Madrid, Spain — At FITUR 2026, Grupo Punta Cana reaffirmed its position as one of the Dominican Republic’s most influential tourism players, highlighting its growing role as a key driver of national economic development.
During a briefing with specialized media, CEO Frank Elías Rainieri outlined the company’s latest milestones and upcoming projects. He reflected on how FITUR has evolved over the decades and emphasized that tourism has become the Dominican economy’s leading growth engine.
Rainieri noted that the group has expanded far beyond its origins as a regional company in La Altagracia, becoming a nationwide developer with active initiatives in Puerto Plata, Santiago de los Caballeros, Miches, Baní, and Pedernales—a shift that supports broader, more balanced tourism development across the country.
Strategic Agreement with Meliá Hotels International
Among the major announcements at FITUR 2026, Rainieri highlighted a new agreement with Meliá Hotels International to develop two large-scale hotel projects: a 600-room property in Miches and a 400-room hotel in Punta Bergantín, Puerto Plata, both targeted for 2027.
He also underscored Grupo Punta Cana’s involvement in the Cabo Rojo project, an initiative designed to accelerate growth in the country’s deep south through public-private partnerships. A key component includes the development of an international airport aimed at significantly improving regional connectivity.
“With Cabo Rojo, our goal is to ensure that provinces historically left behind—such as San Juan, Bahoruco, Barahona, and Pedernales—can become real hubs of economic and tourism development, just like the north and east of the country,” Rainieri said.
Tourism Beyond Sun and Beach
Rainieri stressed that Dominican tourism is increasingly diversifying beyond the traditional sun-and-beach model, expanding into culture, gastronomy, environmental experiences, medical tourism, and sports tourism.
In that context, he pointed to the partnership with the PGA Tour, which he said helps the country reach more than 18 million viewers annually. He also cited a recent agreement with CONCACAF, which includes plans to build eight football fields and a 20,000-seat stadium in Punta Cana, strengthening the destination’s profile as a venue for major international sporting events.
Rainieri emphasized that sustained tourism growth depends on strong coordination between the public and private sectors—along with Dominican hospitality. “As long as we keep that kindness and willingness to welcome people, there’s nothing that can stop us,” he stated.
A Long-Term Commitment to Culture
As part of its broader vision, Grupo Punta Cana continues to invest in cultural legacy, highlighting the work of the Rainieri Cultural Center as a resource aimed at preserving and promoting culture for future generations.
With these initiatives, the Dominican Republic is positioning itself not only as a beach destination, but as a more complete tourism leader in Latin America—reinforcing its status as the region’s second most important destination after Mexico.
