and this from www.dr1.com news
9. Metro minister is big investor in Samana
The director of the department building Santo Domingo's controversial first metro line, Diandino Pena is a leading investor in the largest tourism development under way in Samana, Las Terrenas Country Club, according to a report in Mercado Magazine, carried by Cicom's Resumen Turistico.
Joan Giacinti, former operator of airline services at Las Americas International Airport is the spokesperson for the project, and says that it is part of a plan to convert Las Terrenas Country Club into another Biarritz or St. Tropez, destinations where luxury is combined with beach and sun. He says Samana does this better, because it also offers exuberant vegetation and Dominican hospitality.
Mercado magazine reports that this is an initial investment of US$60 million. Giacinti explained that the golf course is the work of Andy Dye Designs. The Las Terrenas Country Club covers an area of 1.2 million square meters, and the golf course occupies two thirds of the project. Villas, apartments and lots are for sale.
Giacinti says they seek to attract, among others, retired Europeans with pensions of EUR2,000 to EUR3,000 a month. Since its discovery as a tourist destination, Samana has been popular with the French and European markets. Giacinti says that an air ambulance service to travel to Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico or Miami will be available.
Real estate in Samana has increased significantly in value, with the progress being made on the new airport under construction west of Samana and prospects for the completion of the highway that will reduce the driving distance from Santo Domingo to Samana to two hours.