President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, led the opening ceremonies during the inaugural event at the Tourism and Landscape Park of La Puntilla and Puerto Plata Amphitheater Thursday, July 14. (PRNewsFoto/Dominican Republic Ministry...)
New addition to attract live music acts and tourists alike.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Travelers in search of live, outdoor music will now have another reason to visit the north coast of Dominican Republic, with the grand opening of the Tourism and Landscape Park of La Puntilla and Puerto Plata Amphitheater.
Located adjacent to the historic Fort San Felipe, and offering stunning views of the ocean and the north coast of the Dominican Republic, the Amphitheater has a total area of 1877.68 m2, with a stage of 315 m2 and will have capacity for 4,000 people. Described by many as "the most current and advanced throughout Central and Latin America," the amphitheater offers a platform for music, theater, dance performances and movies.
With handmade seats and exquisite design, the esthetic of the amphitheater is second to none. The dark teak color of the amphitheater blends into the hillside very naturally with the Atlantic Ocean providing a stunning panoramic backdrop.
The works will generate 150 direct jobs and 600 indirect jobs, in addition to increase the arrival of tourists to Puerto Plata, offering an additional draw of live entertainment.
President of the Republic, Danilo Medina, accompanied by the Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier Garcia, led the opening ceremonies during the park's inaugural event Thursday, July 14.
Delivering the keynote speech, the Minister of Tourism stressed the importance of the work, stating the additional attraction to Puerto Plata will enrich and strengthen the already growing tourism offerings of the area.
"This project and modern amphitheater were designed to incorporate new elements into tourism in the north coast, and Dominican Republic in general," said Garcia. "Distinct projects such as this help attract a wider range of tourists and enrich their experience while they are in country, encouraging return visits."
In addition to Garcia, architect Maribel Villalona addressed the audience to explain the details, design and execution of the works.
Puerto Plata has increased in popularity over the past few years. According to officials from the Dominican Republic's Puerto Plata Tourism Cluster (CTDPP), tourist arrivals surged in 2015 as visitors to the city on the country's northwest coast increased 11.5 percent year-over-year.
This leap is due in large part to the October 2015 opening of Carnival Corp.'s $85 million Amber Cove cruise port, which is on track to host 400,000 vacationers this year according to CTDPP officials. The operations at Amber Cove, which refers to the region's historically rich mineral wealth and generous amber reserves, bring an average of 5,000 visitors to Puerto Plata each week. The addition of the amphitheater is yet another reason Puerto Plata will soon be on the top of travelers' destination lists.
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