President Abinader promotes tourism in Miami; announces Planet Hollywood resort

[Dolores]

President Luis Abinader attended the Miami Travel Roadshow on 30 January 2023 to promote travel to the Dominican Republic. He spoke of how the Dominican Republic had promptly recovered its tourism industry after Covid-19 and of the new developments at the leading destinations.

He described the new development at Punta Bergantín, a beach and film site, going up next door to Playa Dorada in Puerto Plata. He announced the country’s first star memorabilia-styled Planet Hollywood hotel would open at the site. Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts has been nominated for Travel and Leisure’s 2023 World’s Best Awards. There are others in Cancun, Mexico and Costa Rica in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Punta Bergantin, is the newest development in Puerto Plata, where resort tourism in the Dominican Republic got its start. Punta Bergantin is promoted by movie...

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[JD Jones]

By the time Luis and David finish their terms in power, tourism in the DR is going to be a lot different than it was when they were elected.

 

[windeguy]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1616467590158733312

 

[windeguy]

And there are people who still think that big money is not at work on the North Coast.

 

[Big]

if only some of that big money would make its way east to Sosua and Cab.

 

[MiamiDRGuy]

I notice Abinader focus the most: AI Resorts

He should focus: The Country. Electric Problems, Drinking Water, Unemployment, Police Reform.

Guess he doesn't care. Moving on ...

 

[windeguy]

if only some of that big money would make its way east to Sosua and Cab.

Some of it started to come, but then it fizzled out. A Cabarete bypass along with quicker route to Santiago no longer under consideration would have helped. There is the Marriott on Cabarete Beach which has been coming soon for years and a smaller condo complex which is for sale now on the beach. And of course Sosua Beach renovation moving very slowly.

Other current developments in the Cabarete/Sosua area are small ones like new phases of Casa Linda near the Encuentro area, a new Sosua Ocean Village project which will reach the main highway, a new condo project across from El Rocon, a new development by Encuentro Beach I just heard about, and many other small condo and housing projects in this area that are not obvious from the main highway. There is certainly plenty of land that could be developed.

 

[windeguy]

I notice Abinader focus the most: AI Resorts

He should focus: The Country. Electric Problems, Drinking Water, Unemployment, Police Reform.

Guess he doesn't care. Moving on ...

Don't forget cruise ship ports. It isn't like Abinader is in charge of all development in the DR. People have to be enticed to spend the money on what works.
And what has worked is AI resorts and Cruise Ship ports.

I agree that things like education, electricity, water and police all need a lot of work and are unlikely to change much no matter who is in charge.

 

[Independent Man]

Some of it started to come, but then it fizzled out. A Cabarete bypass along with quicker route to Santiago no longer under consideration would have helped. There is the Marriott on Cabarete Beach which has been coming soon for years and a smaller condo complex which is for sale now on the beach. And of course Sosua Beach renovation moving very slowly.

Other current developments in the Cabarete/Sosua area are small ones like new phases of Casa Linda near the Encuentro area, a new Sosua Ocean Village project which will reach the main highway, a new condo project across from El Rocon, a new development by Encuentro Beach I just heard about, and many other small condo and housing projects in this area that are not obvious from the main highway. There is certainly plenty of land that could be developed.

It seems the projects backed by existing successful developers (SOV & Casa Linda) are the only ones which actually happen. And, even those take years beyond what's initially promised. Where's the actual big new money?

 

[RDKNIGHT]

Nice project... getting closer to starting the bull dozers for Sosua beach

 

[windeguy]

It seems the projects backed by existing successful developers (SOV & Casa Linda) are the only ones which actually happen. And, even those take years beyond what's initially promised. Where's the actual big new money?

Did you read the original post? It is a very large project funded by "new" money.

Other posters have also reported that Dream City is back on line. That will also be huge if and when it happens.

For the rest of the north coast, there are many small projects not backed by SOV and CL, but SOV and CL are certainly the big players in the real estate north coast market in the Sosua/Cabarete area.. CL has projects that are way behind delivery dates, by the way. Just ask the buyers near Encuentro.

 

[bachata]

By the time Luis and David finish their terms in power, tourism in the DR is going to be a lot different than it was when they were elected.

You mean his first term!

JJ

 

[Independent Man]

Did you read the original post? It is a very large project funded by "new" money.

Other posters have also reported that Dream City is back on line. That will also be huge if and when it happens.

For the rest of the north coast, there are many small projects not backed by SOV and CL, but SOV and CL are certainly the big players in the real estate north coast market in the Sosua/Cabarete area.. CL has projects that are way behind delivery dates, by the way. Just ask the buyers near Encuentro.

Way behind in delivery I understand. Those Casa Linda Encuentro villa & condo buyers are a different sort than CL is used to. A younger watersports crowd.

 

[CristoRey]

Way behind in delivery I understand. Those Casa Linda Encuentro villa & condo buyers are a different sort than CL is used to. A younger watersports crowd.

Had it not been for the Covid shut downs then the supply chain issues that followed, a lot of these projects would probably be closer to completion.

 

[Independent Man]

Had it not been for the Covid shut downs then the supply chain issues that followed, a lot of these projects would probably be closer to completion.

Yes, it would seem to be a perfect storm where product demand swamped the ability to meet it.

 

[Kipling333]

I often read that some people are peeved that few of these new tourist attractions are not at Sosua or Puerto Plata or Cabarete. In some ways they should be happy because there is little joy living in an area that is overrun by tourists and tourist attractions. I certainly am finding that La Romana is far less pleasant to live in ,than it was pre Covid and I often think how much more pleasant Bavaro was when there were not those four wheel beach bikes roaring around and you could enjoy the peace and quiet of many beaches there. In a few years time Punta Cana /Bavaro will be like downtown Honolulu and that is horrible .When a country is so reliant on the tourist dollars, the citizens have to pay a nasty price.

 

[FGUnsworth1]

I notice Abinader focus the most: AI Resorts

He should focus: The Country. Electric Problems, Drinking Water, Unemployment, Police Reform.

Guess he doesn't care. Moving on ...

Hope he didn't show all the garbage lying everywhere or the lack of hydro power or the high cost of living here or the high unemployment rates or the lack of employee rights or ...... Doesn't make for good propaganda on a tourist junket.

 

[CristoRey]

Hope he didn't show all the garbage lying everywhere or the lack of hydro power or the high cost of living here or the high unemployment rates or the lack of employee rights or ...... Doesn't make for good propaganda on a tourist junket.

Most rich folks could careless. There's a reason all of their overpriced hideaways are gated and heavily guarded with full size refrigerators and back up power generators.

 

[NanSanPedro]

Hope he didn't show all the garbage lying everywhere or the lack of hydro power or the high cost of living here or the high unemployment rates or the lack of employee rights or ...... Doesn't make for good propaganda on a tourist junket.

You´re spot on except for the high cost of living. Many Dominicanos/as pay $200/month for rent. Not great places of course but not hovels either. But the garbage, unreliable electricity, and low tech ability is a major concern. I don't see those being addressed.

 

[Big]

Hope he didn't show all the garbage lying everywhere or the lack of hydro power or the high cost of living here or the high unemployment rates or the lack of employee rights or ...... Doesn't make for good propaganda on a tourist junket.

The current President is definitely pro-business. This formula trickles down to more jobs and more money for smaller businesses to thrive. "employee rights", they do have unions here however they are super political. "Union" is a dirty word to businessmen.