President Danilo Medina was in Samana yesterday for a meeting on board the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas ship with the cruise line executives. There is the possibility that the government may accept an offer by Royal Caribbean to invest in the construction of a cruise ship terminal for the province. President Medina traveled to Samana to meet with Michael Ronan, Royal Caribbean vice president and listen to suggestions for improving transport, information, infrastructure, security and road organization to prepare for increased cruise ship passenger arrivals. The measures are targeted at independent tourists that want to see Samana on their own.
The Minister of Public Works says that executives from Royal Caribbean are expressing their interest in improving the cruise ship terminal in Samana. Gonzalo Castillo said that an executive from the cruise line had told President Danilo Medina that they are willing to invest US$8 million to upgrade the port terminal in Samana. Medina, who was visiting Samana yesterday Tuesday 20 November and enjoyed a tour of the liner “Explorer of the Seas,” said that he would resolve problems relating to refuse disposal and pedestrianize some streets, which would enhance the tourist experience in Samana.
Medina announced that next week the Minister of Environment and Public Works of his government would be in Samana for a follow up meeting with the cruise line executives.
Also at the meeting with President Medina that was held on board the Explorer of the Seas were Federico Schad, of Bahia Cruise Serivces, the leading promoter of cruise ship visits to Samana, Rafael Blanco, president of the Tourism Cluster. Government officers attending were Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia, Orfila Salazar in charge of cruise ships for the Ministry of Tourism, Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo, Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ramon Peralta, among others.
http://www.presidencia.gob.do/comunicado/presidente-medina-en-las-aguas-del-atlantico/