Carnival to build US$65 million cruise terminal in Puerto Plata

posted on: Aug 13 2011 12:47 by The Reporter. Viewed 1785 times.

Carnival Corporation have announced the construction of a modern cruise ship terminal at Maimon, Puerto Plata, at a cost of US$65 million and which will generate about $30 million in the first year of operation.

The announcement was made by Giora Israel, senior vice president of the leading world cruise company in a ceremony which was led by Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia.

The tourism executive described the work as a high-impact tourism project for the province, which will be ready to receive two ships simultaneously with at least four thousand passengers and 1000 crew, and will begin construction on October 1 next year.

"This project has successfully secured its future and Carnival Corporation as well as make an investment of $ 65 million guaranteed the massive presence of cruise ships and passengers, unlike a terminal built by the Dominican state," said the Minister of Tourism.

Javier Garcia said Carnival Corporation unites all sectors of the region working in one direction, and that according to preliminary studies in the first year would bring 250,000 cruise passengers, and the following would reach 600,000 vacationers, a far bigger number than that received in the country today.

"In its heyday Puerto Plata received 174000 passengers from cruise ships that arrived at its port, Carnival says the first year 250,000, and in the coming years, this amount may increase to 600,000, which means that Puerto Plata will receive more than received across the country today," he said.

The terminal will be built in a tourist area of ​​50,000 square meters in the Bay of Maimon, for a period of two years, will have shops, market, park area, aquatic environment, amenities and area public, generating around 800 jobs.

Executives of the work highlighted the qualities of the area and the beautiful surroundings, the facilities for passengers to move to the city of Puerto Plata and other parts of the region, but especially the environmental impact and respect for the International Code for Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS). The speed of the work is mainly due to the investment does not require any funding and the facilities offered by the Dominican government to investors, bringing together all sectors involved in the planning and construction of the project from the initial permit until the end will have the backing of President Leonel Fernandez.

CONSTRUCTION AND MOTIVATION
The study submitted by the investor plans to increase spending by cruise passengers $ 43 to $ 95 per day, assuming that the average cost is $ 97 per passenger and the terminal will have all the facilities for passengers.

The terminal will be built and operated by Carnival Corporation, but other cruise lines will play Puerto Plata tourist destination. The doors were also open to investors who want to be part of the terminal in the complementary offer for visitors.

Giora Israel revealed that although Puerto Plata has conditions as the target aspect was the motivation of the Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia, during the celebration of the XVII Cruise held last October in Santo Domingo.

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