Today’s travelers take many things into consideration when choosing a destination. Most people know the Dominican Republic for its beautiful beaches, but it is a land full of surprises, too. Natural attractions here are full of contrasts—from the highest to the lowest point in the Caribbean to the mountains, beaches, dunes, caves, waterfalls, abundant marine life, and flora.
Here are three ways that sustainable tourism is alive and well in the Dominican Republic:
• Puntacana Group’s vision is positively impacting the entire Punta Cana and neighboring communities of Verón and Higüey. The company is a pioneer in the tourism industry and a master in innovation. Through joint efforts with the Dominican Government and non-for-profit organizations, this is improving tourism as well as the quality of life of the less fortunate, while protecting the environment in an unprecedented way.
• A public-private coalition is working on the conservation and restoration of marine biodiversity in the Southeast Reef Marine Sanctuary, an area of almost 8,000 km2, making it one of the largest marine protected areas in the Caribbean. This also improves tourist attractions, creates new jobs and opportunities in the fishing and eco-tourism sectors, and increases resilience in confronting climate change.
• The Center for Sustainability was established through a collaboration with Cornell University. It addresses environmental and social challenges in Caribbean tourism and involves prestigious institutions such as Harvard University and Roger Williams University. The center protects and restores the Dominican Republic’s unique species and develops innovative sustainability projects. The Foundation shares the lessons learned from its projects, both their successes and their failures, through various environmental education programs.
Beyond these spotlights, visitors to the Dominical Republic will find programs as varied as coral conservation programs, zero waste initiatives, sea turtle conservation, and vermiculture programs.
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