Two agreements have been signed in the Dominican Republic for the recovery of beaches and coasts

The IDB, MITUR and ASONAHORES signed a memorandum of understanding where it is established to prioritize the intervention of 35 beaches, which have been included in rescue projects for the immediate future.

Some currently need regeneration measures that require engineering to reverse or mitigate erosion levels. Others can be recovered with lower cost environmental actions, through recovery, conservation and management projects.

The memorandum was signed by David Collado, Minister of Tourism; Miguel Coronado Hunter, representative of the IDB and Paula Rainieri, president of ASONAHORES.

The Parties reiterate their commitment to support from each of their institutions the consultants of IH Cantabria and the technicians of the Ministry of Tourism, to achieve an agile and timely execution of the aforementioned study. With this initiative, the foundations are laid for the comprehensive management of our coasts, including the best possible practices for the 21st century.

El pasado 11 de mayo fue firmado el contrato con la consultora IH Cantabria que llevará a cabo el “Estudio de Factibilidad Para el Manejo Costero Integrado.”, como parte de la Cooperación Técnica ATN/OC-16820-DR, del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID). Este estudio incluye las playas de mayores niveles de criticidad y tiene como objetivo principal la generación de un documento que permita elaborar Términos de Referencias adecuados para la implementación de un Plan de Regeneración y Recuperación de las playas seleccionadas.

[Firma acuerdo MITUR y ASONAHORES]

While the agreement signed between Asonahores and Mitur undertake to establish the fund for the Mitigation and Management of Sargassum on the Coasts of the Dominican Republic, which will have the purpose of covering the cost of the services and supplies that are necessary to contract to counter the entry and permanence of sargassum.

A mixed commission will also be created to monitor the fund, in order to ensure the proper execution of this project, it will be made up of a representative of Asonahores, three representatives of the hotel sector and a representative of Mitur.

The parties agree to establish the Fund for a duration of five (5) years, as of its creation. The initial resources of this amount to an amount of eleven million eight hundred ninety-one thousand eight hundred eighty-four dollars of the United States of America with 00/100 (US $ 11,891,884.00).

The President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, said that taking care of coastal resources is a task that has priority in this administration and without it, there is no future in tourism. He also announced that he is working with the Tourist Area Infrastructure Executive Committee (CEIZTUR) to improve the Boca Chica road intervention.

The Minister of Tourism declared that with this agreement the government reaffirms its commitment to the environment, sustainable tourism and the protection of beaches.

“With this memorandum, the IDB begins study work, with an amount of 400 thousand dollars, non-reimbursable funds, a contribution that the Dominican Republic appreciates,” said Collado.

In the second agreement signed with Asonahores, the Dominican Government will contribute RD $ 156 million pesos for the placement of the barriers against sargassum, and the private sector will make the same investment.

Miguel Coronado Hunter stated that this agreement consolidates the IDB’s interest in continuing to actively support the Dominican Republic in promoting, strengthening and consolidating the tourism sector.

“Tourism has been and is a driving force, essential for the economic advancement of the Dominicans and within this context the coastal natural capital takes on special relevance,” said the IDB representative.

Paola Rainieri thanked the BIB for the unconditional support it has always given to Dominican tourism, and confided that the Dominican Republic will forcefully protect its coastal areas and beaches, guaranteeing the country’s leadership in tourism.