Catch up on the latest developments shaping Samaná and the Dominican Republic — from major infrastructure and tourism projects to economic growth, foreign investment, and increasing international attention.
Renovated Samaná Boardwalk Opens to the Public
President Luis Abinader and Tourism Minister David Collado inaugurated the renovated Santa Bárbara de Samaná boardwalk following an investment of more than RD$553 million.
The reconstruction covered 1.3 kilometers of waterfront and included:
bicycle paths,
viewing platforms,
a playground,
sales and service modules,
improved storm drainage.
The project was designed both to support tourism and to improve public space and flood resilience.
Santa Bárbara Parish Reopens After RD$24 Million Renovation
The Santa Bárbara Parish reopened following a RD$24 million restoration covering approximately 2,240 square meters.
Improvements included mahogany cladding in the presbytery, stained-glass doors depicting the twelve apostles, a new air-conditioned sacristy, ramps, solar panels, lighting, and upgraded external areas.
The project is also intended to support religious tourism.
Construction Begins on $68 Million Cruise Terminal
President Abinader formally launched construction of the Samaná Port tourist terminal at Arroyo Barril.
The $68 million project will transform the former Puerto Duarte cargo facility into a modern cruise terminal.
The project, described in the original article as the country’s first development under a Public-Private Partnership model, will include cultural and leisure areas and piers for two cruise ships.
Authorities expected the terminal to create more than 1,000 jobs.
Arajet Launches Newark Route and Expands to Argentina
Arajet began daily service from Santo Domingo to Newark, marking the first connection between a Dominican airline and the New York City area.
The inaugural flight on June 16 carried 185 passengers, including Tourism Minister David Collado.
Arajet also announced a route from Córdoba, Argentina, to Punta Cana beginning in November with three weekly flights.
Dominican Economy Grows 3.1%
Preliminary Central Bank figures showed that the Dominican economy expanded 3.1% year-on-year in May, up from 1.7% in April.
Mining grew 21%, while construction returned to positive growth at 1.9%.
Cumulative economic growth from January through May reached 2.6%.
Dominican Republic Leads Caribbean in Foreign Investment
According to the UNCTAD World Investment Report cited in the article, the Dominican Republic attracted $4.5 billion in foreign direct investment in 2024.
This represented nearly half of the FDI received by small island developing states and maintained the country’s position as the Caribbean’s leading FDI destination for a third consecutive year.
Dominican Republic and EU Launch Sargassum Valorization Group
The Dominican Republic and European Union created a joint working group focused on turning sargassum into usable economic value chains.
Authorities invited proposals involving collection, monitoring, and processing.
The initiative planned to make 50,000 tons available in 2026 and 100,000 tons in 2027 for pilot projects.
The New York Times Highlights Las Terrenas
On June 16, The New York Times published a feature by Shannon Sims describing Las Terrenas as the “promised land of the Caribbean.”
The article highlighted the peninsula’s mountains, beaches, whale-watching areas, waterfalls, and the relatively informal character of Las Terrenas.
International visibility is increasing quickly.
The challenge for Samaná is to ensure that the growth accompanying that visibility does not undermine the nature and culture attracting attention in the first place.