Dominican Republic maritime infrastructure development

The Dominican Republic is advancing maritime infrastructure projects to bolster national security and support tourism growth. In late September, the Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM) announced remodeling works at the Port of La Romana to strengthen security cooperation with the Armed Forces and accommodate larger cruise vessels, such as Oasis-class ships.

By mid-October, development continued with the Manzanillo Port terminal reaching 63.7% overall progress. Concurrently, cruise activity remains high in other regions, with tens of thousands of passengers arriving at terminals in Puerto Plata and Pedernales, contributing significant revenue to the local economy.

Between October 12 and 15, cruise terminals in Puerto Plata and Pedernales received a total of 45,627 passengers across 11 vessels, according to APORDOM. Puerto Plata served as the primary destination, accounting for 90.6% of total arrivals. Specifically, the Amber Cove terminal hosted six ships with 27,707 passengers, while the Taíno Bay terminal recorded four ships with 13,628 visitors. In Pedernales, the Cabo Rojo terminal received one vessel carrying 4,292 passengers.

Alejandro Campos, executive director of APORDOM, noted that this activity provides opportunities to stimulate local economies and generate income for small and medium-sized businesses. Based on an estimated average expenditure of $100 per passenger, the movement is projected to generate approximately $4,562,700 for the receiving destinations.