JUNE 2010

The Ministry of Tourism and the city of Puerto Plata to rescue the historic center

To encourage economic development and tourism in this area

BREAKING NEWS: Puerto Plata.- The Ministry of Tourism and the council of this municipality will contribute the RD $30 million required to rescue the historic center of the city of Puerto Plata.

José Natalio Redondo Galan, chairman of the Tourism and Cultural Cluster, stated in an interview on All Inclusive, that there is a short term project for the year 2010-2011 which includes the full development of the Historical Centre of Puerto Plata, the backbone of the economic and touristic development in this locality.

He explained that the investment to rescue the area surrounding Independence Square will costs about RD $10 million and the remaining part of the first phase of this project, which includes paving 1.2 miles of streets, repairing sidewalks, placing cables underground and adding Victorian lighting, will cost RD $12 million.

Puerto Plata Live, 08.06.10

Workshop on sustainable tourism held in Puerto Plata

With the support of the Ministry of Tourism and the Agency of International Cooperation of Japan

BREAKING NEWS: Puerto Plata.- The Sustainable Tourism Project, seeks that this sector of the economy doesn´t depend exclusively on tourist complexes with offers of sun and sand, but also the use of local resources and the uniting of industries and their representatives, so that they participate in tourist activities and obtain economic benefits.

Yasushi Wada, who coordinated the project, spoke at the first workshop for the counterparts of this effort that develops in this province, with the support of the Agency of International Cooperation of Japan (JICA), the Ministry of Tourism (MICA) and the National Foundation of Technical Professionals (INFOTEP).

Mr. Wada stated that they haven´t yet produced an effective working relationship between the resorts, the local industries and the villages, which is necessary to change the traditional model. He added that the workshops that are being developed in Puerto Plata will identify the resources that have to do with history, culture, arts and crafts, fishing and other aspects that attract visitors.

Mr. Wada explained that on the local, regional, and national level there have been meetings with the more representative institutions, public and private, as part of an analysis for the forming of 10 pilot projects, which would begin to operate in the current year.

It was made known that work had begun at the end of last year, and the project would last four years, during which time the Japanese government alone would invest US $3.5 million dollars. He warned that the money was not the main factor, but that people become aware of the importance of tourism, the behavior that must be observed, the identification of the local resources and knowing how to use them.

In a general sense, the fundamental objective of this project is to provide the local population with better opportunities to participate in tourist activities in conjunction with the existing tourist industries and, consequently, attain a higher standard of living and achieve the development of a sustainable local tourism.

The Workshops was attended by Edgar Pimentel, International Relations manager for INFOTEP, who stressed the importance of this project and said that his institution would offer its support through education and formation, which is indispensible in offering tourist services with professional level quality.

Present, also, was the vice-minister for the Northern Region, César José de los Santos, who recommended that all the production and social sectors join forces so that Puerto Plata would continue to be the most complete and diverse tourist destination in the Caribbean, and at the same time stressed the importance of protecting the environment, the history and the cultural values of the region.

Puerto Plata Live, 18.06.10