Luigi Jimenez, spokesman for Hideaway Resort Beach, confirms today in a report in El Caribe the access restrictions imposed to Playa Encuentro, the leading surfer’s beach on the north coast. He said that developers and hotels in the area are restricting access because of what he called the “inadequate and problematic” behavior of the public that surfer competitions attract.<\/p>\n
Jimenez is quoted in the newspaper saying: “People can enter the beach freely. Now, everyone who bought land in this area has been closing these off. No investor wants anyone transiting through his property. This has to be seen as a necessary evil for tourism development.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Lorenzo Sancassani, president of the Association for the Development of Cabarete (Adeca) called the closing of the road “a lack of vision.” He told El Caribe that to place obstacles to the development of the sport of surfing is to damage tourism in Cabarete that depends on this attraction. He said that the position of the hotel is one that shows a lack of vision of future and one that will harm the tourism image of the country.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Cesar de los Santos, deputy minister of tourism for the north coast, said that the ministry seeks to find a solution to the impasse that may preserve the great potential of surfing in the area. On the other hand he explained there are six real estate projects slated for the area, as part of the real estate boom in Sosua and Cabarete.<\/p>\n
Gabriel Mora, mayor of Cabarete deemed the closing of the road, “illegal” and said he trusts the Ministry of Tourism will order its reopening as they requested in a letter to Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez on 23 March.<\/p>\n
El Caribe denounced that the blocking of vehicular access to Playa Encuentro threatens to do away with the sport of surfing in the area, which it explains produces 30% of the money that circulates in the area. Cabarete has based its attraction on its public beach that is open to surfers from all over the country and the world.<\/p>\n
Ricardo Ripoll, president of the Association of Surfing of Puerto Plata (ASPP) says that Playa Encuentro, located seven kilometers west of Cabarete, is unique in the Caribbean as it is the only beach with prime conditions for surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing. The Puerto Plata Surfers Association is proposing a beach management plan.<\/p>\n
See http:\/\/dr1.com\/forums\/showthread.php?t=39556<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Luigi Jimenez, spokesman for Hideaway Resort Beach, confirms today in a report in El Caribe the access restrictions imposed to Playa Encuentro, the leading surfer’s beach on the north coast. He said that developers and hotels in the area are restricting access because of what he called the “inadequate and problematic” behavior of the public … <\/p>\n