Minister of Tourism Felix Jiménez and César José de los Santos met with native Puerto Plata tourist investors to discuss the possibility of allowing businesses to open in the area of the Fortaleza San Felipe. The Ministry would like to build a small colonial city in the area of the fort, granting concessions to the private sector. Restaurants, bars, gift shops, and amphitheater and other facilities would be built to attract tourists from the all-inclusive hotels in the area to the city. San Felipe Fort is the main historic attraction of the city. The Minister met with Juan Luis Monagas, Carlos Monagas, William Redondo, Lupo de Lemos, Michelli and Pablo Costa, Roger Mariotti, and Jose Silverio among others. The Ministry of Tourism is coordinating this plan with the Comisión de Monumentos de Santo Domingo, the government entity in charge of historical monuments in the city of Santo Domingo and the Oficina de Patrimonio Cultural, the government office in charge of Dominican historic monuments in general. Mayor Ramón Ortiz, and Puerto Plata senator Ginette Bournigal oppose the motion, fearing it would limit the access of Dominicans to the area.
