Culture and Tourism Ministries Will Implement Intense Plan of Action to Encourage Tourism in Colonial City

Culture and Tourism Ministries Will Implement Intense Plan of Action to Encourage Tourism in Colonial City
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 5/26/2013

Maintaining all historical monuments in optimal conditions should be a priority for every nation. For this reason, the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, through an inter-institutional cooperation agreement, will embark on an initiative in Santo Domingo’s Colonial City.

The proposal is part of the Tourism Promotion Program of Colonial City of Santo Domingo, in which both ministries, through an agreement signed by Culture MinisterJosé Antonio Rodríguez and Tourism Minister …

The proposal is part of the Tourism Promotion Program of Colonial City of Santo Domingo, in which both ministries, through an agreement signed by Culture MinisterJosé Antonio Rodríguez and Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García, have committed to work toward the implementation of a series of projects that will improve and update the buildings in Colonial City and its environs.

The agreement was signed in an event that included officials from the Culture Ministry such asCarlos Santos, Coordinator of the Deputy Ministry of Institutional Development; EddaGrullón, National Director of Monuments; Alberto Valenzuela, Director of Technical Coordination and Rosa Rodríguez, Director of Education and Training.

Culture Minister Rodríguez expressed hiswillingness to put a great deal of effort into the actions that make up the agreement. “The agreements being discussed, dialogued then finally signed are accords that will lead to a positive end as this is part of an inter-institutional agreement.”

He stressed that this agreement also combines the actions of both ministries, which will function as a way of strengthening the country’s culture.

Tourism Minister García,concurred that this initiative will provide follow-up to the renovation plan underway in Colonial City. He said it was “a project that has been ordered by President Danilo Medina Sánchez, with the goal of preparing the Colonial Cityfor the impact that tourism is having on the country with the massive influx of tourists that arrive in the region.”

He added that, thanks to the work being done in the different highways and tourism areas, the trip from the eastern area of the country to Santo Domingo only takes an hour and 45 minutes, which makes it much easier for visitors to traverse the city.

The program takes into account different projects, among them are: Design and Comprehensive Reform of the Streets, Tourist Signposting of Colonial City, Restoration of the Colonial Tram Lines, Modernization of the Casas Reales Museum and the establishment of an Acting Center and a Theater Performance Center in the Ozama Fort.

In addition, the Modernization of the Alcázar de Colón Museum, Design and Implementation of Tourism Routes in Colonial City, consolidation, preservation and restoration of the Ruins of San Francisco, the creation of the Archeological Ruins Park of Francisco and the design of an Events Center in this same building.

Also there will be a renovation and embellishment of the historic facades, small businesses and private properties in the Colonial City.

Likewise the Office of the Ministry of Culture’s Inventory Center will work for the use and intervention of Colonial City with the objective of producing precise norms for land use that will guarantee the conservation of private property and, at the same time, promote secure investment in the historic center of the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, which will be done in faithful adherence to the Loan Agreement terms from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) 2587/OC-DR.

In this sense, the Ministry of Tourism will develop a Comprehensive Animation Plan on El Conde Street as well as raising property values from Category 2 and 3 as a Support for the Zoning Norms.

To achieve his agreement, the Ministry of Culture will be responsible for a series of actions, including: managing the establishment of contact between the Tourism Ministry, artists and groups interested in the Tourism Promotion Program and are part of one of the Ministry’s programs.


José Antonio Rodríguez, Minister of Culture with Francisco Javier García, MinisterTourism as they sign the agreement at the Tourism Ministry office.