Barahona, Dominican Republic. - The Tourism Ministry (Sectur) launched the Barahona Tourism Territorial Zoning Plan 2015, which includes the construction of a cable car and other works to spur tourism and ease unemployment and poverty in that province and the southwest.

Sectur Planning director Maribel Villalona presented the Plan’s strategy, which was debated with the sectors linked to Barahona’s tourism activity during a two day workshop  

In addition to the construction of the cable car, the Plan includes excursions and alpinism in the zone’s mountains; the conversion of the port into a cruise ship terminal; the embellishment of the Malecon and surrounding areas; the regeneration of the Quemaíto and San Rafael beaches, and reconstruction  the sanitary system.

The infrastructure works are expected to increase flights to the Maria Montez International Airport and spur the local hotels.

Villalona said more than 100 ecotourism routes would be established between connect the Jaragua, Sierra de Bahoruco, and Sierra de Neyba National parks, the lagoons Terrussio, Cabral and Trudillé, Bahia de las Aguilas, Pelempito canyon, Magnetic Pole, Enriquillo Lake, Cabrito Island and Fonde lake at Malpasse, Haiti.

The workshop’s participants agreed that since the province’s main product is ecotourism, foreign and native visitors should be offered the opportunity to observe its extraordinary forests, high mountains, its wealth of flora and fauna and spectacular beaches, within the wider Enriquillo Region.