of Bavaro, Punta Cana and Macao, SECTUR has invested more than 500 million pesos in highway repair and maintenance, and now the work is focusing on curbs and sidewalks, tree planting, visual art along roadways, improving safety with security cameras and more Politur personnel in each area that is a tourist destination in the Dominican Republic.

“Any naturally, if anyone is going to discover anything in the Dominican Republic, I think we Dominicans need to discover our own country, we cannot allow the foreigners to come here on and vacation and know more about the country that our own citizens,” he stated.

The tourism minister made these observations after taking a tour through the installations at the XXIII Commerce Exhibition sponsored by the National Hotel and Restaurant Association (ASONAHORES in Spanish). He praised the quality of the products and services exhibited there and said that thanks to these products, the country’s tourism was of such high quality.

“The ASONAHORES fair clearly shows the strength of tourism in the Dominican Republic, but also something more, the quality and professionalism of the different companies that offer products and services in the local tourism sector,” he exclaimed.

Garcia, speaking about the recognition of his own ministry, said that ASONAHORES shared the recognition as well as all the stakeholders involved in the development of this economic line in the country, after pointing out that the surge “has been the result of joint actions, a common work goal sustained by the different associations, because what counts is accomplishing actions in support of the tourism sector in the Dominican Republic.”

The tourism secretary visited the stands at the XXIII ASONAHORES Commerce Exhibit and praised the quality of the projects available in the country’s tourist industry

The tourism secretary visited the stands at the XXIII ASONAHORES Commerce Exhibit and praised the quality of the projects available in the country’s tourist industry