Cabo Rojo becomes an internationally branded tourist destination

Madrid, Spain – In a joint effort promoted by the General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP) and the Ministry of Tourism, Cabo Rojo was presented as a new tourist destination in the Dominican Republic.

The slogan that supports the new identity, with which the Dominican Government invites visitors to visit one of the most promising destinations for explorers looking for particular coastal and desert landscapes in the country, is “Cabo Rojo: discover the new Caribbean”.

The logo, which represents a place unique in adventures and full of surprising corners, has been designed with elements that distinguish it, such as the cactus, its geographical delimitation, color, shapes and elevations of the Hoyo de Pelempito, Las Águilas caves, Romeo’s wells, the beauty of the keys and the port.

Marking a milestone in the region’s tourism history, Cabo Rojo, with its unique geographic characteristics, protected natural areas, parks, lagoons and lakes that harbor a rich biodiversity, received its first cruise ship in January 2024.

At the brand launching ceremony, which was attended by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, and the Dominican Republic’s ambassador to Spain, Juan Bolívar Díaz, the executive director of the DGAPP, Sigmund Freund, presented the history of the emergence of Cabo Rojo as a destination, highlighting its potential and attractions for the development of an international branded tourism offer.

Freund announced that the first kick-off of the Cabo Rojo International Airport, located in Oviedo, will take place the first week of March 2024 and that “with this we will be closing the necessary circle for the development of tourism in this region.

The official highlighted that as a sign of the destination’s commitment to the environment, for the first time in the country, a study of the tourist load capacity of Cabo Rojo and also of the Bahía de las Águilas recreational area was carried out.

“With this we have information on how many visitors can be at the same time enjoying the beaches of Bahía de las Águilas. With this we guarantee the protection of a jewel that, without a doubt, we have called the crown jewel of Cabo Rojo.”

He added that they have launched a program for the conservation of endemic and native species, implemented before starting the construction works with the creation of the Cabo Rojo nursery.

New investments in the DR

Speaking at the launch of the Cabo Rojo brand, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, revealed that the Dominican Republic’s participation in Fitur 2024 has led to some US$3.5 billion in new investments.

He added that 9,000 new hotel rooms will be integrated, of which 2,400 will be in the summer, 1,300 in the winter and the rest in 2025. “This has brought that business groups have decided to announce USD 500 million in investments to remodel and refurbish the Santiago Airport.”

The minister assured that “FITUR 2024, found the Dominican Republic at the best moment in the history of tourism”.

Works under construction

During his participation in the fair, Sigmund Freund highlighted the progress made in the works being executed in Cabo Rojo.

The first three hotels under construction are making good progress, so it is projected that before the end of the year the first hotel, to be operated by the Spanish hotel chain Iberostar, will be partially opened. The other two hotels will open in the first half of 2025, Freund said while participating in several news programs broadcast live from the Ifema fairgrounds.

Regarding the access roads and the Pedernales-Enriquillo highway, Freund assured that some sections are already paved and that they are working according to schedule to be ready as soon as possible.

Historic milestone in the region

On January 4 of this year, the town of Pedernales received the first cruise ship in Port Cabo Rojo, the first phase of which was inaugurated that day with the arrival of 2,557 passengers from different parts of the world.

The Norwegian Pearl of the Norwegian cruise line set sail in Cabo Rojo to the delight of the villagers and was received by the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, together with the executive director of the DGAPP, Sigmund Freund; the Minister of the Presidency, Joel Santos; the Minister of Tourism, David Collado; the executive director of the Port Authority (Apordom), Jean Luis Rodríguez; the president of the ITM Group, concessionaire of the port, and other officials, as well as representatives of the business sector.

In this first phase, 200 meters of dock were enabled, extendable up to 400 meters with capacity to simultaneously receive two Oasis type cruise ships, the largest class of vessel in the world, and linear breakwaters of 260 meters that will have capacity for 4 cruise ships.

Political will

On August 29, 2020, the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, made the first visit of his mandate to Pedernales to evaluate the tourism development plans and there he declared that “Pedernales must prepare for a great change that will bring employment opportunities and a better quality of life for its residents”.

Two years after the presentation of a Master Plan for the Cabo Rojo-Pedernales Tourism Development Project, conceived as an economic engine that will invigorate the economy of the Enriquillo region, the impact generated in the province and all nearby communities can already be visualized.

The meeting, which was held as part of the activities of the International Tourism Fair (Fitur), took place this Friday, January 26 in the Sol Room of the Four Seasons Hotel in Madrid, Spain.