Villa Montellano, Puerto Plata.– The Punta Bergantín tourism development project could generate 6 to 9 total jobs (direct, indirect, and induced) per hotel room during its initial construction phase and between 7,000 and 11,000 direct jobs annually between 2025 and 2030, primarily benefiting residents of Villa Montellano. This is the estimate of the study “Economic Impact of the Punta Bergantín Project Operations in the Municipality of Villa Montellano, Puerto Plata,” prepared by consultants and professors from the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC).

The research was presented by Punta Bergantín and INTEC as a tool to understand the socioeconomic reality of the municipality, listen to the community's voice, and identify the opportunities and challenges that accompany the project's development. The study also analyzes the direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts of Punta Bergantín, quantifies the positive externalities and challenges associated with its implementation, evaluates its impact on the tourism value chain and local production dynamics, and measures its impact on employment, household income, business activity, and the municipality's economy.

Andrés Marranzini, executive director of Punta Bergantín, stated: “The project will have a positive impact on increasing local consumption, expanding retail and personal services, boosting transportation and logistics, growing the real estate sector, and stimulating production linkages with agricultural, fishing, and manufacturing suppliers.“.

The study projects that the project's development will generate significant economic growth in Villa Montellano. Among its key findings, it estimates a 25 to 30 percent increase in sales for local businesses and services, and a 14 to 17 percent increase in household income within the municipality as a result of the economic activity linked to the project.

Over the next decade, the project would generate over $200 million in total added value annually.

It also identifies significant job placement opportunities for community residents. According to projections, 1,347 people with specialized profiles could be hired from the current stage of the project; within six months, approximately 2,153 people with moderate training would have employment opportunities; in 18 months, the figure would rise to 3,709 people; and over a 36-month period, up to 8,187 residents could benefit from the job opportunities generated.

In this regard, Punta Bergantín reiterated that it will prioritize hiring residents of Villa Montellano before resorting to outside labor. Simultaneously, it is developing language training programs, technical skills development, and tourism initiatives, as well as projects aimed at strengthening the capabilities of local businesses, restaurants, artisans, and other entrepreneurs to facilitate their incorporation as suppliers for the project.

The report also reveals a high level of interest from local businesses in integrating into the Punta Bergantín value chain. 71.7% of the business owners surveyed expressed their willingness to become suppliers for the project, highlighting the opportunities that tourism development represents for companies in the area.

In addition to the economic impact, the research identifies opportunities to strengthen road infrastructure and community services, establish permanent communication channels to keep the population informed about the progress of the project, and preserve the cultural identity of Villa Montellano throughout the transformation process.

For the preparation of the study, interviews were conducted with 322 families, 92 businesses and 15 community leaders, complemented with official information from the National Statistics Office (ONE), the Single System of Beneficiaries (SIUBEN), the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) and the Ministry of Finance, which were used together with data from the WTTC to make econometric estimates for the medium-term projections (and scenarios) on employment, added value and other variables of interest

Juan Carlos López Pérez, a professor and researcher at INTEC, stated: “Our study shows and analyzes the various ways in which the Punta Bergantín project would impact the community of Villa Montellano, from both an economic and social perspective. The results—obtained through surveys and multiple econometric projections—demonstrate the positive effects that will materialize from the project's implementation, resulting in benefits and improvements for the residents of the municipality and the entire province. In short, Punta Bergantín has great transformative potential for the territory and the regional economy.”

This research is part of Punta Bergantín's commitment to transparency and generating objective information about the effects of its operations, contributing to the planning, sustainability, and economic development of Villa Montellano. The results will serve as input for decision-making by various stakeholders in the region and will strengthen a tourism and investment model that promotes shared benefits for the community.