Ah si? No me digas!

How sad. Oh, I am so glad I experienced the DR before the boom, before the beaches were developed! I remember Cayo Levantado: nothing there but raw beauty and mosquitos and a very scary ride by rowboat from the far northern coast. That was decades ago.

Responding to rshagen :
i understand where your coming from, one of the things i used 2 love most about going to DR is that it wasnt soo develpoed like the US, you could find spots that as far as you know noone else has been to. explore the beaches, lakes, rivers and water falls without seeing hundreds of tourists taking pictures and runing around.
but though DR is developing, kind of like miami with all the hotels and beach resorts i think DR will always have its spotz, its hidden treasures, youd just have to look a little harder 2 find them.

Asi es. A proposito que ha pasado con las propiedades de los cubanos Benitez y ahora los holandeses?

Nice video!

BTW, Bani is taking part of the booming tourism industry! Check this out!:





I found this article in MLB.com:

ST. LOUIS -- Major League Baseball announced a new partnership agreement with Puerto Bani, a developing residential ballpark community in the Dominican Republic, on Tuesday morning during a news conference at MLB's All-Star FanFest.

Puerto Bani, scheduled to open in early 2012, will include a 25,000-seat baseball stadium, a scholarship-based private school run by former MLB players for talented young baseball players and world-class rehabilitation and medical facilities. The 4,000-acre residential ballpark community, located on five miles of oceanfront property about 40 minutes from Santo Domingo, will also have two inland marinas, a five-star spa and hotel resort, two golf courses, museums, performing arts centers and even an equestrian center and a polo field.

"We have a lot of kids that need help in the Dominican Republic, and this project will help us invest in their lives," said Puerto Bani president Abraham Selman."We will be able to greatly improve the conditions that they have now.

"The children of the Dominican Republic will be the beneficiaries of the project, as they are incorporated into the social aspects and overall goal of the project."

The agreement with Major League Baseball made Puerto Bani an official sponsor of 2009 MLB All-Star Week and a participating sponsor of FanFest, where representatives presented a World Baseball Classic exhibit and hosted a youth baseball clinic featuring former big leaguer Tony Batista.

"This was kind of put together on short notice because we wanted to use the platform of All-Star Week," said Tim Brosnan, MLB executive vice president of business. "But there are ongoing discussions with them now on how we extend it.

"It's always important for us to break new categories, and because of the heritage that the Dominican has to Major League Baseball, a project like this that's built around a baseball stadium and a baseball community, that has kind of a holistic approach to its development, is very important to us."


Here's the website of this proyect: http://www.puertobani.com

Here's another published article by the MLB:

Major League Baseball announces 2009 All-Star Week partnership with new residential ballpark community in Dominican Republic

Major League Baseball Properties, Major League Baseball International and Puerto Bani, a developing residential ballpark community in the Dominican Republic, today announced a new partnership agreement to make Puerto Bani an "Official Sponsor of 2009 MLB All-Star Week" in the United States and in the Dominican Republic. Puerto Bani will also serve as a "Participating Sponsor" at MLB All-Star FanFest, at which they will present a World Baseball Classic exhibit and host a youth baseball clinic featuring Tony Batista for members of the local St. Louis chapter of the Boys & Girls Club of America.
Puerto Bani will use the 2009 MLB All-Star Game, the premiere sporting event of the summer, to showcase its baseball stadium development project in the Dominican Republic. Puerto Bani, a 4,000 acre residential ballpark community located on five miles of oceanfront in the Dominican Republic about 40 minutes from Santo Domingo, is projected to open in early 2012. It plans to include a 25,000-seat "residential" baseball stadium, a scholarship-based private school for gifted young baseball players operated by former MLB players, world class rehabilitation and medical facilities, two inland marinas, as well as a Five-Star spa and hotel resort and two golf courses, an equestrian center and a polo field, and museums and performing art centers.

"Major League Baseball recognizes the importance of fostering baseball outside the U.S., and Puerto Bani is a new business venture in which baseball is at the forefront," said Tim Brosnan, executive vice president, business, Major League Baseball. "The World Baseball Classic earlier this year once again proved that baseball is a truly global sport, and it's critical that international baseball projects continue to flourish, making the sport more accessible to younger generations throughout the world."

The partnership during the All-Star Game between Major League Baseball and Puerto Bani is not only a testament to the ever-strengthening relationship between Major League Baseball and the Dominican Republic, but also an additional witness of positive impact that Major League Baseball has had among our countrymen, both players and non-players alike," said Jay Payano, Minister of Sports in the Dominican Republic.

"We are honored to be a select partner of the 2009 MLB All-Star Game. This relationship will not only help establish our community as a baseball destination, but will also allow us to act in harmony with MLB as we collectively promote and enhance the game of baseball and the lives of those it touches through employment and educational opportunities. Puerto Bani, the Dominican Republic, will be the premier, luxury, oceanfront sporting, cultural and leisure destination on what is already the most visited island in the Caribbean," said Abraham Selman, President of Puerto Bani.

About Major League Baseball Properties
The Major League Baseball Clubs formed Major League Baseball Properties (MLBP) in 1966 as the its agent for marketing and trademark licensing and protection. Major League Baseball Properties is responsible for managing consumer licensing activities, developing national advertising campaigns, cultivating sponsorship opportunities with major consumer brands and corporations, growing the game and the business of baseball outside the United States and creating national marketing programs in conjunction with Clubs, broadcast rightsholders and national sponsors. MLBP also operates a full-service video and audio production unit (Major League Baseball Productions), a publishing division and stock photo licensing agency, and manages logistics for the All-Star Game and World Series as well as all other special events. For more information on Major League Baseball, log on to www.MLB.com.

About MLB International
Major League Baseball International (MLBI) focuses on the worldwide growth of baseball and the promotion of Major League Baseball and MLB Club trademarks and copyrights through special events, broadcasting, market development, licensing and sponsorship initiatives. MLBI is committed to showcasing the world's best baseball talent through international events around the globe. Broadcast in 233 countries and territories, Major League Baseball game telecasts are re-transmitted in 17 different languages. MLBI executes and supports game development programs targeting players and coaches from grassroots to elite levels. With an extensive list of marketing partners worldwide, MLBI continues to grow its position as a leader in the international marketplace. MLBI is supported in its mission through presences in Beijing, New York, London, Sydney and Tokyo.

About 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, July 14 in St. Louis and will feature the best of the American League taking on the top players of the National League. Major League Baseball has responded to United States of America President Barack Obama's call for community service through "United We Serve," a program which encourages Americans to engage in sustained and meaningful community service. Building up to the excitement of the All-Star Game, Major League Baseball will conduct a wide variety of special events and charitable activities for fans both inside and outside of Busch Stadium. At the ballpark, the events will include Taco Bell All-Star Sunday on Sunday, July 12 featuring the XM All-Star Futures Game and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, and Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13 featuring the State Farm Home Run Derby. Outside of the ballpark, fans will have an opportunity to experience All-Star Summer through a variety of special events including Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest, the five-day interactive fan festival; the MLB All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi benefiting Stand Up To Cancer, a free concert for fans under The Gateway Arch featuring Sheryl Crow; the All-Star Charity 5K & Fun Run presented by Sports Authority and Nike, a charity run on a baseball-themed route to benefit three cancer organizations; and the All-Star Game Red Carpet Show presented by Chevy, a free parade of All-Stars leading into Busch Stadium. The Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally on FOX Sports and will be shown around the world by Major League Baseball International. For more information about 2009 All-Star Summer, visit www.allstargame.com.

About Puerto Bani Properties
Puerto Bani Properties is a multinational real estate development company focused on the design, build and marketing of upscale, oceanfront, sporting themed, leisure communities. With the anticipated groundbreaking of the 25,000 seat Residential Stadium™ in 2010, Puerto Bani looks forward to placing a bid for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Puerto Bani Properties believes in responsible development and reinvests a portion of its profits to the enhancement and enrichment of the surrounding communities via scholarship based schools, improvement of local infrastructure and agricultural work programs. For more information please contact Brent B. Woodson at 321-213-1965 or visit our website at www.puertobani.com.

SOURCE: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090714&content_id=5871386&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

A touristical project located in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic. Monte Cristi is located in the Northwest region of the country.

Visit the website: www.colombusbay.com

Wow, every year slowly, Dominican Republic is developing for the better, and as we work together, we will see more wonders, and yes we have our little hidden treasures as S1CAR10 said, and it should be preserved, but nicely. I travel to D.R. every other year, and it is always getting better and developing nicely. Thank you for the pictures, my goodness, I am enjoying all of the pictures.

YES CibaoDominicana I AM ENJOYING THEM TOO, THEY ARE WONDERFUL.