Tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia said the decree regulates construction in Cabarete, where they’ll have to be built without jeopardizing the territory’s integrity, the characteristic urban landscape and natural resources and sports activities.

He said borders will be established in the regulatory Territorial Master Plan in each of that tourism zone’s environmental units, according to building suitability for vision and wind management criteria.

Garcia said the public hearings will begin at 2 p.m., in the hotel Viva Wyndham Tangerine Cabarete.

As to the Decree, the Tourism Minister also noted that president Leonel Fernandez approved the Territorial Tourism Master Plan (POTT) for the Cabarete Municipal District, elaborated by the Tourism Ministry, which establishes regulations such as the control of constructions based on their location and according the Plan’s guidelines.

He said the provisions also establish the division of the territory into environmental units which categorized in seven divisions, starting from the original parcels, existing models of implementation, natural coastal terrain features and the natural monument of the Cabarete and Goleta lagoons.

He said the Tourism Ministry’s Planning and Projects Department will be the agency which regulates the Plan’s controls and norms, which will have to be reviewed in a period of five years from the date of the Decree.

Source: DominicanToday.com

This 4 year program, to be set in motion with a US$3 million contribution by Japan’s Government, aims to benefit the zone’s communities through the development of tourist product and services using local resources, said the Economy Ministry in a statement.

“To combine efforts to motor Puerto Plata’s tourism development and confront the reduction of tourists since the mid 90s is the main joint goal which we must all undertake,” said JICA official Tadashi Ikeshiro.

The sustainable tourism project seeks to have positive impact on that province, benefiting the more than 312,700 residents in the municipalities Altamira, Guananico, Imbert, Los Nobles, Luperón, Sosúa, Villa Isabela and Montellano.

The project looks to provide more opportunities for the zone’s local population to participate in tourism development, in collaboration with the industry.  “This would improve the population’s quality of life and thusly the tourism sector’s sustainable and appropriate development.”

Viva Wyndham Resorts Vice-president of Sales and Marketing Amanda Santana said the changes in the hotel include improved rooms, lobby and swimming pool, as well as the redecoration of the buffet restaurant “Las Palmas”.

The dolphin encounter plus sea lion or shark encounter costs only US$119 adults and US$99 children, and the dolphin swim plus sea lion or shark encounter costs US$175 adults and US$130 children.

The popular Bravissimo Show, with 30 dancers on stage and 120 costumes, includes unlimited drinks during the show, plus a souvenir picture. This offer also includes free access to the casino and the Lighthouse Lounge & Disco and roundtrip transportation from nearby hotels for only US$45.

Antonio Herrera, vice president of sales and marketing for the chain Amhsa Marina Hotels & Resorts said  the hotel will close its doors to the public for renovation from May 6.

PUERTO PLATA.- President Leonel Fernandez headed ribbon-cuttings for several works in this province Thursday, built at a cost of RD$567 million, among them the remodeling of the San Felipe Cathedral and Plaza Independencia park.

Fernandez also inaugurated a sewage system for 23 of Puerto Plata’s southern barrios, as well as streets and sidewalks, and an aqueduct for the sector Padre Granero.

The works for the cathedral and the park, destroyed by the earthquake that shook this province in 2003, cost RD$ 442 million.

Source: DominicanToday.com