FEDA promotes agritourism to breathe new life into the destination

JSBy Joan SanzCurated by Joan Sanz. · August 28, 2026 · Follow on LinkedIn

Voice reading · ~2 min

Dominican tourism is starting to smell like the countryside. I'm not the one saying it, FEDA is, and they've set their sights on agritourism as a way to stop depending only on sun and beach. The FEDA bet aims to do two things: make rural communities benefit from tourism and give our agricultural products more international presence. Keep in mind, this is not about planting a vegetable patch and charging admission.

In my opinion, this is one of the most sensible ideas I've seen come from the public sector in a long time. Why? Because it turns visitors into brand ambassadors: someone who walks through a coffee plantation in Jarabacoa or a cacao farm in San Francisco will take that coffee home and ask for it in their own country. That's a country branding strategy in its purest form.

The best part is that it doesn't take anything away from Punta Cana or Bávaro, which remain the engine of the industry. But a mature destination can't live off a single picture. This opens the door for tourists to stay two extra days and discover another Dominican Republic. And that extra spending stays in the communities, not in the hotel chain. In my book, that's a win-win.

Quick questions

What is the agritourism FEDA is promoting?

It's a tourism model that combines visits to rural areas with experiencing local farming production, like coffee or cacao plantations, to diversify what the country offers.

Why is FEDA pushing this now?

To diversify Dominican tourism beyond sun and beach, strengthen rural communities, and use visits as a showcase for Dominican agricultural products to grow internationally.

Does agritourism benefit rural communities?

Directly. Visitors generate income that stays locally: they pay for tours, buy fresh produce and use local services, activating the rural economy.

Does agritourism compete with Punta Cana?

No, it complements it. A beach tourist can extend their trip to explore inland, raising their total spending and spreading tourism benefits across more regions.

How does this help agricultural exports?

Tourists who see how products are grown become advocates. When they return home, they look for the coffee or cacao they tasted, boosting demand and the country's brand.

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