Dominican Tourism

Tropicalia Foundation, executive and operational arm of its business and social responsibility programs (RSE) in the Tropicalia sustainable tourism development of the Cisneros Organization, located in Miches, eastern El Seibo province, became a member of the National Business Support Network for Environmental  Protection (RENAEPA) on April 5.

Tropicalia Foundation president William R. Phelan took the oath from Network president Julio V. Brache and other partners in the Santo Domingo offices of RENAEPA, a prestigious grouping of important local and international companies, whose objective is the defense and protection of Dominican Republic’s natural resources through actions to spur sustainable growth. (more…)

Around 15,000 foreign tourists and new species have visited the Marine Mammal Sanctuary in Samaná (Dominican northeast) since January 15, in the current humpback whale watching season, the Environment Ministry said today.

The figure is 30 percent higher than the first weeks of the 2009 season, and sets a record in attendance, said Whale Observation Program local coordinator Peter Sanchez in a statement.

Hundreds of humpback whales come to Samaná Bay every year from Iceland, Greenland, Canada and the United States north coast, to mate and give birth.

Sanchez added other species have also been observed that in the current season such as sperm whales and sharks, “which means that the safety and quality of the ecosystem make these species feel safe and remain in the country’s Marine Mammals Sanctuary.”

The ambitious Century Grand Constanza project of development and environmental protection will be built at a cost of US$10 million, and its promoters call a sustainable tourism model which will benefit the municipality.

Maximo Brito, director of the office in Puerto Rico responsible for the construction of the project in Constanza (center), said it will be developed in three years and will be the most innovative ecotourism project ever conceived in the country’s North region and will be a model ecological and retirement city for Dominicans and foreigners.

“The zone needs the protection of its environment and the investors from New York and London such as Sergio Pino, president of Century Home Builder, agreed that it’s essential to protect the zone and conserve its biodiversity,” Brito said.

MICHES, Dominican Republic.- Tropicalia, a sustainable, ecologically responsible, high luxury and low density tourism project of the Cisneros Organization in Dominican Republic, was presented to the community Miches in its first town hall meeting.

Present in the activity, with around 170 citizens interested in the project present and held in the Miches City Council were the project’s promoters; representatives and technicians of the consulting firm ECOMAR, contracted for the Environmental Impact Evaluation; authorities and representatives of the municipal organizations and its districts El Cedro and La Gina.

The Tropicalia project, to be developed in three stages within 20 years counts on a global investment of US$2.0 billion, and will create more than 3,000 jobs in its first stage and around 14,000 when concluded.

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Santo Domingo.- The long awaited announcement by Venezuelan tycoon Gustavo Cisneros on the construction of an ambitious project in Dominican Republic’s northeast came today, called Tropicalia, at a cost US$2 billion.

He said it’s an ecological, sustainable tourism project located in Samaná Bay, Miches, El Seibo province, expected to become one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive tourism destinations and a force aimed at revitalizing the impoverished zone’s economy.

Speaking in the American Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon in the presence of president Leonel Fernandez and numerous business leaders, Cisneros said his group will initially invest US$485 million during the first three years and from now on an additional US$1.5 billion in the next 20 years. “The final result will be measured with the creation of 3,000 short term jobs, 6,000 new ones in the medium term and 14,000 positions in the long term.”

The tycoon said his motivation to build Tropicalia was to materialize a socially and economically balanced project of tourism development, based on sustainability and cultural inclusion.

SANTO DOMINGO.- Tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia Tuesday said investors want to build two tourism projects in Pedernales (southwest) at a cost of more than RD$8.5 billion, which would mark the start of the new resort region’s development.

The Tourism chief said the same development is expected for the Montecristi zone (northwest), where investors will soon announce projects and investment amounts in that region. (more…)

Santo Domingo.– The Dominican Ministry of Environment signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the German Construction Bank (KFW) to create a US$10 million fund, which will be administered by the National Protected Areas System (SINAP).

The organizations will provide US$6.5 million for the fund, while the Dominican government will provide the remaining US$3.5 million. Environment Minister Omar Ramirez said that this represents an improvement in the sustainability of the nation’s ecosystem and development.

According to TNC representative William Welter, the agreement shows the reach of inter-organizational and international cooperation. The SINAP includes 86 sites and covers 11,500 kilometers, or 24% of Dominican territory.