Puerto Plata Announces Increase in Tourism Numbers, Active Travel Initiatives

Representatives from Dominican Republic's Puerto Plata Tourism Cluster (CTDPP) highlighted the area's strong tourism numbers at the 2016 Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE). CTDPP was pleased to announce an increase in visitors to Puerto Plata of 11.5 percent over 2015 numbers.

Currently, more than 12,500 hotel rooms are available in the area, expected to grow to meet increasing tourism interest. Puerto Plata has seen significant tourism developments in the past few years – most notably the completion and grand opening of the Amber Cove cruise port, welcoming high-profile cruises such as Carnival's voluntourism-oriented Fathom – and it expects to welcome more than 400,000 cruise passenger arrivals this year.

Puerto Plata is famous for its world-class watersport offerings, with its town of Cabarete known as the Kiteboarding Capital of the World. With endless opportunities for adventure tourism – through activities such as hiking, canyoning and rappelling, complemented by mountain biking and whitewater rafting nearby – Puerto Plata happily welcomes active travelers and promotes its offerings to key niche audiences looking for a fit vacation.

CTDPP announced that it will also begin to tout the area's ecotourism options to new audiences, phasing out its "Smile You're in Puerto Plata" campaign in favor of one promoting the area's natural attractions. To kick-start its eco-friendly efforts, the tourism cluster is working with Puerto Plata residents and businesses to ensure its message of environmentalism becomes well rooted in the community.

Infrastructure officials are working on a number of improvements throughout the province, such as constructing an amphitheater, restoring historic buildings, developing sailing ports, installing new safety surveillance systems and improving roads in Sosua and downtown Puerto Plata. Lorenzo Sancassani, Interim Director of Tourism, also noted its intentions to construct an artisanal marketplace in the Imbert municipality – as handicraft is growing in demand with tourists, this marketplace will allow simplified access to the popular goods created by Puerto Plata artisans.

Dominican Republic tourism representatives speaking on behalf of the National Hotel & Tourism Association (ASONAHORES) announced at DATE a growth of 5.8 percent in overall tourism to the country – a number alone growing faster than the Caribbean's overall rate of 3.7 percent. Dominican Republic is projected to reach 6 million total visitors in 2016 – based on numbers thus far, the country is on track to meet the targeted 7 percent growth needed to achieve this.

CTDPP also announced that its own tourism conference, the Discover Puerto Plata Marketplace, is set to return October 5-7 of this year and is to be hosted at the IBEROSTAR Costa Dorada Resort.