Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia addressed the controversial question of whether the Ministry would authorize high-rise buildings in Cabarete during his presentation at the Am Cham luncheon. A law in place restricts constructions to three floors. The wind sports community opposes high rise constructions on the grounds that they would destroy precisely what has made Cabarete an attractive destination.
“Remember that all actions that are developed in a tourism zone are harmonized,” said Javier Garcia. He said that several meetings have been held with the Ministry’s Projects and Planning Department.
“There is sort of a general consensus on the things that can be done because the laws are there,” he said. “When taking corrections, we will not affect investments that have already been made,” he said.
He said studies have been carried out to determine the number of floors that can be authorized. “Some major projects have not been approved because they affect the winds in Cabarete,” he told the audience.
“In Cabarete what has to be protected will be protected, and we will make decisions based on technical considerations,” he said.