Fermín Brito, the mayor of Boca Chica, has predicted that over 500,000 visitors will be heading to the beaches of Guayacanes and Juan Dolio for Easter. In light of this, he has hired over a thousand personnel to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the area. However, due to the town’s population of 350,000 and a limited municipal budget, he has appealed to the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) for support.
Brito highlighted that the municipality also receives a floating population of over 100,000 each week. With a budget of only RD$12.5 million, this equates to just RD$36.79 per resident, making it impossible to provide quality services. Brito emphasized that Boca Chica needs support from Mitur, just like other tourist areas such as Guayacanes, Puerto Plata, Barahona, and Samaná.
Brito reminded the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, that Boca Chica’s beach is the most visited in the country and the town is the third in terms of private investment. He estimated that the town contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to its large port, the Multimodal Caucedo, Las Américas airport, two free zones, and 26 baseball academies. Furthermore, the municipality has 5,000 rooms and 80 restaurants.
To address the issues of wastewater and beach regeneration, Brito demanded a large investment from Mitur. He explained that the existing treatment plant, built in 1985, is practically in disuse, with only 3% of the municipality connected to it. He urged the government to invest in the construction of a new sanitation project.
Collado: “Hotel occupancy exceeds 90% this Easter”
According to the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, hotels in the Dominican Republic are experiencing over 90% occupancy for Easter 2023. In the eastern part of the country, hotels are even exceeding 95% occupancy, demonstrating the good image the Dominican Republic has internationally. Collado attributes this high level of occupancy to the country’s strong reputation for safety and security.
Collado also highlighted the collaboration between the government and the private sector, noting that the Dominican Republic is the only country in the region to hold a meeting of this magnitude where high military commands are making decisions with the private sector. Furthermore, Collado stated that tourism continues to progress, and he will announce the sector’s development and tourist arrivals for March in terms of figures, together with President Luis Abinader.
The Minister of Tourism led a meeting with the Defense Minister, Carlos Luciano Díaz Morfa, the Tourism Cabinet, and the entire military body to coordinate security and prevention actions during the Easter holidays. (https://dominicantoday.com/dr/tourism/2023/04/04/collado-hotel-occupancy-exceeds-90-this-easter/)
