Dominican Samana to Get $36 Million Worth of Tourism Investment

The government and the private sector in the Dominican Republic are planning to pour over $36 million into the advance of tourism in the Samana area, some 200 miles northwest of Santo Domingo, in a project that will also cover the zones of Las Galeras and Las Terrenas.

The tourist project is part of a much bigger $275 million program that will home in on the building and streamlining of all infrastructure in the country´s premier travel destinations. The whole plan is expected to come to an end in the summer of 2007.

Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez spelled out details about the investment scheme in which the government will chip in $15 million, while the private sector will pick up the remaining $21 million tab.

Mr. Jimenez noted the private sector will focus on the remodeling of Samana´s top hotels and the beginning of its first regular cruise season in history as early as December this year.

This investment package comes on the heels of a similar announcement made by Buy Bonus Ltd., a London-based company that plans to pony up $76.4 million for a new tourist compound in Samana.

The group´s project will consist of a 1,000-room, couples-only resort covering a total surface of nearly 100 acres.

In addition, Dominican authorities will start building a cesspool water treatment plant in the province. Mr. Jimenez pointed out these projects will stretch our for two years.