The Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Cluster of Constanza Promote the Serrano Corridor and the Bicycle Trails

The Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Cluster of Constanza Promote the Serrano Corridor and the Bicycle Trails
Constanza, La Vega, December 14 2015

The Tourism Cluster of Constanza and the Ministry of Tourism presented a report on the project “Diversificación e Innovación de la Oferta Turística de Constanza y el Multidestino de Montaña”, which is being carried out with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the National Competitiveness Council (CNC for its acronym in Spanish).

The objective of this project is to promote and enhance the Serrano Corridor in order to turn Constanza into a world-class destination for mountain and adventure ecotourism, including the bicycle trails in this municipality.

For the implementation of this project, the IDB, through the FONDEC Fund that is managed by the CNC, has contributed 70% of the required funds, which is equivalent to RD$7,437,500, and the cluster has provided the remaining 30%, which is equivalent to RD$3,187,500.

The project, which is also supported by Mitur through the Department of National Tourism, was headed by the President and the Vice President of the Tourism Cluster of Constanza, Rafael Collado and Plácido Rosa, respectively, together with other members of the Board of Directors of that entity.

Among the outcomes of the project is the development and expansion of the Bicycle Project (Ciclo Rutas), consisting of a family bicycle agro-tourism tour through the various crop plantations in the area, that utilizes an asphalt road that is signposted according to international standards.

To that end, at this early stage, ten tour bikes for rent were purchased and modified according to Constance’s terrain. A special tricycle for disabled people and another one for standard use were also purchased, according to Erika Cruz, the person in charge of the project.

She added that a set of Street Furniture, which consists of three scenic overlooks located at strategic points along the bicycle route, including parking, benches and location maps, and with an excellent view of the natural attractions of the Constanza valley, was created and installed. It also has a road sign system made of traffic signs and lights based on international standards.

Cruz also added that the Strategic Plan for the Development of Tourism in the Constanza Destination was formulated. It provides the standards for the development of tourism in the short, medium and long term, as well as a diagnosis reflecting the current reality of tourism and the future actions that need to be taken to ensure the sustainable development of this destination, which has been dubbed El Valle Encantado del Caribe (The Enchanted Valley of the Caribbean).

She reported that two Tourist Information Centers had been opened to provide visitors with maps and information on the businesses that are members of the Cluster, as well as on the attractions and activities available in the destination. They are located on Calle Duarte and the Aeródromo Expedición 14 de Junio.

In turn, Rafael Collado, President of the Tourism Cluster of Constanza, highlighted the hard work of and cooperation from the Ministry of Tourism, through the Department of National Promotion under the direction of Milka Hernández, which the Cluster has received for the promotion of this tourist destination and the busy schedule of activities to be carried out.

These include press trips and other programs to promote the attractions of this municipality, which is located 1,200 meters above the sea level, and which has temperatures ranging between 5 and 20 degrees Celsius year round.

The Serrano corridor, included in the funding provided by the IDB and the CNC, is among the Cluster’s important projects contained in this report.

It aims, through a strategic alliance formed by the Clusters of Jarabacoa, Constanza and San José de Ocoa, to promote the strengths of the latter municipality as an important ecotourism resource…

The report on the project “Diversificación e Innovación de la Oferta Turística de Constanza y el Multidestino de Montaña” also included a presentation on the consulting logs of Rocío Taveras and Yubelkis Mejía, members of the Cluster, in which they reviewed the activities that have been undertaken in the areas of promotion, public relations and the modernization of the website www. Constanza.com.do.

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