During the Dominican Annual Travel Exchange (DATE) event in Punta Cana last week, the Ministry of Tourism announced that it has approved 33 permits for the construction of 3,000 new hotel rooms and complementary tourism companies for an investment of more than US$400 million. Speaking at the event held in Punta Cana from 24-26 April 2016, Deputy Tourism Minister Radhames Martinez Aponte said that another 11 new investment projects worth US$1.6 billion are under consideration. He added that the Ministry would be announcing major investments for the southern region in the next 60 days.
Martinez said that the Colonial City remodeling program would be completed in June this year. He said that several boutique hotels have opened and others are under construction in the area.
He also announced that MITUR has prepared a ruling for meetings, convention, incentives and events tourism (MICE) segment that is being discussed by stakeholders.
He also announced that a feasibility and location study on the proposed Santo Domingo convention and exhibition center, which is being conducted by leading trade fair company MesseBerlin, would be completed in June.
According to Martinez, the Ministry has designed targeted campaigns for the gold and MICE travel segments, as well as for adventure and extreme sports travelers and for eco-tourists, to attract niche markets.
He commented that the Ministry of Tourism has drafted seven land use organization projects and another three are in process to help organize the integration of communities with tourism.