Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez also announced the government would invest millions in Puerto Plata infrastructure, as reported in the Listin Diario. He said the money to pay for planned works would come from the budget, foreign loans and a US$5 surcharge on airline tickets to the Dominican Republic, both on charter and regular flights. The surcharge would go into effect starting in May 2005.
The investment is part of US$300 million infrastructure plans Jimenez announced yesterday at a press conference during the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange held at the V Centenario InterContinental Hotel.
Jimenez said that included in the infrastructure works is a US$20 million in a new highway to link Maimon and Cabarete.
Furthermore, residual water works on the city of Puerto Plata waterfront so as to restore Long Beach and Poza del Castillo as public beach areas would be started this year.
Also in Puerto Plata city, he announced the construction of an amphitheater in the area of the San Felipe Fort on the Malecon. The Isabel de Torres skylift would be also be remodeled and a nightclub, museum, chapel for weddings and orchids garden built at the top of the mountain, at a cost of US$4 million.
For Sosua, he announced the government would complete the repaving of the city, and expansion of the highway. He announced the construction of 1,500 dwellings to relocate families living in inappropriate areas.
For Cabarete, he announced the start of construction of a new aqueduct and residual water treatment plant to accommodate the tourism growth in the area.