President Luis Abinader hosted a courtesy visit from Balearic Islands President Margalida Prohens Rigo on 17 March 2026 at the Presidential Palace. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, specifically in sustainable tourism management and educational exchange.
Upon her arrival to the Presidential Palace, President Prohens was received by Vice President Raquel Peña. Following a closed-door session with President Abinader, Prohens addressed the presidency press corps alongside a delegation that included the Spanish Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Lorea Arribalzaga Ceballos, and Minister of Higher Education Rafael Santos.
Also participating in the meeting were Maria Morla, director of the National Institute of Technical-Professional Training (Infotep); Encarna Piñero, Global CEO of Grupo Piñero and president of Inverotel and Juan Bancalari, president of the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores).
Strengthening cultural and institutional ties
President Prohens noted that her primary objective in the Dominican Republic was to participate in the Meeting of Ibero-American Communities in Punta Cana. Punta Cana got its main push as the insular Caribbean’s largest tourism destination thanks to investment from Spain, and much from the Balearic Islands. The plenary session, held two years ago in Palma, shifted to the Dominican Republic this year to strengthen heritage and historical links with Balearic descendants living in the region. “These individuals maintain our cultural bonds alive from thousands of kilometers away,” Prohens stated, expressing gratitude for the community’s role in preserving Balearic identity.
A model for sustainable tourism
During the visit, Prohens shared insights from the Balearic Islands’ position as Spain’s leading tourism destination and a top European hub. Prohens shared the Baleares recent switch to regenerative tourism, going from record-breaking visitor numbers to “growth in value,” prioritizing the well-being of local residents and environmental sustainability.
She also spoke of the need for strategic balance. She mentioned the importance of managing tourism success through economic and social equilibrium to ensure the destination remains competitive without compromising the uniqueness of each destination.
Educational exchange and “Villa Suiza”
The leaders also reviewed the progress of a cooperation agreement signed in January 2026 during the FITUR trade fair in Madrid. Under this agreement, the Hotel Management School of the Balearic Islands, currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, is exporting its expertise to the Dominican Republic. The Spanish expertise is behind the Escuela de Formación Técnico Profesional Sabana de la Mar (Villa Suiza) vocational training school operating in Hato Mayor’s Sabana de la Mar port town. A ferry connection makes it possible for students in Samana city to commute to attend the school.
Prohens confirmed that a first group of Dominican instructors is currently undergoing specialized training in Palma. These educators will return to staff the Villa Suiza facility in Sabana de la Mar. The initiative aims to elevate the entire tourism value chain by providing world-class training to both teachers and students in the hospitality sector.
Inaugurated by President Luis Abinader on 22 February 2025, the Escuela de Formación Técnico Profesional Villa Suiza is an Infotep-led initiative. The government recovered the property after five years of abandonment, investing approximately RD$79.2 million to convert it into a specialized training center. The site spans over 18,000 square meters and includes 16 model units for room service instruction and seven specialized workshops.
The local Infotep training model is being elevated through the partnership with the Escuela de Hostelería de las Islas Baleares (EHIB). This Spanish institution, based in Palma de Mallorca, is world-renowned for managing “tourism success” through sustainability and high-quality service.
Signed in January 2026 at FITUR, the collaboration involves the EHIB providing technical and pedagogical accompaniment to infotep. A key component is “training the trainers.” Currently, a group of Dominican instructors is in Palma at the EHIB campus to master European hospitality standards. They will return to Villa Suiza to implement these methodologies.
At present, training covers high-demand areas including gastronomy (chef training), bar and restaurant management, hotel reception, languages (English and French), and wellness services such as therapeutic massage.
The goal is to provide local youth with the skills needed for major hotel chains expanding in the region, such as ClubMed, Dreams, and Tropicalia hotel ventures in Miches, without requiring them to relocate for their education.
There have been official discussions regarding a separate facility specifically for the Samaná province. The proposed Samana training center would provide more accessible training for those who live in the Las Terrenas, Samana City and Las Galeras area that now have to cross the bay.
The Villa Suiza would be the new operational “anchor” for the region. As reported, the construction of a standalone Samaná training center remains a strategic priority for Infotep’s 2026 Operational Plan to support the massive influx of luxury hotel brands (such as Marriott and Ritz-Carlton) currently breaking ground on the peninsula.
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Presidency
24 March 2026