Pedernales .- The current government has focused on developing tourism in the southern part of the Dominican Republic, particularly in Pedernales. To support this development, the National Congress is discussing a bill to create the Cabo Rojo Tourism Corporation. The goal of this proposal is to establish a partnership between the government and the private sector to develop and operate tourism infrastructure in the province.
Sigmund Freund, the head of the General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP), emphasized the importance of this initiative. Its objective is to generate trust within the private sector, ensuring that the Pedernales tourism project can progress without being affected by political changes or modifications made by future governments. The project is expected to last up to 20 years, making a stable framework crucial for its development.
Freund explained that state bureaucracy could hinder the government’s plans for Pedernales, so a legal mechanism is needed to manage the project with private sector contributions. Currently, only public entities participate in the project, and the private sector is unable to contribute. Therefore, a commercial company is proposed to facilitate private contributions to the project’s operation.
A total of $320 million has already been invested in construction and infrastructure in the Pedernales area, including roads, electrical substations, treatment plants, sewage systems, and three hotels. The project also considers essential aspects such as water and electricity supply. Studies have shown that Pedernales has sufficient water resources to support over 18,000 hotel rooms for more than two decades. Measures are also being taken to improve the reliability of the project’s power supply.
The hotels being constructed in Pedernales will have four to five levels and a total of 4,700 rooms in the first phase of the project. Environmental standards are followed, with buildings located at least 160 meters away from the sea to preserve the area’s natural environment. The Pedernales tourism project represents a significant effort to harness the region’s tourism potential in a sustainable and collaborative manner.