The Dominican Republic is without doubt one of the nations within the Caribbean welcoming the rise of cruise tourism with open arms — and newer ports.
In March, 2025, development started on a brand new cruise ship terminal on the Port of Barahona — a venture that may permit cruise ships to dock within the space for the primary time.
Barahona is situated on the island’s southern coast, which is mostly thought-about to be very distant and inaccessible — a difficulty that new cruise ports are slowly fixing for vacationers.
The present port is barely constructed to deal with cargo ships and smaller vessels — however by 2026 it is going to be capable of present docking choices for medium-sized cruise ships.
The cruise business has had a huge effect on the financial system within the Dominican Republic — and increasing the choices on the Port of Barahona, it can remodel and create a serious vacationer vacation spot within the southern area of the nation.
The brand new cruise terminal will value $11.37 million — and can function a 5,980 sq. meter central plaza and a gazebo space for parking automobiles and buses.
At present, the development space for the terminal venture is 6,329 sq. meters — whereas the intervention space, the place the central plaza and industrial areas will likely be, is an enormous 23,096 sq. meters.
To place this into perspective, the dimensions of the 23,096 sq. meters is roughly equal to about 4.3 soccer fields.
This space will home 35 industrial areas — in addition to a number of leisure areas similar to bars, eating places, a church, and even areas devoted to recreating the rum-making expertise. Extra touches will embody a safety space lighting, restrooms, and signage.
Through the occasion to kick off the development, the president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, expressed the significance of the success and launch of the cruise port as Barahona is counting on a growth in tourism and actual property.
The president additionally introduced that David Collado — the Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic — could be working carefully with the nation’s enterprise sector to make the venture profitable.
“We’re right here, having begun work on the vacationer pier, a much-needed and vital venture for this stunning province of Barahona,” added Collado.
This venture is being carried out by each the Tourism Zone Infrastructure Govt Committee (CEIZTUR) of the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), aiming to be accomplished by 2026 forward of the winter cruise season.
The aim is for the extra trendy pier to extend the movement of tourism within the province and surrounding areas, a lot in order that the financial influence spills over into the neighborhood.
New Ports within the Dominican Republic
In 2024, the Dominican Republic welcomed 2.6 million passengers — changing into the third most visited vacation spot by cruise vacationers within the Caribbean final yr.
The brand new cruise terminal on the Port of Barahona is a part of a broader effort to develop cruise ports within the southern area of the nation, following different latest developments.
In January, 2024, Cabo Rojo in Pedernales welcomed a cruise ship — Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,394 passenger Norwegian Pearl — to its port for the primary time ever.
Whereas there have been a complete of 5 cruise calls in 2024, the port remained beneath growth for a lot of the yr. Nonetheless, cruise tourism introduced in $2 million to the native financial system in 2024 — with estimated figures for 2025 being $15 million.
The port’s second section was inaugurated on October 16, 2024 — increasing dock capabilities to accommodate 2 giant cruise ships concurrently, with the capability for as much as 15,000 passengers.
Learn Additionally: New Dominican Cruise Port Wrapping Up Inaugural 12 months
The finances for the brand new cruise terminal at Barahona is 91% lower than the one used to construct in Cabo Rojo, so it might come by no shock if the mooring lodging will likely be extra restricted.
Nonetheless, specs in regards to the dock in Barahona is at present unknown past the development space dimension.
Regardless, this new dock — together with the one in Cabo Rojo — is setting the southern facet of the island up for fulfillment with each cruise corporations and passengers alike, providing recent locations and new amenities.
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