David Collado, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, engaged in a discussion with a handful of media professionals. This gathering took place on the occasion of President Luis Abinader’s inaugurating the second phase of Port Cabo Rojo. He highlighted the docking of the Adventure of The Seas cruise and stated that cruise tourism in Pedernales is no longer just a vision but a reality. Furthermore, he mentioned anticipated visitor numbers for next year – approximately 150,000 – as forecast by the transport firms.
He emphasized the significant impact of cruise ships docking in Pedernales, underscoring the actualization of the president’s vision of promoting tourism in the southern region.
Today’s arrival of this ship underscores the reality of Tourism Ministry’s efforts. The local population has welcomed various cultural and gastronomic events. These activities have been facilitated in collaboration with area locals who have undergone necessary training, including for the Pedernales Folkloric Ballet. This initiative was executed in partnership with the Sur Futuro Foundation.
Around 400 vacationing cruisers are expected to explore the town today, contributing significantly to the local economy. The province of Pedernales is set to receive an estimated 150,000 tourists via cruises in 2025, as per initial confirmations from cruise liners. The objective, however, is to increase this number to approximately 200,000 the following year.
This significantly contributes to the area, given that the port itself provides over 450 jobs. Adding to this, direct employment for taxi drivers, tour operators and increased spending in town has a positive ripple effect. Progress is being made on hotel developments, with confirmation from the Ministry of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, that the Iberostar, currently the most advanced project, is nearing completion. Each hotel room equates to one direct job and four indirect ones; thus, approximately eight thousand jobs are expected in Pedernales with the completion of these two thousand rooms. For this reason, we must cherish and encourage tourism.
The ongoing development of private investments in Pedernales implies the expansion of travel and tourism in the state. Plus, the completely private investment from the owners of Taíno Bay in Puerto Plata is a charitable gesture benefiting many.
For the community of Pedernales, cruise ships have certainly been arriving, albeit sporadically. It’s been agreed, nonetheless, that as of 2025, there will be a weekly ship docking here. The upcoming year should see around 200,000 cruise tourists visiting this quaint town, a remarkable increase from the confirmed 150,000 for this year. Such figures were once thought to be a flight of fancy, yet the sight of a docked cruise ship and visitors roaming the streets is now a stark reality.
Securing a docking spot typically involves a lengthy series of talks with shipping companies. They need to verify the suitability of the destination, such as security, potential tourists, and preparedness of the location given that many neighbouring islands already cater to cruise ships. Thus, having a weekly docking spot establishes Pedernales and the southern region as vital touristic locations, posing a beacon of development potential and hope.
With the arrival of previous cruise ships, there has not been a single instance of problems with visiting tourists. This information can be confirmed by the head of the local Tourist Police.
The attractions on offer in the town – the cultural, gastronomic, and musical facets – have had a charm on the travellers, hence the increase in visitor numbers. Today, around 400 tourists are anticipated to venture about the town. The importance lies not in tourists remaining within the confines of the privately owned ship but in experiencing the heart of the town they’ve arrived in.
When asked about the total number of visitors received so far in Pedernales, he stated that with 3,500 visitors per ship not including crew members, multiplied by four cruises, the figure amounts to an approximate 13,000-14,000 visitors. It is remarkable to note the impact these arrivals have had.
On a typical cruise, there are passengers who opt to stay on the ship instead of touring the stop-site. This is normal, given that a cruise isn’t only one stop and offers passengers the choice to relax onboard instead. Despite this, the satisfaction levels of those who venture into the town is high, around 85%. This indicates that those who chose to tour the town have loved the experience.
One thing to be proud of is that in Pedernales, tourists feel safe walking the streets and interacting with locals. They can enjoy their stay and have a memorable experience.
Further discussing general tourism in the country, David shared his insights:
Tourism in the Dominican Republic is flourishing, cruise tourism in particular. Cruise tourism is expected to attract close to 3 million visitors, the highest in history. We also project to welcome close to 11.5 million visitors in total, another historic high.
The average reservations for November and December are extremely high. There are high confirmations of flights and passengers booked at Punta Cana and the airports of Santo Domingo and Santiago. Hotel proprietors are also reporting record confirmations, with occupancy estimated to be around 96-98%, right at the threshold. Thus, Dominican tourism is at the peak, and the year is set to end on a record high note.
Commenting on ongoing collaborations with overseas markets, Collado revealed: “We are visiting Colombia on Tuesday (October 22), the England Fair (WTM) and will be conducting the Roadshow in London. We are also scheduled to visit Orlando, New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia before year-end. This proactive approach will continue.”