The Dominican Republic’s national tourism sector is betting big on high-growth adventure and nature-focused travel, and a new collaborative promotional initiative is putting the spotlight on one of the country’s most promising emerging destinations. The Dominican Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) has teamed up with the Jarabacoa Tourism Cluster to host an exclusive familiarization trip, bringing international and domestic journalists and travel industry agents straight to Jarabacoa to experience firsthand the municipality’s rapidly growing reputation as a top-tier ecotourism and adventure getaway.
Over the course of the visit, participating guests got a comprehensive deep dive into everything Jarabacoa has to offer, from its rugged, biodiverse natural landscapes to its expanding range of visitor accommodations, farm-to-table culinary scene, and world-class outdoor recreation options. One of the standout stops on the itinerary was Café Monte Alto, a local specialty coffee producer where attendees walked through every step of the coffee supply chain – from tending to coffee plants on regional slopes to the artisanal roasting and processing that gives Dominican single-origin coffee its distinctive flavor. The tour also included visits to some of Jarabacoa’s most popular lodging properties, including the Jarabacoa River Club & Resort, Hotel Gran Jimenoa, and Pinar Dorado, showcasing the range of accommodation options available to fit every traveler’s budget and preference.
To highlight the municipality’s rich local food culture, the itinerary also incorporated a series of curated culinary experiences at beloved local establishments. Guests sampled signature dishes at Corazón de Jesús Restaurant, grabbed casual bites at the popular Barra Payán, and finished with sweet treats from Ivon Ice Cream, a local institution known across the country for its homemade, fruit-based frozen desserts.
As a key component of the broader promotional push, MITUR and the Jarabacoa Tourism Cluster organized a cross-regional business networking event hosted on the campus of Fernando Arturo de Meriño Agroforestry University (UAFAM). The gathering brought together tourism stakeholders from across the central Dominican Republic, including cluster organizations from nearby La Vega and Constanza, along with tour operators, travel agency leaders, hotel management teams, local tourism entrepreneurs, and complementary service providers. The event created space for collaborative partnerships, cross-promotion opportunities, and knowledge sharing to strengthen the entire region’s tourism ecosystem.
This familiarization trip is far from a one-off event: it is a core component of MITUR’s national strategic plan to lift up underpromoted emerging destinations across the country and diversify the Dominican Republic’s tourism product beyond the traditional all-inclusive beach resorts that have long drawn visitors to the Caribbean nation. By leaning into Jarabacoa’s unique natural assets and adventure tourism potential, the initiative aims to attract a new segment of eco-conscious, experience-driven travelers and extend tourism spending beyond the country’s traditional coastal resort corridors.