Punta Cana, D.R.-During the celebration of the nineteenth Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange fair (DATE), from April 11 to 13, at the Convention Center of the Barceló Bávaro Beach in Punta Cana, directors of the tourism associations of Puerto Plata participating in the event offered a press conference on Thursday 12th, where they announced the news and actions that are being implemented in this destination in pursuit of its touristic development.
Jakaira Cid, executive director of the Puerto Plata Touristic Destination Cluster (CTDPP), José Natalio Redondo and Juana (Tatty) Lahoz de Beard, president and executive director of the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Companies of the North (ASHONORTE), respectively, reaffirmed that Puerto Plata enjoys one of its best moments as a result of the joint efforts launched by the public and private sectors, which have focused on the Amber Coast returning to its place as a preferred destination within the Caribbean touristic industry.
For Redondo, the impact generated by the Amber Cove maritime terminal has contributed to the evolution of the tourist activity of the destination, which is evidenced not only in the very increase of this niche in the Dominican Republic, but also in the economic reactivation of the zone and the entry of new products into the portfolio of accommodation offers.
“Puerto Plata contributed 43% to the growth of the national cruise industry in 2017. These results have been decisive for this sector to continue its development, and proof of this is that recently the bidding process was begun to build another port and cruise terminal in the city of Puerto Plata, which will further strengthen our touristic and commercial development, “he said.
Complementary activities
The Puerto Plata delegation also explained that in this destination a wide variety of activities have evolved to add to its complementary offer. They cited that, from May 14th to 20th, for the second consecutive year, the Puerto Plata DR Open will be held, a stop of the PGA Latin America Tour, making Puerto Plata the golf capital of Latin America during that week.
Also in the sporting field, Ashonorte announced the sixth version of the Puerto Plata Golf Classic, this year with the novelty of the “¡Sonríe! Cup”, a prize that will be awarded to the player who obtains the best Gross Score of the tournament.
As to the concerts that, since 2017, have been held in the modern Puerto Plata Amphitheater, Jakaira Cid stated that on June 16th the famed Colombian artist Juanes will perform with his “Amarte Tour”; while on July 6 and 7, the Touristic Cluster will hold the “Dominican Rum Festival”, first festival dedicated to Dominican rum, in which the famous salsero Gilberto Santa Rosa will participate as an international musical attraction.
In another field, Jakaira Cid also announced that from October 3 to 5 will take place the seventh version of the tourist fair Discover Puerto Plata MarketPlace, which is strengthened as an event dedicated to adventure tourism, considering that Puerto Plata, in addition to its sun and beach offering, offers more than 40 excursions for its visitors.
Discover Puerto Plata Guide 2018-2019
The press conference was also used to present the 2018-2019 edition of the “Discover Puerto Plata” tourist guide, produced by the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Companies of the North (Ashonorte). Its executive director, Juana Lahoz, explained that the purpose of this tool is to provide national and international visitors with a comprehensive and complete content with places of interest that will allow them to experience unforgettable experiences in the Dominican North Coast.
The guide covers from the municipality of Luperón to Rio San Juan, highlighting the options for Adventure, Historical and Gastronomic Tourism in each locality. “This editorial content reflects an air of freshness and invites us to live and get to know Puerto Plata, where we have the roots that identify us as a people with a soul and with more than 500 years of history,” said Lahoz.