The river that divides eastern and western Santo Domingo could become a major tourist attraction. The operators of the Sans Souci tourist port want the river clean-up programs to continue, with the elimination of industries and slums that dump all their waste into the river. As reported in Diario Libre, the Ozama and Isabela rivers have tourism and public transport potential.
Lisandro Macarrulla, president of the Sans Souci Holdings group dreams: “You could take a ferry, as is common in many countries, that would leave you at Villa Duarte or at the San Vicente de Paul, where the Puente de la 17 is. It could become a method of public transportation for passengers, tourists and could improve the real estate value of property on both sides of the river,” said Macarrulla.
Onofre Rojas, coordinator for the Greater Santo Domingo Municipal Confederation says there are small islets where restaurants and points of interest could be installed along the river. However, he says that the riverside needs to be rescued before any attractions can be built. He says there is a wetland system of great importance along the Ozama River that the Ministry of Environment is promoting. There are trails, lagoons, forest, streams and springs and wildlife in the area.
Macarrulla says that to meet the target of 10 million tourists in 10 years announced by President Danilo Medina when he took office, he has to develop Santo Domingo as a tourist area. He says this can be done by improving the Colonial City and rescuing the Ozama River to make it attractive to visitors. He said that then cruise passengers who arrive at the port by ship could take a boat trip upstream. He said that this year around 40 cruise ships with around 70,000 tourists are due to arrive during the season, but there is potential for 600,000 tourists a year.
Rescuing the river is essential for the development of the Sans Souci hotel and residential development.
www.diariolibre.com/destacada/2013/10/11/i406125_rao-ozama-potencial-ruta-transporte-turismo.html