In a groundbreaking legislative session held outside the capital for the first time, the Dominican Senate has given final second-reading approval to a landmark bill that designates the eastern province of La Romana as the nation’s first official ecotourism province. The historic vote, which drew 21 votes in support of the proposal, capped off a day of celebrations marking the 82nd anniversary of La Romana’s formal establishment as a provincial jurisdiction. It is the first time the Dominican Senate has convened a full plenary session in the territory, underscoring the national government’s commitment to advancing the region’s sustainable development goals.
Sponsored by sitting La Romana Senator Edward Espíritu Santo, the approved legislation now moves to the Chamber of Deputies for its required review and voting before it can be enacted into national law. If passed, the bill will launch a transformative four-year initiative to reorient La Romana’s tourism economy toward environmentally conscious and community-centered development, with the overarching goal of diversifying the province’s economic base while balancing four core pillars: inclusive economic expansion, equitable social development, protection of indigenous cultural heritage, and long-term environmental stewardship.
Central to the proposal is the creation of the Ecotourism Development Council of La Romana, a multi-stakeholder governing body tasked with guiding, promoting, and regulating all ecotourism activities across the province. The council’s composition ensures cross-sector collaboration, bringing together official representatives from three national government ministries: Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, and Culture. Additional voting members include the La Romana provincial governor, a representative from the local Chamber of Commerce, an elected municipal mayor, a delegate from a registered civil society environmental organization, and a full-time executive director to manage day-to-day operations.
To fund the council’s work, the legislation allocates RD$50 million in annual contributions from the Dominican national budget over a four-year period, bringing the total public commitment to RD$200 million. The framework also allows the council to accept private donations and additional contributions from non-governmental sources, with a critical guardrail in place: all outside funding must not compromise the council’s institutional independence or its commitment to environmental and social protections. The governing body will retain full authority over how all allocated funds are distributed to support local ecotourism initiatives aligned with the legislation’s goals.
Alongside structural and funding provisions, the bill introduces targeted tax incentives for private and public entities that develop qualifying ecotourism projects in the province. The incentives are tied to existing benefits outlined in the country’s landmark 158-01 Tourism Development Promotion Law, though the current text of the bill does not specify exactly which tax exemptions from the existing law will extend to ecotourism projects under the new designation. That detail is expected to be clarified during the Chamber of Deputies’ review process, as stakeholders work to refine the framework to attract responsible investment while protecting the province’s natural and cultural assets.