Dominican Republic Expands Tourism Infrastructure Investment in Samaná

Tourism Minister David Collado reviewed the infrastructure works carried out by the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) during a visit to the province and launched the second phase of a road reconstruction program in the municipal district of Arroyo Barril.

RD$88 million road project in Arroyo Barril

The second phase of the Arroyo Barril program represents an investment of more than RD$88 million and will rehabilitate more than five kilometers of roads, including curbs and sidewalks.

The works will target communities where a number of streets are in poor condition. Beyond improving road access, the project is intended to upgrade public infrastructure in an area connected to one of the Dominican Republic’s established tourism destinations.

Collado said the objective is for the economic activity generated by tourism to produce benefits for residents in the communities surrounding tourism developments.

“The benefits of tourism should reach everyone,” the minister said, highlighting the social dimension of infrastructure investment in tourism areas.

Infrastructure investment extends beyond tourism facilities

The Arroyo Barril project follows a first phase that required an investment of more than RD$70 million. Combined, the two phases represent more than RD$158 million in road infrastructure spending in the district.

The broader investment program brings Mitur’s tourism-related infrastructure spending in Samaná during Collado’s administration to more than RD$1.9 billion, according to the figures presented during the minister’s visit.

For Samaná, infrastructure improvements are particularly relevant because tourism activity is spread across several communities rather than being concentrated in a single resort area. Better roads, sidewalks and access routes can improve mobility for residents while also supporting connections between tourism attractions and surrounding communities.

The province is one of the Dominican Republic’s best-known destinations for nature-based tourism, beaches and coastal attractions. Its tourism offer includes destinations such as Las Terrenas, Las Galeras and the Samaná Bay area, making local infrastructure an important component of the visitor experience as well as everyday life for residents.

Government seeks wider local impact from tourism

The latest project reflects a broader approach in which tourism infrastructure is being used not only to support visitor activity but also to improve public spaces and basic connectivity in communities located within tourism destinations.

That distinction is significant for Samaná, where tourism is an important part of the local economy. Investments in roads and pedestrian infrastructure can help connect communities with commercial areas, attractions and transportation routes while addressing long-standing infrastructure needs.

The second phase of the Arroyo Barril project therefore adds a local infrastructure component to the province’s wider tourism development strategy. Its impact will depend on the completion of the planned works and on how effectively improved access connects residents and visitors with the economic activity generated by the destination.

The government has not indicated in the information released so far a completion date for the new phase of the road program.