During a recent working visit to the Samaná peninsula in the Dominican Republic, Tourism Minister David Collado has conducted an on-the-ground review of major infrastructure projects delivered by the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) throughout his current administration, revealing that total public investment in these initiatives now tops RD$1.9 billion (approximately US$33.5 million).
As a centerpiece of his visit, Collado officially launched the second phase of a comprehensive road reconstruction program in Arroyo Barril municipal district, earmarking more than RD$88 million (US$1.55 million) for this phase of work. The ongoing project targets the rehabilitation of more than five kilometers of deteriorated local roads, alongside the replacement and upgrade of curbs and sidewalks across multiple underserved communities in the district, where decades of underinvestment have left most streets in severe disrepair.
In remarks during the launch event, Minister Collado outlined that the infrastructure upgrades serve a dual purpose: to boost the overall quality of life for local residents and to ensure that economic gains generated by Samaná’s thriving tourism sector are distributed more equitably across local communities, rather than being concentrated only in major resort areas.
“The benefits of tourism should reach everyone,” Collado stated, underscoring the deep social impact that targeted infrastructure investment can deliver in popular tourism destinations. The minister also added context to the project, noting that the first phase of the Arroyo Barril road program, which was completed prior to this launch, required an investment of more than RD$70 million (US$1.23 million) to deliver initial improvements to local transport and accessibility.