Carib Scope

标签： Dominican Republic

多米尼加共和国

  • The country has recorded 14 deaths from leptospirosis so far this year.

    The country has recorded 14 deaths from leptospirosis so far this year.

    In the latest epidemiological update from the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Public Health, the country has recorded a steady uptick in leptospirosis cases through the first 23 weeks of 2026, alongside new data on a range of other infectious and chronic health conditions, and public outreach to mark World Vitiligo Day.

    As of the 23rd epidemiological week, the Caribbean nation has logged 14 total deaths from leptospirosis, a zoonotic bacterial disease spread through contact with urine from infected animals, and 179 confirmed cases across the country. The most recent reporting week alone added three new fatalities and four new confirmed infections, distributed across the National District (two cases), Monte Plata (one), and Santo Domingo (one). Broken down by region, the highest case counts are concentrated in Santo Domingo with 21 confirmed infections, followed by Espaillat with 13 and Puerto Plata with 4.

    Public health officials attribute the growing number of leptospirosis exposures to above-average rainfall and widespread flooding across the country this season. These wet conditions create ideal environments for the Leptospira bacteria carried by rodents, increasing public exposure risk through contact with stagnant floodwater or contaminated surfaces. The disease typically presents symptoms including high fever, intense headache, muscle pain, chills, redness of the eyes, and gastrointestinal distress such as vomiting or diarrhea, with symptoms emerging between five and 14 days after initial exposure to contaminated material.

    In response to the rising case load, the Ministry of Public Health confirmed it has ramped up epidemiological surveillance protocols, including active outreach to identify febrile cases early, timely collection of patient samples for testing, and consistent reporting to national public health monitoring systems.

    Beyond leptospirosis, the ministry’s latest epidemiological bulletin includes updates on several other communicable diseases monitored across the country. Between June 7 and June 13, three new confirmed cases of dengue were reported across La Altagracia, San Juan, and La Romana provinces, bringing the national total to 125 as of the end of last week. For malaria, the cumulative 2026 case count stands at 97, with no new infections confirmed in the most recent reporting week. One new case of tetanus was recorded in Dajabón Province this week, pushing the national total to 13 cases for the year across non-infant age groups. The bulletin also noted seven new detections of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in week 23.

    Tracking respiratory virus circulation through the first 23 weeks of 2026, public health authorities identified a range of active pathogens including SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A(H3N2), Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, Influenza B, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza virus. Early in the year, detections were dominated by unsubtyped Influenza A, Influenza A(H3N2), and Influenza B, but starting in week 19, the country has seen a gradual increase in SARS-CoV-2 detections. The report also shared mortality data, noting 57 maternal deaths and 697 infant deaths in the first six months of 2026.

    Alongside its infectious disease update, the ministry marked June 25 as World Vitiligo Day, launching public outreach to raise awareness of this chronic autoimmune skin condition. Vitiligo develops when the body’s immune system mistakenly destroys melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, the pigment responsible for color in the skin, eyes, and hair.

    International health organizations estimate that between 0.5% and 2% of the global population lives with vitiligo. Dominican Public Health Minister Víctor Atallah emphasized that while there is no cure for the condition, there are effective treatment options available to slow the spread of depigmented patches on the body and encourage repigmentation in affected areas.

    Health experts explain that the pigment destruction caused by vitiligo can range from selective and partial to complete, and can impact both the skin and mucous membranes. While the exact root cause is still under investigation, it is widely classified as a systemic autoimmune process linked to genetic predisposition. The condition presents as progressive white patches on the skin, which can appear either suddenly or gradually. Critically, vitiligo does not change the underlying structure of the skin and is not contagious, meaning it cannot spread from person to person through contact.

    Vitiligo most commonly affects symmetrical areas of the body, including the face, elbows, knees, backs of the hands, feet, and genitals. The condition is particularly visible in people with darker skin tones, due to the sharp contrast between depigmented white patches and naturally darker surrounding skin.

  • The tourism boom is also driving up informal businesses in the Dominican Republic

    The tourism boom is also driving up informal businesses in the Dominican Republic

    The Dominican Republic’s booming tourism sector has emerged as a key catalyst for grassroots entrepreneurship, drawing thousands of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) eager to tap into the industry’s growing momentum and untapped economic potential. But a new national survey has uncovered a major structural barrier holding this vibrant ecosystem back: nearly half of all tourism-linked MSMEs operate outside formal regulatory frameworks, leaving them less competitive and disproportionately exposed to economic shocks.

    The 2025 Sectoral Survey of Tourism (Ensetur 2025), conducted by the Dominican Republic’s National Institute of Migration (INM RD), analyzed MSME operations across three of the country’s highest-profile tourist hubs: Punta Cana-Macao, Barahona-Pedernales, and Puerto Plata. Of the roughly 642 MSMEs included in the study, 42.2% are classified as informal, meaning they lack official registration and compliance with local business regulations.

    The data confirms a clear trend across the sector: informality is heavily concentrated among the smallest business operations. The survey finds that 71.6% of all informal tourism MSMEs are micro-enterprises employing five or fewer workers, a share that is 22.5 percentage points higher than the rate of micro-enterprises among formal, regulated businesses in the sector. This pattern aligns with a broader industry dynamic: larger tourism operations are far more likely to comply with national regulations, while smaller, newer ventures disproportionately remain in the informal economy.

    Most informal MSMEs in the sector operate in the food and beverage segment, accounting for 76.4% of all informal businesses. That is 17.6 percentage points higher than the share of formal, registered tourism MSMEs that work in food and beverage. Geographically, half of all surveyed informal MSMEs (52%) are located in the top tourist hub of Punta Cana-Macao, 41% are based in Puerto Plata, and just 7% operate across Barahona and Pedernales, according to reporting from local outlet Diario Libre.

    The INM RD study emphasizes that informal activity in tourism is not a new issue, but a deeply entrenched characteristic of the sector that is closely tied to migrant labor integration. Most informal tourism roles offer low social protection, high worker turnover, and little regulatory oversight, which amplifies the socioeconomic vulnerability of migrant workers who make up a large share of this labor force. At the same time, the research acknowledges that informal micro-enterprises fill a critical economic role for marginalized communities: they are a key source of household income for vulnerable groups and a primary pathway for migrant workers to enter the Dominican labor market, thanks to their small operating scale, flexible organizational structures, and reliance on labor-intensive work.

    Despite these benefits, the concentration of unregulated micro-enterprises in major tourist centers creates significant policy challenges for national authorities. The informal sector’s high demand for flexible, seasonal, low-skilled labor is overwhelmingly filled by migrant workers, which complicates efforts to formalize employment, enforce consistent labor standards, and manage migration flows effectively.

    A breakdown of employment data underscores the gap between formal and informal operations. Among properly registered MSMEs, companies with 20 or more employees account for 61.5% of all jobs generated by the sector. By contrast, more than 85% of all informal tourism employment is concentrated in businesses with fewer than 10 workers. When sorted by occupation, informality rates exceed formal employment rates across multiple key tourism roles: 19.7% of all kitchen staff work in informal positions, followed by 15.6% of cleaning staff, 13% of general service workers, and 12.2% of management roles, per the survey.

    INM RD officials noted that the study’s scope was limited to MSMEs, as the research team was unable to access operational data from the country’s large, multinational hotel chains.

  • United will connect Houston with Santo Domingo during the winter season

    United will connect Houston with Santo Domingo during the winter season

    United Airlines has unveiled plans to expand its route footprint across Latin America and the Caribbean with the launch of a new seasonal air route linking Houston, Texas, to Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. The new service is scheduled to launch during the 2026/27 Northern Hemisphere winter season, a timeframe that consistently sees surges in travel demand driven by year-end holiday tourism, family visits and friend reunions.

    Operations will run from December 18, 2026, through January 3, 2027, with three weekly flights all operated using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Under the published schedule, outbound flights will depart from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston during the afternoon, arriving at the Santo Domingo destination after nightfall. For return trips, flights will take off from the Dominican capital in the early morning, a timing arrangement crafted to give passengers convenient access to fast connections through United’s Houston hub to dozens of domestic and international destinations across the carrier’s global network.

    This carefully tailored schedule is designed to deliver maximum travel flexibility for passengers during one of the busiest annual travel windows on the global aviation calendar. As a temporary seasonal addition to United’s route portfolio, the new link directly addresses the steadily rising travel demand between the United States and the Caribbean, a region that has steadily strengthened its standing as one of the top tourist markets across the Americas.

    Industry analysts note that Santo Domingo holds unique strategic value for major air carriers, drawing consistent passenger volumes across leisure tourism, family travel and business segments. For its part, Houston remains one of United Airlines’ most critical connecting hubs, enabling seamless travel connectivity to and from hundreds of cities across North America, Europe and Asia. The expansion marks the latest step in United’s ongoing push to beef up its presence in high-demand Latin American and Caribbean markets, aligning with broader industry trends of growing air travel between the U.S. and popular Caribbean holiday destinations.

  • Public Prosecutor’s Office arrests leader of gang involved in contract killings, kidnapping, and arms trafficking

    Public Prosecutor’s Office arrests leader of gang involved in contract killings, kidnapping, and arms trafficking

    In a major law enforcement breakthrough in the Dominican Republic’s National District, authorities captured one of the most-wanted alleged criminal kingpins Friday afternoon following a months-long investigation into a sprawling ring linked to brutal offences ranging from contract killings to extortion.

    Twenty-seven-year-old Juan Francisco Quezada Tolentino, known by his alias “Pavel”, was taken into custody without incident by law enforcement teams as he was present at a local shopping plaza in the National District. The operation was led by Andry De Los Santos, prosecutor and director of the Public Prosecutor’s Office Fugitive, Rebel and Convict Capture Unit (Ucaprec), with additional support from specialized personnel of the Public Ministry.

    Two pre-issued arrest warrants, numbered 2026-AJ0020297 and 2026-AJ0038079, were executed during the operation. The warrants were approved by Magistrate Rigoberto Sena Ferreras, head judge of the Eighth Court of Instruction of the National District, following a formal request from the Public Ministry, clearing the way for Quezada Tolentino’s apprehension.

    Investigative records compiled by the Public Prosecutor’s Office detail a pattern of extreme violence perpetrated by Quezada Tolentino and his still-at-large co-conspirators against victims of their criminal enterprise. Two high-profile fatal attacks tied to the ring have been a core focus of the ongoing probe.

    The first of these documented attacks took place on May 10, 2026 at roughly 12:16 p.m. in the La Esperanza sector of the National District’s Los Ríos neighborhood. According to witness accounts, a group of mostly hooded attackers intercepted a group of civilians before opening fire without warning, acting with clear intent to kill. The second attack left one man dead on March 5, 2026 around 7:00 p.m. The victim, Luis Alberto Méndez de la Cruz, also known as “Nano”, was shot dead at point-blank range by armed members of the network while visiting a friend at a residence on República de Colombia Avenue, located in the same La Esperanza neighborhood. Autopsy reports confirmed Méndez de la Cruz died from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.

    All ongoing inquiries into the network are being overseen by the National District Public Prosecutor’s Office through its Department of Crimes and Offenses Against Persons. Quezada Tolentino and his co-defendants face a raft of criminal charges under Dominican law, including violations of articles 265, 266, 309, 295, 296, and 304 of the Dominican Penal Code, alongside breaches of articles 66, 67, and 70 of Law No. 631-16 regulating weapons, ammunition and related materials. The charges cover the full scope of the group’s alleged activity, from organized criminal conspiracy to illegal arms trafficking and murder.

    Following his arrest, Quezada Tolentino was transferred to the Ciudad Nueva Detention and Care Center (Caplip-2). In the coming hours, he is scheduled to appear before the Judicial Office of Permanent Attention Services of the National District for a formal court hearing, where a judge will consider the imposition of a coercive pretrial measure.

  • Authorities intervene 488 motorcycle taxi stands in nationwide regulation

    Authorities intervene 488 motorcycle taxi stands in nationwide regulation

    Between June 3 and June 24, Dominican Republic’s transportation and law enforcement agencies carried out a sweeping nationwide operation to bring order to the country’s informal motorcycle taxi (locally known as motoconcho) sector, marking one of the largest coordinated regulatory actions targeting the industry in recent years.

    The multi-agency initiative was led by the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (INTRANT), with support from a coalition of security bodies including the National Police, the Dominican Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), the Specialized Directorate for Land Transit Safety (DIGESETT), the Criminal Investigation Directorate (Dicrim), the General Directorate of Migration, and municipal police forces across the country. The operation centered on three core priorities: physical inspections of informal pickup stands, document verification for drivers and vehicles, and background checks to screen for outstanding violations or irregularities, all as part of a long-term government push to formalize the unregulated motoconcho industry that serves millions of commuters across the country.

    INTRANT Executive Director Milton Morrison outlined that the ultimate goal of the operation is to bring thousands of currently informal motorcycle taxi drivers into the country’s formal transportation system, while cutting down on rampant road safety violations that have made motoconchos a major contributor to traffic fatalities in the Dominican Republic. By the end of the three-week enforcement period, authorities released a detailed breakdown of results: teams inspected 488 separate motorcycle taxi stands across 11 major regions of the country, including Greater Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Vega, and Barahona. Officials processed 2,808 new driver registrations, completed 1,570 full vehicle and driver inspections, impounded 599 unregistered or non-compliant motorcycles, and took 63 individuals into custody on outstanding charges or regulatory violations. Additionally, 414 drivers were administered breathalyzer tests to check for drunk driving, six unlicensed informal stands were permanently closed, two more were relocated to compliant designated zones, four public spaces previously appropriated by illegal stands were reclaimed for community use, and 42 drivers found to hold irregular immigration status were turned over to migration authorities for processing.

    Alongside enforcement actions, government officials also highlighted encouraging progress in voluntary compliance, noting a dramatic surge in motorcycle license applications over the past quarter. Between March and June 2026, INTRANT processed a total of 14,888 motorcycle license applications, 12,331 of which were from first-time applicants seeking new licenses. Data shows that applications for the new Category 1 motorcycle license, the required credential for operating commercial motorcycle taxis, jumped by 107.5% over the three-month period, rising from just 1,843 applications in March to 3,824 in June. This sharp increase officials say, signals growing recognition among motoconcho drivers of the benefits of formalizing their status and complying with national transit regulations.

    Moving forward, INTRANT confirmed that joint multi-agency operations will continue across all regions of the country, with the agency reiterating its commitment to strengthening national road safety, fully formalizing the commercial motorcycle transportation sector, and ensuring full compliance with Law 63-17, the country’s overarching legislation governing transit and land transportation.

  • Dominican Republic to deploy mobile hospital and 40 medical specialists to Venezuela

    Dominican Republic to deploy mobile hospital and 40 medical specialists to Venezuela

    In the wake of the recent devastating earthquake that struck Venezuela, the Dominican Republic is putting the final touches on plans to deploy its elite, internationally certified Type 1 Emergency Medical Team (EMT) as part of a targeted humanitarian mission to assist the crisis-hit nation.

    This relief operation is being jointly coordinated by the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Public Health and the national Emergency Operations Center, known locally as COE. Under the mission framework, the Dominican government will dispatch a fully functional mobile hospital unit alongside a cohort of nearly 40 highly trained specialized healthcare and technical workers to deliver life-saving emergency medical care to those affected by the disaster.

    The assembled multidisciplinary team brings together a diverse range of expertise, including attending physicians, registered nurses, clinical pharmacists, mental health psychologists, and specialized water and sanitation engineers. This breadth of skills allows the team to deliver a comprehensive suite of medical and support services, spanning general outpatient care, pediatric treatment, gynecological care, emergency patient stabilization for critical cases, minor surgical procedures, medical intervention for toxic exposure, and much-needed mental health support for survivors grappling with disaster-related trauma.

    The deployment comes directly after an official decision by Dominican President Luis Abinader to extend immediate support to Venezuelan emergency management authorities as they work to address the spiraling humanitarian crisis triggered by the earthquake.

    Notably, the Dominican Republic’s Type 1 EMT holds a rare distinction for the Latin American and Caribbean region: it is one of only a handful of teams in the area to earn official certification from both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The team secured this international credential in 2024, after successfully demonstrating it meets all of the bodies’ rigorous global standards for emergency disaster response.

    Dominican government officials emphasized that this humanitarian mission reflects the country’s longstanding commitment to regional solidarity, cross-border cooperation in times of crisis, and shared responsibility to deliver life-saving specialized support to fellow nations grappling with the impact of natural disasters.

  • Dominican Republic concludes SICA Presidency, highlights regional progress

    Dominican Republic concludes SICA Presidency, highlights regional progress

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – A key milestone in Central American regional cooperation has concluded, as the Dominican Republic wrapped up its fourth term as Pro Tempore President of the Central American Integration System (SICA), leaving behind a trail of measurable institutional and operational advances that aim to lift outcomes for all member nations across the bloc.

    The formal handover of the rotating leadership position took place on El Salvadoran soil, where Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez outlined the core progress achieved during his country’s tenure. Among the most significant changes was the approval of updated regulatory frameworks that restructure how SICA’s governing bodies handle new member integration and establish clearer quorum requirements for official proceedings. These rule updates are explicitly designed to cut through bureaucratic bottlenecks, streamline decision-making workflows, and boost the overall institutional efficiency of the 70-year-old regional organization.

    Álvarez also highlighted the confirmation of Costa Rican Ambassador Lina Eugenia Ajoy Rojas as SICA’s incoming Secretary General, set to serve the 2026–2030 term. He framed this leadership appointment as a critical step to secure long-term continuity and political stability for the regional integration process, a core mandate that has guided SICA’s work since its founding.

    Following the presentation of achievements, Álvarez formally transferred the ceremonial and administrative authority of the rotating Pro Tempore Presidency to Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño. Briceño opened his term by commending the Dominican Republic’s steady, forward-focused leadership during its presidency, and pledged that his administration would build on existing momentum to deepen collaborative work across the region on shared economic, social, and security priorities.

    Before the official transfer ceremony got underway, Álvarez called on all attendees to observe a moment of silence to honor the lives lost to the recent devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela, a gesture that united the regional delegation in solidarity with the South American nation during a period of crisis.

  • Abinader inaugurates renovated Banreservas Arena, eyes future NBA games

    Abinader inaugurates renovated Banreservas Arena, eyes future NBA games

    On Thursday, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader officially opened the newly updated Banreservas Virgilio Travieso Soto Arena, a transformed multipurpose venue that brings the country one step closer to hosting elite international sporting and entertainment events. The ceremony marked the completion of an extensive overhaul that reimagines the historic former Sports Palace as a modern facility built to global standards.

    In his remarks at the inauguration, President Abinader framed the renovated arena as one of the most impressive venues across Central America and the Caribbean. He pointed out that the facility meets every technical requirement needed to host NBA regular season or exhibition games, adding that discussions and planning to bring a major NBA event to the Dominican Republic remain an active possibility moving forward.

    The renovation project completely redeveloped more than 11,200 square meters of the original building, turning it into a flexible venue that can accommodate everything from championship basketball tournaments to large-scale concerts. The arena now holds 8,270 spectators, with a suite of upgraded amenities that meet top global regulatory requirements. Key improvements include a FIBA-certified competition basketball court, a full 360-degree high-definition LED scoreboard, professional-grade sound and lighting systems, expanded and updated locker rooms and athlete recovery spaces, exclusive VIP hospitality suites, a fully equipped media press room, modernized climate control infrastructure, and enhanced accessibility features for visitors with disabilities.

    Leonardo Aguilera, Executive President of Banreservas, the sponsor and backer of the project, noted that the renovation balances respect for Dominican Republic’s rich athletic heritage with a forward-looking vision for hosting international events. The new arena is designed to serve the country’s athletes and audiences for decades to come, functioning as a hub for both elite sports and cultural entertainment.

    Dominican Republic Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz confirmed that the venue checks every box required to host top-tier international competitions. The arena will make its competitive debut in early July, hosting FIBA 2027 Basketball World Cup qualifiers. Dominican Republic will face Nicaragua on July 3 and the United States on July 6 at the new venue, as teams compete for a spot in the 2027 tournament set to be held in Qatar.

  • Sky High Dominicana opens new Aeronautical Training Center

    Sky High Dominicana opens new Aeronautical Training Center

    In a major milestone for aviation development across the Dominican Republic and the broader Caribbean region, Sky High Dominicana has formally opened a cutting-edge Aeronautical Training Center tailored to upskill pilots, cabin crew members, aircraft technicians, and a wide range of other aviation industry professionals. This new facility underscores the airline’s longstanding commitment to elevating operational safety standards, driving service excellence, and fostering sustainable growth of the regional aviation sector.

    Built to support up to 100 trainees and instructors simultaneously, the purpose-built center boasts six fully equipped training classrooms, a modern conference venue, dedicated administrative offices, and flexible specialized spaces designed for both academic instruction and hands-on technical practice. Aligning with global sustainability priorities, the entire facility runs on clean energy, and it is currently in the final stages of securing official certification from the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), a key regulatory milestone for aviation training institutions in the country.

    Once fully operational, the center will deliver a comprehensive suite of educational programming, covering entry-level foundational training for new industry entrants, mandatory recurrent certification courses for active professionals, specialized industry workshops, targeted skill-refresher courses, and in-depth technical instruction tailored to the unique needs of different aviation roles.

    Cesarina Beauchamps, Vice President of Sky High Dominicana, emphasized that ongoing professional education is a non-negotiable foundation for maintaining consistently safe and efficient airline operations, while also nurturing the next generation of industry leaders. She added that this new training initiative aligns perfectly with the carrier’s long-term strategic roadmap, which centers on scalable growth, industry-focused innovation, intentional professional development, and strengthening the overall competitiveness of Dominican aviation by investing in highly skilled local talent.

  • Germany’s Embassy in the Dominican Republic launches 21st Master of the Ocean

    Germany’s Embassy in the Dominican Republic launches 21st Master of the Ocean

    The German Embassy in Santo Domingo has officially kicked off preparations for the 21st iteration of Master of the Ocean, a world-renowned international watersports competition set to run from September 16 to 20, 2026, in the coastal Dominican town of Cabarete. The launch ceremony, hosted at the official German Residence in the Dominican capital, drew a cross-section of attendees including senior Dominican government officials, private sector stakeholders, elite watersports athletes, corporate sponsors, and collaborative partners, all gathering to mark the next chapter of an event that has shaped Cabarete’s cultural and recreational identity for over 20 years, while standing as a lasting symbol of the warm, cooperative friendship between Germany and the Dominican Republic.

    German Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Maike Friedrichsen opened the ceremony by outlining the multi-faceted value of the long-running competition beyond athletic competition. She emphasized that Master of the Ocean delivers widespread benefits, from growing global interest in watersports to advancing sustainable event practices, fostering cross-cultural exchange between Germany, the Dominican Republic, and visiting nations, and driving inclusive community development in coastal regions across the country. Ambassador Friedrichsen also extended special recognition to Marcus Böhm, the event’s German founder and a long-term Cabarete resident, crediting his vision and dedication for elevating a local contest into a globally recognized initiative that unites people from diverse backgrounds through a shared passion for aquatic sports.

    Beyond announcing the 2026 competition dates and details, the launch event also spotlighted the complementary Safe Coasts Dominican Republic 2026 initiative, a public safety project headed by local marine conservation non-profit Happy Dolphins DR. The program aims to provide professional safety certification for 60 new lifeguards posted at high-traffic tourist coastal destinations across the country. Its inaugural training cohort will include officers from the Dominican Tourism Police (POLITUR) and staff from Viva Miches, and is implemented in formal partnership with the Dominican Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), POLITUR, Viva Resorts by Wyndham, and CASFL. Core goals of the project include raising national water safety standards at popular recreational beaches and creating new formal employment opportunities for local community members.

    To further highlight the event’s cross-cultural mission and international character, the 2026 edition of Master of the Ocean will also feature a guest performance by popular German DJ Luka Pawelski. Backed by a growing network of both national and international collaborative partners, Master of the Ocean continues to function as a unique platform that elevates Dominican coastal tourism, grows the global profile of the nation’s watersports community, and delivers measurable positive social impact across regions that host the event each year.