The Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), in partnership with the Jarabacoa Tourism Cluster, hosted a familiarization trip for journalists and travel professionals to showcase the attractions of Jarabacoa, a mountain town in the central Dominican Republic widely known as the “City of Eternal Spring.”
The initiative is part of the government’s ongoing strategy to diversify the country’s tourism offering by promoting emerging destinations beyond traditional beach resorts. During the visit, participants explored Jarabacoa’s accommodation options, outdoor adventures, local gastronomy, and cultural experiences designed to appeal to domestic and international travelers.
Experiencing Jarabacoa’s Nature and Local Culture
The itinerary included a visit to Café Monte Alto, where guests learned about the coffee production process from cultivation and harvesting to roasting, offering an introduction to one of the Dominican Republic’s most important agricultural products.
Participants also toured several accommodations, including Jarabacoa River Club & Resort, Hotel Gran Jimenoa, Pinar Dorado, and Café Colao. The properties highlighted the destination’s range of lodging options, many of which are surrounded by mountains, rivers, and forests that make Jarabacoa a popular escape for travelers seeking cooler temperatures and outdoor recreation.
Local Cuisine Plays a Central Role
Food was another focus of the familiarization trip, reflecting the growing importance of gastronomy within the Dominican tourism industry. Visitors sampled traditional Dominican cuisine, whose influences include Taíno, Spanish, and African culinary traditions.
Among the featured stops were Parador Corazón de Jesús, known for its wood-fired ribs, the local branch of Barra Payán, and the well-known Ivon Ice Cream, a longtime favorite among residents and visitors to Jarabacoa.
Business Event Connects Tourism Stakeholders
As part of the program, tourism authorities organized a business networking event at the Fernando Arturo de Meriño Agroforestry University (UAFAM). The gathering brought together representatives from the tourism clusters of Jarabacoa, La Vega, and Constanza, along with tour operators, travel agencies, hotel representatives, entrepreneurs, and tourism service providers.
The event featured presentations on the municipality’s tourism offerings and exhibitions of local products and services, allowing participants to establish new commercial contacts and explore business opportunities within the region.
Gladys Ramírez, president of the Jarabacoa Ecotourism Cluster, and Ángel Pichardo of MITUR’s Domestic Tourism Directorate emphasized the municipality’s strong potential as one of the Dominican Republic’s leading destinations for ecotourism and adventure travel, citing its diverse attractions and expanding tourism infrastructure.
The familiarization trip forms part of a broader promotional campaign through which MITUR continues to support the development and visibility of emerging tourism destinations across the Dominican Republic, reinforcing efforts to diversify the country’s tourism product for international and domestic visitors alike.