Bayahíbe as a destination, Frontier Punta Cana-Puerto Rico, Alcázar restored and Piñero's Ecoístas Awards

Dominican tourism is advancing on three distinct fronts, destination, connectivity and heritage, with clear signs that the industry is not resting. While MITUR and the Bayahíbe community sit down to plan, Frontier reinforces its bet on Punta Cana and the Alcázar de Colón regains its splendor. All in one day.

Today's brief

Bayahíbe kicks off its own working group and stops being the quiet neighbor of Punta Cana. The Ministry of Tourism, together with representatives of the community, hoteliers and local businesses, has established a permanent working group to coordinate actions to strengthen the destination comprehensively. The agreement, signed by Deputy Minister for International Cooperation Carlos Peguero and La Altagracia Governor Martina Pepén, lays the groundwork for a shared vision of sustainable development. The most relevant part? Bayahíbe is no longer treated as an appendage of Punta Cana and starts having its own voice in the tourism planning of the East. Suelo Caribe and MITUR agree on the approach.

• A permanent working group is created with MITUR, the community, hoteliers and local businesses.
• The goal is to coordinate strategic actions for the sustainable development of Bayahíbe.
• Deputy Minister Carlos Peguero leads the initiative, giving it institutional weight.

Frontier Airlines launches a daily flight between Punta Cana and Puerto Rico, putting more pressure on Eastern connectivity. The low-cost carrier adds a daily route connecting Punta Cana Airport with San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of its plan to expand eight new routes in the Caribbean and Latin America. This not only strengthens the seat supply to the DR but also opens a door for connecting tourism from the neighboring island. I see a smart move by Frontier: Puerto Rico works as a natural hub for US travelers who want the Caribbean without going through Miami. Dominican Today.

Hotels

Piñero launches the third edition of the Los + Ecoístas Awards and puts sustainability at the center of the hotel debate. The Spanish chain, with a strong presence in the Dominican Republic through its Bahía Príncipe brand, seeks to recognize companies and destinations that integrate sustainability into their business model. The call is open for hotels, tour operators and destinations across the country. It still bothers me that some see these awards as greenwashing: Piñero has been investing in decarbonization and certifications for years, and this kind of initiative puts pressure on the rest of the sector to raise the bar. Arecoa.

Airlines and travel

Frontier's daily flight to Punta Cana from Puerto Rico is more than a route: it is a bet on connecting tourism. The US airline already operates in Punta Cana, but this move confirms its strategy of using San Juan as a secondary hub in the Caribbean. For the industry professional, this means more seat capacity, yes, but also a different traveler profile: the one arriving from Puerto Rico is usually a Caribbean-savvy tourist, with higher demands and greater spending potential. Note the data: Frontier has announced eight new routes in the region, and this is the only one that directly touches Dominican territory. The rest connect islands among themselves. Dominican Today.

Destinations

David Collado delivers the restored Alcázar de Colón and switches on 2,000 lamps in the Colonial City. The tourism minister completed the restoration work on the Alcázar de Colón, one of the colonial emblems of Santo Domingo, and also inaugurated a lighting project with 2,000 lamps that, according to MITUR, seeks to boost the area's nighttime appeal. This move directly connects with the strategy of consolidating Santo Domingo as a city destination, not just a stopover. Every time investment is made in the colonial quarter, the value proposition is reinforced against competitors like Cartagena or Havana. Listín Diario.

As we anticipated yesterday in Dominicana canta a Pablo Milanés, un homenaje con acento turístico, the bet on culture as a tourist attraction continues to be one of MITUR's pillars. The restoration of the Alcázar is the older brother of that same strategy.