With the presence of President Luis Abinader , the construction of the cruise port and tourist terminal began , with an investment of US$22 million, from the Temarsan Consortium, with Dominican capital.

The terminal is expected to begin operating in 18 months, and plans to receive more than 500 thousand passengers annually. Now about 50 thousand arrive.

In that sense, Federico Schad reported that during construction 150 direct jobs and 500 indirect jobs will be generated. The operation will create 100 direct and thousands of indirect jobs throughout the province, due to the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of visitors throughout its territory and in the area around Samaná Bay .

He indicated that the average expense per passenger in Caribbean ports is US$98, and Samana Bayport will have the capacity to receive 10,000 passengers daily, so the daily economic impact of operating will be approximately one million dollars.

“These income would go directly to you, the guides, the owners of maritime transport, the taxi drivers, motorcycle conchos, tour operators, restaurants, artisans, gift shops and other businesses. In this way this project will improve the quality of life of many people,” he assured.

He stated that he sees “as a triumph for all of Samaná”, the Samana Bayport, a cruise port and maritime terminal that will transform the experience of visitors, because in addition its strategic position in the bay will offer the port and tourist facilities necessary to satisfy the needs operational, which now do not exist.

He explained that the port will be able to handle 3 simultaneous cruises; one with a capacity of up to 5,000 passengers docked at the dock with state-of-the-art technology named “Seawalk”, and 2 cruise ships at the anchorage of the bay.

«The Norwegian Seawalk technology is a floating dock with the capacity to operate with cruise ships of up to 5 thousand passengers, which can be retracted, or stored, when not in use, which minimizes its environmental and visual impact, compared to traditional breakwaters. This innovative technology is already used in several ports in Europe, and will be used for the first time in the Dominican Republic at the Samana bayport,” he added.

He also said that “the terminal will have several docks, an information center for tourists, facilities and services specific to these operations, a recreation area, green areas, a transportation center (for dispatching excursions, taxis, land transportation and parking), offices.” government and first aid center.

Schad expressed that the province of Samaná has unique natural riches, its bay is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, and it is located in a strategic place on cruise routes, because more than a million cruise ships pass off its coast annually. cruise passengers.

With these resources, he indicated, and with the cruise port, a journey begins to become one of the main cruise destinations in the Caribbean; and pointed out that the province has received important investments in road infrastructure, airport, hotels, marina, real estate projects, but now it will have a cruise port and tourist terminal that will significantly increase the capacity and number of ships it receives and improve the quality of the services offered to visitors.

The businessman explained that in the last 17 years Samaná received 700 ships and 1.5 million passengers, without adequate port facilities to maintain a high level of visitor satisfaction, and limited the type of cruises that we can receive in the bay. Now, in addition to its attractions in Samana, it will have appropriate facilities to receive more cruise passengers.

Federico Schad thanked President Luis Abinader for the presence and support offered to the project;  Jean Luis Rodríguez , executive director of Apordom ; Alejandro Campos president of the Apordom Council; Nelson Núñez , mayor of Santa Bárbara; the board of directors of the Samaná Tourism Cluster and the community.

Also to the cruise line executives present; Roy Milan Schultheis of Norwegian ; Wendy McDonald, Melissa Morales and Jaime Castillo of Royal Caribbean .