The Punta Bergantín Project is an ambitious tourism initiative that has been officially launched, marking the beginning of a new stage in the social and economic development of the Puerto Plata destination.

PUNTA BERGANTIN. – Starting from this first peak, the construction of public access to Punta Bergantín, and the Hyatt Zilara Hotel, with the presence of President Luis Abinader, the ambitious plan has been officially launched, “marking the beginning of a new stage for tourism on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, which is part of the firm purpose of relaunching Puerto Plata; this constitutes the first of many tourist facilities that will be developed in this area” indicated the first president.

The distinguished audience included prominent leaders from the public and private sectors, including the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, the executive president of the Reservas Group Samuel Pereyra, the Governor of the Central Bank, Hector Valdez Albizu; as well as the president of Grupo Martinón, Mr. Enrique Martinon, Hyatt's Director of Inclusive Collection Development for the Latin America and Caribbean Region, Antonio Fungairino, and the Executive Director of the Punta Bergantín project, Andres Marranzini Grullon.

Minister Collado stressed the importance of this project for the diversification and expansion of the tourism sector in the Dominican Republic, highlighting that Punta Bergantín, in addition to its characteristics as a new world-class destination, is an engine of economic development that will benefit thousands of Dominicans. “This project is a reality, there is no theory here, here is the first groundbreaking, here are the funds, the support of the Banco de Reservas and the Banco Popular. The best is yet to come for Puerto Plata,” he indicated.

The president of the BanReservas Group, Samuel Pereyra, indicated: “Today we already have a plan for the development of Punta Bergantín that will include the opening of 4,000 hotel rooms, 1,500 residential rooms, and an academic campus aimed at promoting education and innovation in the country; a film studio to be installed jointly with the international firm One Race Films, a company chaired by actor Vin Diesel; and a modern 18-hole golf course,” said Pereyra.

He explained that the development plan includes enabling lots for commercial premises, land for offices, recreational areas, public and private beach clubs, among other services. He recalled that in 2021, the Reservas Group acquired around 9.6 million square meters in the municipality of Villa Montellano, in Puerto Plata, precisely on the coast of Punta Bergantín, so that, in common agreement with other government agencies, a strategic framework would be developed to transform these lands into an area of urban tourism development; which will contribute to the country's projection of receiving 11 million tourists, an ambitious goal that reflects Banreservas' commitment to growth and innovation in the sector.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Punta Bergantín Project, Andres Marranzini Grullon, said: “We have taken on the challenge of developing this important task, where the community of Villa Montellano will be able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the initiative motivated by the government, structured with the economic and professional support of the Reservas Group, and with the credibility of marketing execution and positioning of the Ministry of Tourism.”

For his part, Enrique Martinón, president of Grupo Martinón, expressed confidence in the investment climate in the Dominican Republic, as well as the benefits that this investment generates in the value chain, referring to the “1,300 direct jobs, an estimated consumption of eggs of more than one million units per year, 300 thousand pounds of chicken and 600 tons of vegetables and greens.” He added, “tourists buy around 70 million dollars a year in local products such as rum, coffee, cigars and mamajuana.”

Taking the floor Antonio Fungairino, Director of Development of Hyatt's Inclusive Collection, said that this project will represent a very high-profile anchor for the development of Punta Bergantín and thanked the Dominican Republic's strategic focus on tourism, where he reported that they already have almost 20 hotels and more than 8,000 rooms.

The event, where the Hyatt Zilara begins construction work, is the first in a series of hotels and resorts that will be established in the area, to mark the commitment of the Dominican government and the Reservas Group to turn Punta Bergantín into a new tourist epicenter.

“Punta Bergantín is more than a tourism initiative; it is a comprehensive plan that seeks to raise the quality of life of the inhabitants of Villa Montellano and position Puerto Plata as a global reference destination. Its strategic plan includes a set of actions that include the Single Beneficiary System, SIUBEN, with the realization of capacity censuses that allow the identification of the different needs of the community in order to design specific training programs; the National Institute for Technical and Professional Training, INFOTEP, and vocational schools to ensure local labor and open new opportunities for its inhabitants," said Marranzini.

In a speech full of thanks, he referred to the President for starting his new period as leader of the nation through that stage, a demonstration of the commitment to the People of Puerto Plata. The trust and support of the Executive President of the Reservas group Samuel, Pereyra; the president of the Fiduciary Council Mr. Francisco Elías, and the Director of the Fiduciaria Reservas, Mr. Andrés Vanderhorst; He also thanked the Director of the General Directorate of Internal Revenue DGII, Mr. Luis Valdez, and especially referred to Mr. Héctor Valdez Albizu, for the vision that created a legacy for the development of Puerto Plata, requesting applause for him, while congratulating his integrity and clarity regarding this proposal.

He thanked Mrs. Haydeé, Mr. Frank Rainieri and his son Frank Elías, who have endorsed part of their credibility in the world of tourism for the success of Punta Bergantín. They, together with Mr. Escarrer, in an alliance Meliá Hotels and Punta Cana Group, will be the protagonists of the next great start of work. He also thanked his family in the presence of his father, sister, and especially his wife.

The act began with the Blessing by Monsignor Julio Cesar Cornielle, Bishop of the Diocese of Puerto Plata, also had, within a high-level audience, the presidents of the Senate, Ricardo of the Saints and the Chamber of Deputies Alfredo Pacheco, local authorities such as the Governor of Puerto Plata Claritza Rochette, and the Mayor of Villa Montellano, Hector Almonte, among other distinguished businessmen and officials and managers from different productive sectors, both local, national and international.