The Punta Bergantín tourism project is an initiative supported by the government that seeks to create a new tourism dynamic by turning the aforementioned attraction on the North Coast into an internationally renowned destination, which will attract investments “to revive the hotel sector in Puerto Plata, promoting an integral development, with state-of-the-art facilities, environmental sustainability and job creation, to provide a new economic boost to the region”.
The information on the project was given by its executive director, Andrés Marranzini, at a meeting in the province.
The development is part of the Government’s plans to relaunch the economy of the province based on tourism, is in charge of a trust headed by the Banco de Reservas, and occupies an area of 10 million square meters with a sea coast and an environmental setting of great beauty.
Punta Bergantín, strategically located 15 minutes from Puerto Plata, 12 minutes from Sosúa and 8 minutes from the Gregorio Luperón International Airport, promotes the construction of up to 6 five-star hotels, with a total of 4,500 rooms, 1,500 vacation units, 2,500 mixed-use units and a Marine Village.
Agreements have been signed to participate in the project by Grupo Martinón, whose first hotel, under Hyatt’s “Inclusive Collection” brand, will open on Wednesday, August 21; a Meliá, which is a joint investment by Meliá International Hotels and Grupo Puntacana; a Hilton and a Marriott.
With its focus on inclusion of the surrounding community and environmental and social sustainability, it will promote the development and prosperity of the municipality of Villa de Montellano, which will become a tourism-focused community.
The Punta Bergantín master plan has been designed to preserve the natural beauty, with low urban density, combining hotels, recreational areas, horizontal and vertical housing, promoting a first class real estate and tourism destination for visitors, residents and investors in its various components.
Wetland areas will also be defined and improved to increase their biodiversity. This includes planting native flora and fauna, creating trails and viewpoints, and beautifying the landscape with native gardens. Preservation of wetlands
Wetlands are vital to protect the complex from flooding, extreme weather events and provide scenic attractions for tourists and residents.
The reef along the coast of Bergantín is degraded by indiscriminate fishing, sedimentation, and scarcity of sea urchin, all of which have affected the health of the reef.
The project will implement an assisted ecological revitalization plan with marine nurseries and restoration of corals and bird species to restore the ecosystem.
A necessary change
The province of Puerto Plata and the surrounding area has experienced a decline in its tourism industry and hotel activity over the past two decades, and the Punta Bergantin development is intended as a consistent strategy to give a new impetus to the region, and strengthen the first steps in achieving this goal, which brings increased cruise tourism to the area, which last year attracted a record 1.7 million visitors.
It has been designed to promote a dynamism that offers an opportunity to boost local tourism and foster the economic development of Puerto Plata through the creation of thousands of jobs. It is a project that is intended to attract diversified private investment, including in addition to hotel and residential development, an 18-hole golf course, an academic campus aimed at fostering education and innovation, a film studio, and adequate road infrastructure.
Source:Arecoa.com
