Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García announced major investments will be made to improve cruise ship docking facilities in Samaná, on the northeastern coast, and in Puerto Plata, on the northern coast. He said these two investments will mean a doubling of the number of maritime tourists visiting the country.
At the Platinum Advisor Member Association Cruise Conference (PAMAC) in Punta Cana, García shared that cruise tourism to the Dominican Republic was up 37% last year, with the arrival of 1.2 million visitors by sea. The increase comes with the increasing popularity of cruise ship stops at the Amber Cove facility in Puerto Plata, and the continuing success of ports in Santo Domingo, La Romana and new stopovers in Punta Cana. The conference took place last week in Punta Cana. It was attended by senior executives and partners of the 19 cruise lines that are members of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).
This is the first time the event is held in Punta Cana, to where cruise ships are now docking at Cap Cana. The participants partook in formal events, but also had time to go snorkeling above submerged Taino sculptures, sample local food in the countryside, go zip lining in the hills, visit a sugar cane mill, learn how to make cigars and even experience an ATV tour with a pit stop at El Hoyo water park and the Punta Espada Golf Club in Cap Cana.
Some 200 Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Platinum Members and their associates along with 20 high-level executives from FCCA member lines met in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for the annual FCCA PAMAC Conference from 6 to 9 June 2018.
During the conference, García also announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the FCCA that will improve linkages with Dominican companies and the positive impact of the cruise ships on the local economy. The agreement will facilitate that Dominican fresh produce be supplied to ships arriving in the country. Efforts will be made to identify other products the cruise lines could source in the country. García said the FCCA will assist the country in ensuring quality control and food safety. The endeavor is a way of exporting without exporters having to bear the shipping costs.
The agreement establishes that FCCA will offer technical collaboration to assist the Dominican Republic in making necessary improvements to ensure sustained increase in arrivals of cruise ship passengers to the country. It was signed by Michele M. Paige, president of FCCA and Minister García. Paige highlighted the commitment made by FCCA to increase scheduled stops of cruise lines to the country. Paige said the vision is to be able to dock ships with passengers at the seven Dominican ports.
Paige forecast the Dominican Republic would begin to receive upwards of 2 million cruise ship passengers starting in 2020.
Also contemplated in the agreement with FCCA is collaboration for the training of locals as cruise ship crew and providing certification programs so that Dominicans are able to have careers at sea with good wages earned in hard currency.
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Ministry of Tourism
Acento
12 June 2018
