Madrid – During the 2026 edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR), the municipal district of Bávaro–Verón–Punta Cana unveiled a decisive strategy to move beyond traditional “sun and beach” tourism and reposition Punta Cana as one of the world’s top destinations for health and wellness.
In a ceremony held at the district’s official stand, Mayor Ramón “Manolito” Ramírez and Flavio Acuña, Ambassador Emeritus of World Wellness Weekend in the Caribbean, sealed a strategic public–private alliance designed to turn Punta Cana into a global benchmark for holistic well-being.
The agreement lays the groundwork for an ongoing calendar of wellness-focused initiatives, combining efforts from local authorities and private stakeholders. The goal is to build a permanent program of activities centered on physical health, mental balance, and preventive care.
Rather than limiting the visitor experience to beaches and all-inclusive resorts, the new strategy aims to offer a broad portfolio of wellness options: therapeutic treatments, sports and outdoor activities, and programs that promote long-term healthy lifestyles.
“We are deeply grateful for this public–private collaboration,” the authorities emphasized during the signing. “This agreement allows us to represent wellness tourism with pride at both the national and international level, and to position Punta Cana as one of the most important wellness hubs in the world.”
The alliance represents a major shift in how the destination is promoted abroad. By incorporating the vision and standards of World Wellness Weekend—the largest global wellness event, with participation from more than 168 countries—Punta Cana seeks to align itself with the quality benchmarks of leading health and wellness destinations in Europe and Asia.
Local officials and industry representatives stress that the impact of this agreement will go far beyond the tourism sector. The plan is expected to attract a more health-conscious traveler who values personalized wellness experiences, sustainable practices, and longer stays, thus stimulating the local economy and generating new opportunities for businesses and professionals in the region.
With this step at FITUR 2026, Bávaro–Verón–Punta Cana signals its intention to evolve from a classic Caribbean beach destination into a comprehensive wellness ecosystem, capable of competing on equal footing with the most renowned wellness retreats on the planet.
