Abinader attends the inauguration of the Dreams and Secrets Playa Esmeralda hotels

El Seibo, Miches.– President Luis Abinader participated this Tuesday in the inauguration of the Dreams and Secrets Playa Esmeralda hotels, two new tourist complexes built with an investment of RD$23 billion, which represent a historic boost for the economic and hotel development of the municipality of Miches. With the opening of these projects, the Government continues to promote the transformation of the Eastern region as a world-class tourist hub, generating jobs, attracting investment, and consolidating Miches as one of the destinations with the greatest projection in the country. During the event, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, stated that Miches is now officially "the new tourist destination of the Dominican Republic," thanks to the public-private partnership that has allowed the construction of more than 2,000 new hotel rooms in recent years, including the recent opening of the new Inversora Playa Esmeralda complex. The minister recalled that the development of Miches began as a vision of a group of young entrepreneurs gathered in ProMiches, who presented the potential of the destination to the Government. Collado reported that among the works assumed by the State, he mentioned the intervention of the beach, road accesses, the aqueduct, and the implementation of the solid waste system, pillars that allowed to make viable the tourist investment in the area and highlighted the immediate success of the newly inaugurated complex, which already exceeds 80% occupancy, with projections to reach 85% in December, despite not having a nearby airport.

Historical Tourism Records

The Minister of Tourism presented record figures that consolidate the historic moment that Dominican tourism is experiencing. He reported that in November, more than 700,000 tourists arrived in the country by air and 300,000 by cruise ship, far exceeding all previous figures for that month, and added that for December, projections indicate the arrival of 1.4 million visitors, combining air tourists and cruise passengers. In addition, Minister Collado announced new investments, such as the asphalt plan for all the streets of Miches, the reconstruction of the pier affected by storms, and future interventions aimed at ensuring that the benefits of tourism reach the communities. He argued that for development to be sustainable, wealth cannot remain within hotels; it must generate opportunities for taxi drivers, artisans, entrepreneurs, and families.

International promotion and new stage

The minister confirmed that Miches will be one of the prioritized destinations in the international promotion of the country, where he informed that President Abinader will participate in FITUR, promoting Miches and Pedernales as the new world-class tourist destinations. Meanwhile, Gabriel Felip, President of LATAM & Caribbean of Hyatt Inclusive Collection, highlighted the value of the project, which began in the midst of the pandemic in 2020, as an example of vision, confidence, and resilience. "This development was born at a time of enormous uncertainty, but a group of people decided to believe in the future of Miches and bet on the potential of this land. Today we celebrate the result of that commitment," he said. Felip reported that the new hotels, which together exceed one thousand rooms, include more than 10 restaurants, 7 bars, and are built on land that exceeds 500,000 square meters. He pointed out that with their opening, Secrets and Dreams generate about 1,600 direct jobs, a figure that will rise to 2,000 in the coming months, in addition to thousands of indirect jobs. Felip also announced the intention to continue expanding to new destinations in the country, including Puerto Plata, where he assured that they will resume significant investments. Also, the president of Inversora Playa Esmeralda, Salvador Luque, expressed that this day marks a milestone for the company and for the region. He added that the project is built on the former coconut plantation of Don Milton Bolívar Soto, a renowned pioneering businessman in Miches. He recalled that during the pandemic, progress was made on designs and permits, while construction work began in 2022. In total, more than 3,000 workers and 400 national and international companies participated in the execution of the work, many from nearby communities. The businessman expressed his desire for Miches to continue developing responsibly, with strong institutions, strengthened education, guaranteed essential services, an expanded hospital, and energy stability to consolidate its growth. As part of the commitment to local development, more than 370 residents of Miches and El Seibo were hired and trained by the National Institute for Technical Professional Training (Infotep) to join the different service areas. The two new complexes, operating under the Hyatt Inclusive Collection, bring a total of 1,000 rooms, distributed in 500 suites at Secrets Playa Esmeralda, exclusively for adults, and 500 rooms and suites at Dreams Playa Esmeralda, aimed at families and multigenerational groups. Both properties stand in front of the virgin beaches of Miches, reinforcing the luxury hotel offer in the region. The design of the hotels stands out for offering modern and high-level spaces, where all rooms have private balconies or terraces, many with sea views and, in the case of Secrets, with swim-out suite options with direct access to the water. The proposal seeks to elevate the visitor's experience and position itself within the premium segment of the Caribbean. As part of the integral development concept, guests of both resorts will be able to enjoy a shared central plaza, which functions as a meeting point with restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment areas. This common space was conceived to energize internal commercial activity and diversify the experiences of visitors within the complex. Regarding services, Secrets Playa Esmeralda offers a world-class spa, specialty restaurants, exclusive bars, and areas designed for weddings and private events, in an adults-only environment. On its part, Dreams Playa Esmeralda incorporates facilities for the whole family, including water parks, kids' and teens' clubs, multiple dining options, and spaces for meetings and celebrations, establishing itself as an ideal option for intergenerational vacations. This development is part of the strategy to transform Miches and Playa Esmeralda into one of the new luxury and sustainability tourism hubs in the country, supporting the government's vision of promoting investments that boost economic growth, generate jobs, and diversify the national tourism offer.