In Puerto Plata, the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) has officially inaugurated the Management Committee for the newly built Sosúa Beach Vendors Plaza, a landmark institutional move carried out in full compliance with Decree No. 187-26. This formal establishment is designed to embed robust administrative frameworks, proactive maintenance protocols, and long-term sustainable operations for the key public tourism facility.
The official launch of the multi-stakeholder committee took place during a collaborative working meeting convened by Patricia Mejía, Vice Minister of Destination Management. In addition to senior Mitur officials, the gathering drew participation from Ginette Bournigal, Senator for the Puerto Plata region, as well as leadership representatives from a cross-section of local community organizations. The committee’s membership is intentionally inclusive, bringing together delegations from the area’s Catholic and Evangelical churches, the Sosúa Municipal Government, the Magua Foundation, the Sosúa Development Association, and the leading representative body for local vendors, the Sosúa Beach Vendors Association.
Per the provisions outlined in the governing decree, the committee is tasked with full oversight of the plaza’s day-to-day operations, ongoing conservation efforts, and strategic management. The facility itself was developed with two core goals in mind: first, to dramatically upgrade informal working conditions for hundreds of beach vendors who serve the area’s steady stream of tourists, and second, to curate a cleaner, more organized, and enjoyable experience for domestic and international visitors to Sosúa Beach.
Government and tourism stakeholders emphasized that this governance model represents a deliberate shift toward transparent, collaborative governance of public tourism assets, uniting stakeholders from the public sector, civil society, and local commercial groups around a shared vision for the region’s tourism growth. For Mitur, the formalization of the committee marks another key milestone in the broader transformation of Sosúa Beach, a project that has already reshaped the iconic coastal destination. Authorities anticipate the committee’s work will help sustain public order along the beach, lift overall service standards for visitors, and create a more supportive environment for broad-based tourism development across Puerto Plata. Ultimately, the initiative underscores the ministry’s ongoing commitment to centering community participation and sustainable management practices in stewarding the Dominican Republic’s most valuable tourism assets.