The largest shopping center in the Punta Cana area is under way. The Palma Real Shopping Center offers 10,000 square meters of shopping space for 60 stores to the booming Punta Cana area. The promoters, the Spanish firms Sol Melia, Anta Empresas and Proinversion expect the mall to be open by the end of this year. Federico Ortega, president of Anta Emrpesas described it as the meeting point for the Bavaro-Punta Cana tourism area. An estimated 1.5 million tourists visited the area last year in addition to the 50,000 local residents. The company has plans to offer a free shuttle service for hotel guests in the area. The new mall’s distinguishing feature is its blue-tiled roof.