Senate declares La Romana an ecotourism province

The Senate approved on second reading the bill declaring La Romana an ecotourism province, with 21 votes in favor. The piece, as reported by Dominican Today, includes the creation of a provincial regulatory council to organize touristic land use.

The reading is clear: La Romana is no longer just Casa de Campo and the cruise terminal. Bayahíbe, Catalina, the National Park of the East and the coastal strip enter a framework that could unlock permits, attract green funds and organize the real estate pressure already felt in the area. A properly built regulatory council is a tool for money to reach projects with environmental criteria instead of landing at random.

The addressable challenge is execution. MITUR, the Ministry of Environment and the private sector should sit down fast to define rules, because a declaration without budget or roadmap stays on paper. With a plan and funding, La Romana has room to add a nature offering today concentrated in Samaná and Pedernales. That is a real opportunity for tour operators, boutique hotels and the communities of Bayahíbe.