La Altagracia, Dominican Republic. – The National Association of Business Transporters and Hoteliers of La Altagracia (Asonatrahola) has raised alarm over the recurring blackouts caused by the Eastern Electricity Distribution Company (Edeeste), which have triggered violent community protests and disrupted the region’s transport system.
According to the organization, bus operators in Higüey, La Otra Banda, and La Ceiba have been forced to suspend routes after several vehicles were attacked with rocks during demonstrations that began on September 14 in La Ceiba. The situation has left drivers and passengers exposed to danger and caused severe interruptions in mobility across one of the country’s most critical tourism corridors.
Transport Paralysis Impacts the Tourism Sector
The suspension of services has paralyzed the routes that connect Higüey, La Otra Banda, and La Ceiba with the tourism zone of Bávaro, Verón, and Punta Cana. These routes are vital conduits for transporting hundreds of hotel employees daily, ensuring the operation of resorts, restaurants, and hospitality businesses that power the Dominican Republic’s most important economic sector: tourism.
Asonatrahola emphasized that these disruptions send a negative signal at a time when the country is consolidating its position as one of the Caribbean’s leading travel destinations.
Call for Security and Immediate Solutions
The association urgently appealed to the Ministry of Tourism, the National Institute of Transit and Land Transport (Intrant), and the National Police to step in and guarantee security for transport operators and passengers on the affected roads.
Furthermore, Asonatrahola demanded that Edeeste implement an immediate and lasting solution to the electrical supply failures that sparked the community unrest in the first place.
“We cannot risk the safety of drivers and passengers or jeopardize the functioning of our tourism sector because of prolonged blackouts,” the association stressed in its statement.
Tourism at Risk Without Reliable Infrastructure
With La Altagracia being the epicenter of Dominican tourism, industry leaders warn that continued blackouts and violent incidents could undermine the country’s image as a safe and reliable destination. The transport sector, they argue, is a key pillar in sustaining tourism flows, ensuring that visitors and employees alike can move safely through one of the Caribbean’s fastest-growing tourism regions.
