The Deputy Minister of Environment in charge of Protected Areas says that government revenues are up at national parks and ecological areas. Julio Cesar Ureña said that revenues are up to RD$15 million this year, with the most profitable park being the National Park of the East (Saona Island) which generated RD$7.5 million in revenues. The next most visited are Los Tres Ojos (Santo Domingo) with RD$2.5 million and Catalina Island (La Romana) with RD$1 million. Ureña said the government is making improvements to the Las Maravillas Cave, Los Haitises National Park (Sabana de la Mar), Cabritos Island, Laguna Redonda and Laguna Limon (El Seibo), Jaragua Park (Pedernales), Monte Cristi National Park, El Choco (Puerto Plata) and Armando Bermudez Park (Duarte Peak, La Vega). He explained the government has built bathrooms, service areas, docks, ecological trails, outlook points, and visitor centers. (14 August 2001)
