Minister of Environment Frank Moya Pons announced in El Siglo newspaper rehabilitation work to prepare the 90-kilometer Hispaniola Trail. The trail is being carried out using the US Apalachian Trail as model. The Hispaniola Trail will be attractive to adventure-seeking tourists. It will incorporate already existing trails in the Cordillera Central down to Rio Limpio, where a center for visitors will be built. Moya Pons says that signs will be placed to guide visitors. He said they will then promote the trial in adventure travel magazines around the world. "I assure you that this trial will be as visited as the Appalachian Trail in the US," he said. His goal is to turn the Hispaniola Trail into the most important eco-tourism attraction in the Caribbean. Moya Pons told El Siglo newspaper that the only way to turn protected areas into national worth is to rehabilitate them so that they attract tourists and make money. The plan is for these areas to reimburse the government with 20% of income generated. He said that all national parks and protected areas will be open to organized ecotourism activities. He said they will be working with non-governmental organizations to create more projects similar to the success stories of the Progressio and Quita Espuela foundations. Moya Pons announced that the first cave that will be prepared for visitors is the Cueva de la Maravilla in the outskirts of San Pedro de Macorís. This cave will be a new attraction for tourists visiting the Juan Dolio area hotels. It will also be attractive for tourists traveling to La Romana and Boca Chica hotels. Next on the list is the rehabilitation for visitors of the Cuevas del Pomier in southwestern San Cristóbal. Moya Pons says they will be executing a program with funds from the World Bank to create a visitor center at the Parque Jaragua near the Bahia de las Aguilas in the West. (18 January 2001)
