BARAHONA, Dominican Republic — A new educational initiative designed to meet the booming demand for skilled tourism and hospitality workers in the country’s southwestern Enriquillo region is set to open this weekend, with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader scheduled to lead the inauguration ceremony. The Guarocuya Technical and Professional Training School, developed and launched by the National Institute of Technical and Professional Training (Infotep), will repurpose the renovated facilities of the former Hotel Guarocuya for its new operations, kicking off its programming Saturday, August 22 at 3:00 p.m.
The training center was conceived to address a critical gap in the regional tourism economy: a shortage of qualified workers trained in modern hotel management and hospitality operations. Unlike general workforce development programs, this institution will focus exclusively on building specialized skills aligned with the needs of the fast-growing tourism sector across the Enriquillo region.
Infotep leaders have emphasized that the school’s development is directly tied to ongoing expansion efforts in Cabo Rojo, a major tourism hub located in the nearby province of Pedernales. As large-scale tourism development progresses in Cabo Rojo, industry analysts project significant growth in job openings across every segment of the local tourism value chain, from front-of-house hotel services to food and beverage management, tour operations, and hospitality entrepreneurship. The new training center is positioned to prepare local workers to fill these emerging roles, ensuring that community members can access the new economic opportunities generated by regional tourism growth rather than relying on external hiring.
By locating the facility in Barahona, Infotep aims to serve workers across the entire Enriquillo region, cutting down on travel barriers for residents seeking skills training that can boost their employability and earning potential. The initiative represents a targeted public investment in aligning workforce development with regional economic development priorities, with the long-term goal of strengthening the Dominican Republic’s position as a top Caribbean tourism destination through a more skilled, competitive local workforce.