Ynocencio is a young Dominican who adopted tourism as his lifestyle after waking up from an induced coma.
Perez, lover of nature and its benefits, who 6 years ago, after a camping experience, decided to embark on the paths of national and international adventures exploring new places.
As the days go by, life brings us closer to where our soul belongs, where yours has leaned…
What inspired you to lean into tourism?
I have always felt an insatiable desire to see the whole world, but it was until I found myself waking up from an attack of chronic stress that caused me to go into an induced coma. That was where I started my projects related to tourism, after waking up with a more chance of life.
How long have you been doing internal tourism?
I started fully at the end of 2017, that year I had the good fortune of being invited to a New Year's Eve camping trip, something that was super strange for me to leave home on December 31, an impulse made me accept the proposal and I was marked with what has been experienced since that moment.
Sightseeing can sometimes become a challenge.What has been the most challenging experience of your tourist adventures?
When this life begins there is a learning curve which I had to go through little by little, my first hiking was super extreme, because I crossed the mountain range, walking along a path called San Juan – Santiago Rodríguez, I walked for more than 25 hours between rivers and mountains, but the challenging thing was that I did not prepare myself enough and “My shoes couldn't withstand the walk and they broke.”
I had to walk barefoot for more than 10 hours, after that it took me 5 days to be able to walk again due to the severe damage I caused on that trail.
Where and how was the first trip? That which you define as a step to this lifestyle.
In Bonao there is a waterfall called El Berro, I had already traveled before but when I saw this waterfall I was able to realize the beautiful things that there are in my land in the DR and I made a commitment from that moment with myself, that I would know the entire island and then the world.
No, one lives only by adventures, exploration and knowledge…
Do you see tourism as a passion or as a way to make money?
The cool thing is that it started as a passion and then I saw the alternatives to make a living from this, it even made me transform my entire academic line by studying a master's degree and developing social tourism projects.
What places have you gone to? And of those, which one has been your favorite… if you can tell why.
In the Dominican Republic I have visited almost all of them, but one that I regularly repeat is a jacket called the snake in the San Cristóbal cocoas, that place still remains virgin.
Outside the country until now what has been surprising was the Salt Cathedral in Bogotá, Colombia, when I had to visit that place I didn't even want to because I had already seen many photos and videos of there and I had the perception that it wouldn't surprise me and it turned out Being different, what you see there, is something incredible, that I didn't think was possible.
What tourist places do you want to visit that you haven't visited yet?
In my plans for 2024 is visiting the volcanoes of Guatemala.
Thanks to your passion for tourism, you have the opportunity to see up close how efficient our authorities are in ensuring our natural reserves, from your experience;
How do you see the impact of the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and regulatory bodies that are responsible for taking care of the spaces?
I have seen the efforts of the different authorities that have to do with the issue grow, in the last decade, more effort is required to achieve what we want but I believe that it is up to all of us, both the central governments and the local and people in particular encourage education and care for the environment.
We could make tourism similar to professions, because there are also branches and inclinations, as well as other university careers, names like:
Ecotourism, Beach Tourism, Historical Tourism or Religious Tourism are some of those that are commonly heard… Which one, for you, is richer in the country and why?
The Dominican Republic is known worldwide for its beautiful beaches, guides and travel content creators like me. We have contributed to the growth of local development and people with ecotourism.
Churches are getting in tune by promoting pilgrimages at the national level that contribute to the development of that niche.
But as I wrote at the beginning, our beaches plus the good vibes of the Dominican make one of the most striking qualities of Dominican tourism and make us the most valuable asset, “People and beach tourism.”
Being a tourist adventurer not only keeps you having fun, but also makes you a guardian of natural life, so…
Which tourist places do you think the Government should pay more attention to as it has done with Punta Cana, Pedernales or Miches?
Recovering Puerto Plata is super important, Samaná also needs to be completely renovated, beautifying it even more.
Without being passionate…
Can you make a living from this?
Of course! In addition to creating content for social networks, which has opened the doors to new income opportunities, I also sell content creation services for villas and hotels.
I also prepare guides for tourists, as well as take charge of creating tourist experiences for people who do not have the route, but want to live the adventure.
“So it is totally profitable, if you have dedication”
What are your future goals in tourism?
My short-term goals are to finish my master's degree and be able to support communities in creating eco-tourism services that encourage their development.
Reflection
In a world where the world is so changing we must be prepared for the unexpected changes that the future or life holds for us. Proof of the pandemic that took us out of a mechanical life and brought us closer to nature and our origins, from there we can grow as Ynocencio Pérez has done.
