President Mejia toured the Dolphins Encounters Park in Blue Lagoon Island during his recent visit to the Bahamas to attend the Caricom heads of state summit. There he offered his government’s support so that Deep & Down Discovery company could build a similar facility as they operate in the Blue Lagoon Island in Cofresí, Puerto Plata. Investor Ludwig Meister said that the facility where tourists can swim with dolphins, watch dolphin shows, and see sea wolves and turtles would be part of a US$35 million investment in Cofresi, a tourism and residential development about 15 minutes from Puerto Plata city. He said he chose the DR given the country’s stable democracy and strong economic growth track record. Canadian company Emi Resort is building a 400-room Sun Village Palms Hotel to lodge those traveling to Puerto Plata to the dolphins’ facility. Reportedly, the first 200 rooms of the complex will be operational by November. As part of the complex, Meister is also investing in a marina with capacity for 200 yachts. The idea is to service the thousands of small vessels that at present are bypassing the Dominican northern shore on their way to the southern Caribbean due to lack of adequate marina facilities. Both the water park and the marina are pending Ministry of Environment approvals. For more information on the Bahamas Dolphins Encounters facility, see http://www.dolphinswims.com (6 July 2001)
