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A reverse for powerful interests who would devour its “virgin” state

SANTO DOMINGO.- An expert of New York’s Columbia University said the area of  Bahia de las Aguilas must remain in its present virgin state to prevent the impact of development.

Geoffrey Heal, of Columbia’s School of Business, was invited by the Government to explore the investment possibilities in the southeast coast near Pedernales. He said what’s needed there is low intensity tourism.

He recognized that Dominican Republic still has intact environmental zones, and noted in contrast the intense development in the eastern area of La Altagracia province.

He said low intensity tourism is preferable since the country should rely more on tourism of quality than of quantity.

Heal’s lecture, “Bahia de las Aguilas: Nature and market,” in the Global Foundation Democracy and Development (Funglode), was attended y president Leonel Fernandez.

After describing Bahia de las Aguilas’ beauty as “impressive” and an interesting place for quality tourism, the expert noted that it’s a difficult zone to reach. He said the hotels that could be built there shouldn’t have more than 50 rooms.

Sustainability

Heal said ecological or quality is the world’s fastest growing tourism and moves around 1.0 billion dollars.

He said high quality tourism is better because it requires less investment in infrastructure, it’s more profitable and has less impact in the natural capital, and its sustainability provides profits longer.

He added that consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the environmental impact and demand sustainable practices.

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COMMENTS
18 comment(s)
Written by: gouletcolonial This user is banned, 1 Dec 2008 7:50 AM
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
what no Starbucks in Barahona ?
Written by: texasshoe, 1 Dec 2008 7:54 AM
From: United States, Richmond, Texas
" Bahia de las Aguilas must remain in its present virgin state to prevent the impact of development"-

This guy has deep insight, no doubt
Written by: generoso, 1 Dec 2008 7:56 AM
From: United States, DR
Correctamente!
This incredible and unpolluted quasi-virgin paradise is to be preserved for allocentric nature loving tourists that are into enjoying the way things are at present.
To allow the scavengers to come in and start building cheap disposable hotels and ruining the delicate natural balance that exists there would be a crime and a shame that would spoil the
area for our later generations to come and enjoy.
As one who has been blessed to spend a day at the most beautiful Dominican Republic beach, hands down, although the last few miles are very hard even on four wheel vehicles, the best way to visit this beach is inland all the way to Pedernales close to the old Alcoa bauxite mines and then on by small boat.
While you visit in the area also stop before at the "Hoyo del Pelempito" for a treat and the magnetic "polo" near Cabral.
Written by: gmiller261, 1 Dec 2008 8:55 AM
From: United States

He'd have to draw a picture with crayons for the politician to any idea of what he is saying.
Written by: dreadlocks, 1 Dec 2008 9:34 AM
From: United States
thank you, generoso! at least one person gets what i am trying to say. tourism does not have to be characterised by some multinational conglomerate building humongous structures on the cheap, milking the area, and leaving when the things start to fall apart, like Puerto Plata. there are no monstrous hotels at Mystic Seaport in connecticut. classy, boutique hotels attract a better range of tourists, who spend more, and use less. the strain on the ecology and environment occasioned by these behemoths is not worth it in the long run.
Written by: generoso, 1 Dec 2008 10:50 AM
From: United States, DR
Thank you professor dread for explaining to me the term "allocentric".
I have lived in the DR since I was a little boy and as a "beach coinnoisseur"I have witnessed the depredation, littering and pollution that man made development and careless municipal authorities
have brought on to our beautiful beaches. Even Boca Chica beach was pristine and
sparkling clean a few years back. Now is a cesspool. The same with the public Guayacanes, Juan Dolio, Bayahibe,
El Portillo, Las Terrenas and others.
The small boats and jet skis leak the polluting sludge and oils in the beach bottom and make the sand spongy and dirty. The visitors throw plastic bags, dirty dishes, garbage of all kinds, cigaret butts, on the sand with a carelessness that is unforgiving.
Whenever I go I pick up empty bottles and cans and take them in a garbage bag out of the area.
On any given sunday except in winter the locals come in on chartered buses and leave a trail of garbage so severe that it makes you sad.
Written by: dreadlocks, 1 Dec 2008 11:02 AM
From: United States
"professor dread"; now we are getting a little carried away. but regarding your post. sadly, it is these mass tourism resorts which attract the types of people who degrade the area. when you are on Boca Chica beach, with a million other people meandering around, your inclination to maintain the cleanliness of the area is not the same as if you are on a little cove in Cabrera, with only a few folks. the low brow types who pay 500 dollars for a week, all inclusive, are just as rough hewn as the dominicans they criticise.they throw rubbish just like the locals. as to the motorised aquatic recreational vehicles, the pollution and oil spillage is a real problem. i hope they leave some areas for small , bungalow type ventures. this multi story, warehouse type motif gets old in a real hurry. it does not have to be glitz and glamor, all the time. there are hotels in the caribbean built around mineral spas which have been there for close to a century, and still going strong.
Written by: dreadlocks, 1 Dec 2008 11:08 AM
From: United States
they are as rustic as they can be, with no gargoyles and fountains near the reception desk. but their occupancy rate is steady, because they attract a niche market. some people go away to get away. they do not want to feel as though they are in Times Square, with sand. they do not want to be in a dining room with 200 other people, with the guy behind them drunk as a skunk, belching sausage gas on their daughters. that area is perfect for a man made lake , stocked with fish; dad and son could spend quiet hours angling the day away, and talking about man things! what a way to bond!
Written by: generoso, 1 Dec 2008 11:36 AM
From: United States, DR
I wholeheartedly agree. While I was at Bahia de Las Aguilas I witnessed many colorful and playful small fish and tortoises in the water and on the beach. And was regaled by the pretty sight of a tour
caravan of four wheelers of college age American and European nymphets that came to bathe "au naturel" with me filming them with great dexterity an at a great speed.
Nevertheless the area is a true paradise and fragile ecosystem that should be conserved and protected for the next generations to come.
Written by: dreadlocks, 1 Dec 2008 12:16 PM
From: United States
why did i know that someone such as yourself would have had a camera handy? mere happenstance, you say? i beg to differ.
Written by: gouletcolonial This user is banned, 1 Dec 2008 12:20 PM
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
yes dread you could give them instruction on how to avoid she males as many as you have encountered it would be enlightening for them.....and Prof. Piggy I think it was ambidexterity to be able to film and choke your chicken at the same time from your hiding place on the beach......Anyway this is a warning to both of you ......Stay away from the Gattita she does not want to see either one of you again !
Written by: generoso, 1 Dec 2008 12:30 PM
From: United States, DR
"choke my chicken"that is a new one from the ancient fart.
Hey GC do you know that the ancient chinese knew that for men over 50 to spend their life essence
and you know what I mean is the greatest contributor to old age senility and early death?
You must conserve your "life essence or sperm" and dispense it frugally.
You can have "gatita" if she is fond of ultra white wrinkled gas producing specimens with the gout,
which I doubt.
Written by: yumnuk3, 1 Dec 2008 9:49 PM
From: United States, ø„¸¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨¸„ø¤º°¨
It's a young man's world and always has been. ...Gatita needs a man in his prime.

Written by: gouletcolonial This user is banned, 1 Dec 2008 9:51 PM
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
well that is certainly not the dirty old disgusting clown generoso.....he is way over the hill...think Aqualung
Written by: yumnuk3, 1 Dec 2008 9:55 PM
From: United States, ø„¸¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨¸„ø¤º°¨
Business is about to pick up.
Written by: generoso, 1 Dec 2008 11:14 PM
From: United States, DR
GC
You mean oxygen tank don't you? Aqua lung is for underwater breathing stupido!
By the way since you use a walker to get around nowadays and you move around so much hiding from the Castro brothers how the hell you get your social security and disability checks mailed and to where?
Are you the man in his prime what? Prime coffin?
GC you have one foot in the grave and one in your unimaginative and cynical mouth!
You wouldn't know what to with gatita if your few days left on life depended on it!
Written by: gouletcolonial This user is banned, 2 Dec 2008 1:18 AM
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
No I meant Aqualung stupido
Sitting on a park bench
eyeing little girls with bad intent.
Snot running down his nose
greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.
Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run.
Feeling like a dead duck
spitting out pieces of his broken luck.

Sun streaking cold
an old man wandering lonely.
Taking time
the only way he knows.
Leg hurting bad,
as he bends to pick a dog-end
he goes down to the bog
and warms his feet.

Feeling alone
the army's up the rode
salvation à la mode and
a cup of tea.
Aqualung my friend
don't start away uneasy
you poor old sod, you see, it's only me.
Do you still remember
December's foggy freeze
when the ice that
clings on to your beard is
screaming agony.
And you snatch your rattling last breaths
with deep-sea-diver sounds,
and the flowers bloom like
madness in the spring.
Written by: gouletcolonial This user is banned, 2 Dec 2008 1:20 AM
From: Cuba, it is a secret the censors are looking for me
Ohohoho

Feeling alone
The army's up the road
Salvation a la mode and
A cup of tea.
Aqualung my friend
Don't start away uneasy
You poor old sod, you see, it's only me.......AQUALUNG >>>>JETHRO TULL
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