Puerto Plata – As the Punta Bergantín tourism project begins to reshape Puerto Plata’s landscape with new hotel developments, the region’s aeronautical sector is gearing up to make use of the A380 to accommodate a surge in visitors. A key component of this expansion is the creation of new flight options for tourists, with plans to add eight weekly flights to Gregorio Luperón International Airport.
Part of the master plan includes a strategic plan aiming to improve air connectivity, allowing Puerto Plata to welcome more international travelers. In line with this vision, Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom) is positioning itself to host larger aircraft, including the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger plane, at Gregorio Luperón airport—an ambitious move that could elevate Puerto Plata’s status as a major Caribbean destination.
Carlos Rodoli, the director of Aerodom Norte, shared this vision in an interview with arecoa.com, emphasizing the importance of repositioning the terminal to meet the growing demands of the tourism sector. Rodoli also noted that Aerodom is actively working on the terminal’s remodeling and expansion to handle increased air traffic, particularly during the fall season.
“We are working on bringing the largest aircraft in the world, the A380, to Puerto Plata. We are making arrangements to ensure the destination is ready and attractive to operators,” Rodoli said. While no firm date has been set, the goal is to see a significant increase in passenger traffic by the end of 2024, surpassing the numbers from 2023.
In 2023, Gregorio Luperón International Airport served 736,000 passengers, and by mid-2024, it had already handled 600,000, which is 81% of the previous year’s total. Rodoli is optimistic that the airport will continue this upward trend.
To achieve this growth, several new routes are in the pipeline. Delta Airlines is set to launch flights connecting Atlanta with Barbados and Puerto Plata starting on November 23, 2024. Additionally, the Dominican low-cost airline Arajet plans to introduce flights from Puerto Plata to South America, further expanding the region’s connectivity.
“Puerto Plata has been the fastest-growing destination in the Dominican Republic, with a 25% increase over last year. We have promising projections from several airlines, and we expect to close the year with a significant boost in both operations and visitor arrivals,” Rodoli added.
This strategic push to enhance the airport’s capacity, attract larger aircraft, and introduce new international routes is crucial to supporting the Punta Bergantín project. As hotel development accelerates, the aviation sector’s readiness will be key in sustaining Puerto Plata’s rapid growth and cementing its place as a leading tourism destination in the Caribbean.
Puerto Plata’s tourism industry is showing strong signs of revival, with growth evident in both air and cruise arrivals, even though the highly anticipated Punta Bergantín project is still in its infancy.
A recent report from the Central Bank reveals that the number of tourists arriving by air has seen a significant uptick. From January to July 2024, Puerto Plata welcomed 280,290 tourists via air travel, marking a substantial increase from the 2021 low of 87,559 visitors. The northern coast of the Dominican Republic continues to attract its primary markets, with the majority of visitors coming from Canada and the United States. This is further underscored by the Punta Bergantín project, which is poised to cater specifically to North American tourists. Prestigious hotel brands like Hyatt have already committed to managing the first hotels in the area, aiming to enhance the region’s appeal.
In addition to the surge in air travel, Puerto Plata is experiencing a remarkable boom in cruise tourism. The region has solidified its status as the country’s premier destination for cruise passengers, thanks to the prominent ports of Amber Cove and Taíno Bay. The Central Bank’s report highlights a 21.9% increase in cruise passenger arrivals during the first seven months of 2024, bringing the total to 1,402,386 visitors.
This dual surge in both air and cruise tourism illustrates the resilience and growing appeal of Puerto Plata as a top destination, even as the Punta Bergantín project continues to develop. The ongoing revival is a testament to the region’s strategic efforts to enhance its tourism offerings and attract international visitors.
The Mayor of Puerto Plata Roquelito Garcia of Puerto Plata led a strategic meeting yesterday focused on the recovery of the San Marcos River.
The session, which included Governor Claritza Rochette, Chamber of Commerce President Mileyka Brugal, and representatives from neighborhood associations, centered on presenting and discussing the strategic plan for revitalizing the San Marcos River.
Key discussions at the meeting addressed various actions and strategies aimed at improving water quality and fostering a cleaner, more sustainable environment for the local community.
This collaborative effort between local authorities and civil society is aimed at ensuring a healthier, more environmentally sound Puerto Plata.
Department of Public Relations and Communication, Municipal Council of San Felipe de Puerto Plata.
President Abinader inaugurated the development of a new Hyatt Zilara Hotel in Punta Bergantín, Puerto Plata recently. He said “I am convinced that today represents a change for the region. Since 2002, Puerto Plata has fallen, but I have every confidence that today is a turning point where we will grow from these actions. We needed American brands to attract American tourists, and here we are with Hyatt Hyatt Zilara Construction.
The President added “I believe that this project goes beyond the tourist development of the 10 million square meters. There will be an impact on the entire region and we can assure investors that they will have the support of the Government in terms of public works, promotion, and everything else,”. Going further he said, “Today we relaunch Puerto Plata.”
The presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, Ricardo De los Santos and Alfredo Pacheco, respectively, were present at the event. In addition, the governor of the Central Bank, Héctor Valdez Albizu; the Minister of Tourism, David Collado; the executive president of the Banco de Reservas, Samuel Pereyra and other officials were also in attendance.
Antonio Fungairino, Development Director of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection for Latin America and the Caribbean, expressed at the event the corporation’s commitment to the growth of the Puerto Plata destination, with all the attractions it brings together in the north of the island, frequently referred to as the Costa Dorada (Golden Coast).
One project and six hotels
Punta Bergantín is located 15 minutes from Puerto Plata, 12 minutes from Sosúa, and eight minutes from the Gregorio Luperón international airport. It involves the construction of up to six five-star hotels, that will provide 4,500 rooms, with an additional 1,500 holiday units, 2,500 mixed-use units, and a Sea Village.
For the development of Punta Bergantín, it is estimated that 20 thousand jobs will be created and an alliance has been made with Infotep to train the personnel that will be required to service the expanded tourist facilities.
“For us, this community of Villa de Monte Llano will be transformed through tourism, with this development,” added Andrés Marranzini, executive director of the project.
This development is part of the Government’s plans to relaunch the province’s economy by relying on tourism activity. It is managed by a trust headed by the Banco de Reservas and extends over an area of 10 million square meters with a marine coastline and an environmental setting of great beauty.
Atahualpa Paulino, the Northern Region director of the Ministry of Tourism, announced that approximately 30 cruise liners are scheduled to arrive in Puerto Plata this August.
According to the schedules provided by shipping companies and the two ports in the area, 14 of these ships will arrive at Taino Bay, located in the city center, and the remaining 16 will dock at Amber Cove in the Maimón municipal district.
In an official statement, Paulino emphasized the growth of activity in the Dominican Republic, particularly in the northern region, with the arrival of numerous cruise ships. He noted that the Ministry of Tourism’s efforts have more or less eliminated the traditional low season for this niche, as the ministry continues to work diligently to strengthen the industry.
It is hoped that the forecast for hurricanes during August will not materialize and that all 30 cruise liners and their passengers will be able to enjoy their cruises and visits to the City of Puerto Plata.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources approved the environmental license for the development of the Punta Bergantin tourism project, in the province of Puerto Plata.
With the authorization of the Ministry of Environment, construction work will begin in August and includes the construction of nine hotels and 6,625 homes that will benefit tourism in the area of the Dominican Republic known as The Bride of the Atlantic.
Andrés Marranzini Grullón, executive director of the Punta Bergantin Project, explained through a press release that the environmental permit covers an area of 9.6 million square meters.
In addition, it excludes the use of infrastructure construction in the areas of wetlands, mangroves, dunes, swamps, ravines, and any other area of environmental vulnerability within the scope of the project development.
Furthermore, The Punta Bergantín tourism project in Puerto Plata will have an innovation hub, an initiative that brings together the government, companies, academia, and civil society with the aim of stimulating human capital and providing the necessary infrastructure for future innovation ventures in the country.
“Everything that the Punta Bergantín innovation hub entails places the country on the path to competitiveness,” said the president of this non-profit association, Franklyn Holguín Haché.
He added that the country has the resources, the strategic location, and the human talent “to emerge as a small power in global innovation trends.” “We are oriented in that direction,” he said in a press release.
For his part, the vice president, Jonathan Bournigal Read, said that this initiative seeks to develop local technical capabilities and, in addition, turn the country into an attractive ecosystem for the realization of technological events, conferences, and investments by startups and large technology companies.
The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, launches the reconstruction of streets in Puerto Plata’s historic center by providing an investment of nearly 80 million pesos.
This project includes the reconstruction of the streets, sidewalks, and curbs of the municipality’s urban area. It will benefit the city’s residents and tourists, mainly cruise passengers who disembark at the tourist ports of Amber Cove and Taíno Bay.
Collado highlighted the investments and works delivered during his administration to strengthen Puerto Plata as a tourist destination. Additionally, he referred to those in the pipeline, including the rehabilitation of Sosúa Beach and the remodeling of the iconic Puerto Plata cable car.
“These interventions will mark a before and after in this entire historic urban area. Puerto Plata’s time has definitely arrived,” he said.
The Executive Committee for Infrastructures in Tourist Areas (Ceiztur) was in charge of the road project in San Felipe, which cost RD$79,855,074.95.
The sections involved correspond to Juan Escaño Avenue (Old Railway Track) and the extension of Calle Restauración (Connection of Avenida Juancho Escaño and Calle Caamaño).
It includes Antera Mota, Luis Espinosa, 30 De Marzo, Los Jazmines San Felipe, and Calle Aserradero streets.
In addition, 27 De Febrero Avenue, El Morro, and Cardenal Sancha Streets will be renovated.
Juan Escaño Avenue (Old Railway Track) will be included and extended by 751 meters, and 27 de Febrero in a section by 834 meters.
Meanwhile, El Morro Street will be renovated into a section 1,020 meters long, and Cardenal Sancha will be 934 meters long.
The project includes reconstructing 9,318 linear meters of containment and 17,256 square meters of the sidewalk and readjusting the tread layer of three road axes by applying a new 2″ asphalt concrete layer on the road.
The Teleferico (Puerto Plata Cable Car) will be closed for 18 to 24 months for remodeling and modernization, according to Vladimir Santana, a Cable Car Shop Owners Association representative.
He indicated that after meeting via Zoom with President Luis Abinader, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, and the members of the Patronato del Teleférico, it was explained to them that the tourist destination would be “completely” rebuilt.
He said that the projected investment is US$20 million and that compensation for the time and losses was discussed during the dialogue, “the amount of which has not yet been established.”
According to Listin Diario, Santana did not specify the date the Government planned to close the Puerto Plata Cable Car.
He announced that there will be a meeting next Monday 10th June early in the morning at the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) offices, where details of what is proposed and how to mitigate the effects of the closure on people who depend on this vital tourist attraction will be addressed.
The Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM) announced that last Thursday, November 24, two Carnival Cruise Line ships arrived at the Amber Cove cruise terminal, located in Puerto Plata, where 9,450 cruise passengers disembarked.
“The Carnival Celebration touched Dominican land for the first time in history with 5,788 cruise passengers, where it shared the dock with the Carnival Freedom, which brought with it 3,662 more cruise passengers for a total of 9,450 people, contributing directly to the economy of our country,” the entity said in its social networks.
