New sand for Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is spending $25 million dollars improving its beaches to make them more attractive to visitors.

It is part of a wider plan to boost tourism as officials are worried that cuts in flights from the US and other problems such as the recent power cuts could seriously hit the number of people interested in investing in the country, the second largest island in the Caribbean.

Seven beaches will be spruced up. The project includes bringing in 1.4 million cubic metres of sand and demolishing buildings judged to be damaging the coastal environment.

The project which gets underway later this year will focus on Caleta de La Romana, Palenque and Najayo de San Cristóbal, San Rafael and El Quemaito de Barahona, Juan Bolaños and Costa Verde de Montecristi.

'We want to guarantee excellent conditions and develop our tourism industry further,' said a spokesman for the Tourism Ministry. Other improvements are also under consideration. The construction of a cable car to Jarabacoa and Santiago is one major project being examined.

The spokesman pointed out that there are a large number of new developments including golf courses and spas underway with investment from a number of countries including Mexico and the US.

It is vital for the country to maintain growing tourism levels in order to attract further investment as numbers push up rental yields.

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