Shame - Once paradise to me, has been ruined.
Saddened to read of the change allowing high rises for development.
The following is my thoughts and my opinion only. Some may agree, some may not.
People who have lived in the Punta Cana/Bavaro area may see my insight on my comments.
I started travelling to Punta Cana in 2000, from Canada, when all-inclusives became a popular thing.
I developed a love for the Country and enjoyed every visit there.
Back then the Airport was a small thatched hut style building and it gave warmth to the greeting. We travelled the old road through Veron to get to the resorts in the Bavaro area. Very rural roads, no highways like today. This also attracted me even more to the country.
Even though I stayed at resorts, I met friends and ventured off the resorts to areas in Bavaro and Higuey. Plaza Bavaro was the main attraction back then. Friusa was not developed nor was Cortecito or Los Corales area.
After about 5 years of resorts, I ventured to renting condos for my stay, a month to six weeks at a time, a couple of times a year.
I stayed in the Cortecito area in what then were the new construction buildings but now almost 20 years old.
Amenities were limited but that's what I liked about it. There was one main grocery store in Cortecito, across from Captain Cooks. To me, it was island/Carribean like.
In 2009 I developed a more liking for the area and desired to move there. In 2010 I arrived and began my adventure. I knew it wasn't going to be my home forever, but didn't know how long.
Development and amenities increased, some good, some bad. I was feeling the place I had adored was loosing what I had liked about it in the beginning - peace and tranquility.
I know the development in amenities was due to a lot of expats living there and wanting modern living conveniences, but to me, that takes away some of the ambience of island living.
Development continued and resorts, condos were being developed like ants on top of one another.
To me, it was loosing its flair that I enjoyed.
Over the years there were so many changes, crime increased, the beaches were a mess with seaweed due to years of water activity, and by 2009 I sadly felt it was time to move on as it was not what it had once been.
In 2010 I returned to Canada and have really no desire to return to the East Coast.
To some, bigger is better, and yes the investors have to go where it is booming, but to me, and perhaps others, it's not the answer.
I said a long time ago, Punta Cana/Bavaro will drop like the North Coast tourism did, and I wonder how far off that is....
This is just my opinion, and feel my thoughts relate to the topic of The Tourism Minister approving high rise development, as I think it will ruin the area even more.
It's all about the money though.