The sound of the wind, the waves of the sea, the rays of the sun, a barrier of coconut palms and a list of ecotourism activities characterize the Samaná province, known and described by tourists as “the most beautiful and colorful corner of the Dominican Republic”. It is the fourth tourist pole of the Dominican Republic, visited by more than 60,000 foreigners a year and located in the northeast of the island.
Each visitor has their own story, some, like the Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier García, have chosen Samaná to celebrate their honeymoon. García assures that he chose it “because it is a unique place in nature and that it offers various activities.”
When describing the charms of the northeast, the president of the Association of Hotels and Tourist Companies of Samaná (Ahetsa), Juan Francisco Bancalari, recalled that he enjoyed its beaches and recreational spaces on his wedding night.
At that time, according to what they say, the quality and service of the hotels was not good and despite that and the long journey, the generosity and attention they found in some pension houses helped them to have the best experience.
Currently, according to the most recent report from the Central Bank (BC), hotel capacity has increased. This area has 71 accommodation structures, out of 77,119 that the country registered for 2017, which house 3,278 rooms, of which between 1,800 and 2,000 are in large hotels. The rest are in small establishments, which placed the hotel occupancy rate in the province for last year at 67.6%.
For 2018 and 2019, an increase of some 7,000 additional rooms is projected nationwide, mostly from foreign capital investments.
Source eldinero / Maria del Carmen Guillen
