Veron-Punta Cana hopes to soon be regarded as a city amidst continued growth

[Dolores]

Veron-Punta Cana is the fastest-growing urban center in the Dominican Republic. The impact of the growing tourism industry has propelled thousands of people to relocate East.

The Veron-Punta Cana area nevertheless, still falls under the city government of provincial capital Higuey, but its authorities are struggling for independence.

El Dia reports stats from the National Statistics Office’s 2022 National Census reveal that the Veron-Punta Cana area has grown to a population of 138,919, more than 10 other provinces in their entirety. The census data indicates that the area is growing at around 8% a year, and has moved from being a tourism enclose to an urban center.

Former Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia, who seeks to be the PLD presidential candidate in 2028, favors the upgrading of the municipal status of Veron Punta Cana. This would enable the municipal district to...

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[PJT]

Veron-Punta Cana tourist zone needs to be regarded as a city. It should be removed from under the umbrella of the governance of Higuey. It is is a long-time hope of residents. Higuey has ungenerously siphoned off the control to itself of a very good portion of the vast tourism revenues the Veron-Punta Cana tourist zone. The inconvenience is Higuey is very averse to invest the tourism revenue controls it manages back into the infrastructure of the tourist zone. It is this bad attitude forcing the leaders of the tourist zone to pursue separating from Higuey. The tourist zone is now suffering an infrastructure that is not maintained or improved. Main road potholes need to be attended. Many roads need to be resurfaced. Many new roads are needed to relieve traffic congestion. Malfunctioning semaphores need to be repaired on a weekly basis. Road drainage is horrendous. Lack of sufficient regional government offices in the tourist zone require its inhabitants to travel one hour or more to Higuey to conduct dealings. The tourist zone wants the autonomy to control the revenues it generates, to do with it what it needs to do with it. It can only proceed when separated from Higuey. Higuey does not want a divorce from the cash cow.

Regards,

PJT