AGP Executive Report

Christmas Traditions: Charamico stalls are appearing along Santo Domingo’s avenues, bringing handmade trees, baskets and ornaments to the capital as vendors prepare for the holiday shopping season. Caribbean Getaways: Marella Cruises has added 70 excursions to its winter program, including sailings from La Romana and new ways to explore the region’s music, history and outdoor attractions. Sports and Accountability: An appeals court in Puerto Plata revoked Wander Franco’s judicial pardon and upheld his conviction for sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, imposing a three-year suspended sentence. Arts and Heritage: A new Rainieri Cultural Center in La Altagracia is opening as a hub for Dominican arts and heritage. Santo Domingo Tourism: The Colonial Zone now attracts about 14% of visitors arriving in the country each month, according to Tourism Minister David Collado, as restoration work continues on historic streets. Youth and Wellbeing: A report says one in five pregnancies in the Dominican Republic involves adolescents, underscoring a continuing challenge for young people and families.

Christmas Traditions: Charamico stalls are bringing handmade trees, baskets and ornaments to Santo Domingo’s avenues, signaling an early start to the holiday season. Vendors hope sales will pick up as December nears. Baseball and Justice: An appeals court revoked Wander Franco’s pardon and upheld his sexual-abuse conviction, imposing a three-year suspended sentence subject to court conditions. Historic Santo Domingo: The Colonial Zone now draws 14% of the country’s monthly tourist arrivals, up from a previously reported 7%, as restoration work continues on Calle Colón and Calle Hostos. Arts and Heritage: A new Rainieri Cultural Center in La Altagracia is positioning itself as a regional hub for Dominican arts and heritage. Food Culture: Visitors from Canada got a hands-on lesson in making casabe, the ancestral cassava bread that remains part of Dominican culinary tradition.

Historic Santo Domingo: The Colonial Zone is drawing a growing share of visitors: Tourism Minister David Collado says it now receives 14% of the country’s tourists, up from 7%, as restoration work continues. Cruise Tourism: Port Samaná’s new terminal is set to open November 24, with projections of one million cruise visitors annually by 2030 and hopes for more local business. Visitor Services: Italy has funded language scholarships for 20 POLITUR agents to help them assist Italian tourists. Youth Wellbeing: Adolescents accounted for one in five pregnancies recorded in the first half of 2026; a new initiative will expand education and reproductive-health access in communities along the Ozama River. Bachata: Dalvin La Melodía’s rise from social-media covers to a Billboard Latin Music Awards debut brings a new voice into the genre’s spotlight. Arts and Heritage: La Altagracia’s new Rainieri Cultural Center is opening as a regional hub for Dominican arts and heritage.

Tourism: Port Samaná’s cruise terminal is set to open November 24, with officials projecting one million annual visitors by 2030 and new business for nearby communities. Italy’s embassy awarded language scholarships to 20 tourism police agents to help serve Italian visitors; more than 95,000 arrived in 2025. Arts & Heritage: La Altagracia’s Rainieri Cultural Center has opened as a hub for arts and Dominican heritage, while Canadians got hands-on with making casabe, an ancestral staple. Bachata singer Dalvin La Melodía made his Billboard Latin Music Awards debut and became a finalist for Tropical Album of the Year. Community: Adolescents accounted for one in five registered pregnancies in the first half of 2026. A new initiative aims to prevent early unions and improve reproductive-health access in communities along the Ozama River. LGBTQ+ Travel: A 2027 gay cruise will include stops in Puerto Plata and Samaná.

Bachata Spotlight: Dominican singer Dalvin La Melodía is celebrating a rapid rise from social-media covers to a Billboard Latin Music Awards debut and a first Tropical Album finalist nod. Women’s Achievements: Banco BHD honored 11 women for work in health, inclusion, culture and community development at its annual Women Who Change the World awards. Youth Wellbeing: Adolescents accounted for one in five pregnancies recorded in the Dominican Republic in the first half of 2026; a new initiative will expand prevention and reproductive-health services in communities along the Ozama River. Arts and Heritage: A new cultural center in La Altagracia aims to become a regional home for arts and Dominican heritage. Food Traditions: Canadian visitors got hands-on with casabe, the ancestral Dominican cassava bread, learning to make it from scratch. Schools Reopen: Classes are set to resume at inspected schools after authorities lifted weather alerts following heavy rains.

Diaspora & Immigration: ICE raids in San Juan detained about a dozen workers, largely Dominicans, prompting protests and condemnation from local leaders and renewing calls for Puerto Rican independence. Weather & Schools: The Education Ministry extended class suspensions Wednesday in vulnerable areas under yellow alert as heavy rains continued to pose risks. Culture: Punta Cana’s new Rainieri Cultural Center has opened as a regional hub for arts and Dominican heritage. Tourism & Heritage: Dominican officials brought bachata and other cultural experiences to Toronto travel agents, promoting the country beyond its beaches; Santo Domingo’s Colonial City attracts 14% of monthly visitors. Food Security: FAO says fewer than 2.5% of Dominicans now face inadequate calorie intake, down from more than 21% two decades ago, while warning that continued progress depends on sustained action.

Travel: Casa de Campo in La Romana is highlighted as a top Dominican resort, pairing private villas and championship golf with Minitas Beach, a marina and Altos de Chavón—all easy to explore by golf cart. Schools and Weather: Minerd extended preventive class suspensions on Wednesday in vulnerable areas of provinces under yellow alert as heavy rains continue; the measure is local, not nationwide. Tourism and Culture: In Toronto, Dominican tourism officials promoted bachata and urged Canadian agents to look beyond beaches to the country’s history, food and adventure offerings. Arts and Heritage: Punta Cana’s new Rainieri Cultural Center opens as a regional hub showcasing the area’s history and Dominican heritage. Craft and Identity: Tobacco producer Nirka Reyes’s documentary “Beyond the Smoke” spotlights the people and women behind cigar-making, and the craft’s place in Dominican culture.

Weather & Schools: The Education Ministry suspended classes Tuesday in flood- and landslide-prone areas under weather alerts, including Greater Santo Domingo and several southern provinces. Arts & Heritage: President Luis Abinader opened the Rainieri Cultural Center in Punta Cana, a new venue showcasing Dominican history, traditions and art for residents and visitors. Food Traditions: Canadian travel agents got a hands-on introduction to making casabe, the cassava bread rooted in Taíno heritage. Women in Cigar Making: Producer Nirka Reyes premiered “Beyond the Smoke,” a documentary on the people and craft behind Dominican cigars, and spoke about balancing motherhood with her work. Cultural Tourism: Santo Domingo’s Colonial City draws 14% of visitors to the country each month, while new investment and ecotourism plans point to efforts to broaden the appeal beyond beach resorts.

Punta Cana Culture: The new Rainieri Cultural Center has opened in Punta Cana, bringing Dominican history, art and traditions to a 9,000-square-meter hub for residents and visitors. Women in Cigar Making: Tobacco producer Nirka Reyes discussed the craft’s place in Dominican identity and women’s stories in the documentary “Beyond the Smoke.” Ancestral Flavors: Canadian visitors learned to make casabe, the cassava bread rooted in Taíno heritage, in a hands-on tourism event. Colonial City: Santo Domingo’s historic center draws about 14% of tourists arriving in the country each month, underscoring its pull beyond beach resorts. Dance Legacy: Choreographer Alina Abreu marked 40 years in dance with a staging of “La Ciguapa.”

Cigar Heritage: Dominican tobacco producer Nirka Reyes spotlights the craft and the women behind it in the documentary Beyond the Smoke, sharing how she returned to the profession after becoming a mother. Culture in Punta Cana: President Luis Abinader opened the Rainieri Cultural Center, where exhibits on Dominican history, traditions and art aim to connect residents and visitors with more than the country’s beaches. Ancestral Flavors: Canadian travel professionals learned to make casabe from cassava, exploring a Taíno-rooted food tradition that remains part of Dominican cuisine. Colonial City: Santo Domingo’s historic center draws 14% of the tourists arriving in the country each month, reinforcing its role as a major cultural destination.

Beach Volleyball: Cuba’s Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes finished runners-up at the NORCECA circuit’s Punta Cana stop, while Dominican pair Hayerling De Jesús and Oscar Martínez reached the semifinals. Colonial City: The historic district now draws 14% of visitors to the country each month, as street and heritage-site renovations continue ahead of a planned December completion. Miches Tourism: The northeastern destination is emerging as a resort hub, with major hotel brands expanding and the Dominican Republic’s first Four Seasons planned. Ecotourism: Hato Mayor’s potential remains largely untapped, with unemployment and limited opportunities for young people persisting despite its ecotourism designation. Tourism Journalism: Regional reporters adopted a declaration calling for more rigorous coverage of tourism’s cultural, environmental and community impacts.

Colonial City: Santo Domingo’s historic district now draws 14% of the country’s monthly visitors. Tourism officials say they’re completing major renovations, including RD$61.5 million in street improvements. Resort Growth: Miches is emerging as a new tourism hub, with major hotel brands expanding there and the Dominican Republic’s first Four Seasons planned. Tourism Journalism: At an international forum in Santo Domingo, regional journalists adopted a declaration urging more rigorous coverage of tourism’s cultural, social and environmental effects. Dance & Heritage: Choreographer Alina Abreu marked 40 years in dance with La Ciguapa, a production celebrating her career.

Resort Boom: Miches is emerging as a major tourism hub, with new resorts from brands including Secrets, Dreams, Marriott and Hilton — and the Dominican Republic’s first Four Seasons planned for the destination. Colonial City: The historic district now draws 14% of the country’s monthly tourist arrivals, Tourism Minister David Collado said. Street and heritage improvements are continuing, with work expected to finish by December. Tourism Journalism: Adompretur and regional journalists adopted the Santo Domingo Declaration, calling for more rigorous coverage that considers tourism’s cultural, social and environmental impact. Dance & Heritage: “La Ciguapa,” choreographer Alina Abreu’s production, is being staged to mark 40 years of her career.

Miches Resort Boom: Major hotel brands are moving into the northeastern beach destination, with new all-inclusives opening and the Dominican Republic’s first Four Seasons planned. Colonial City: Santo Domingo’s historic district now attracts 14% of the country’s monthly tourist arrivals as restoration work continues. Tourism Journalism: Adompretur’s new regional declaration calls for more rigorous travel reporting that weighs tourism’s cultural, community and environmental impact. Religious Tourism: Higüey’s Basilica of Our Lady of La Altagracia has new sidewalks, lighting and accessibility upgrades to welcome pilgrims and visitors. Public Health: Health officials confirmed 15 dengue cases last week; La Altagracia remains the leading province for cases.

Religious Heritage: Tourism Minister David Collado inaugurated RD$25.6 million in accessibility and public-space upgrades around Higüey’s Basilica of Our Lady of La Altagracia, improving the setting for pilgrims and visitors. Culture and History: Santo Domingo’s Colonial City attracts 14% of visitors to the country, while a recent street rehabilitation project renews its historic streets. Dance artist Alina Abreu also marked 40 years in the field with La Ciguapa. Travel: Hyatt plans new all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana and Cap Cana, including Secrets Macao Beach, expected to open in March 2027. Dominican Community Abroad: A judge denied emergency release for Oscar Belgal, a Dominican man shot by ICE in New York; his lawyers say he needs medical care while detained.

Religious Tourism: Tourism Minister David Collado inaugurated RD$25.6 million in accessibility and public-space upgrades around Higüey’s Basilica of Our Lady of La Altagracia, welcoming pilgrims and visitors. Resort Openings: Hyatt is expanding in the east, with a 406-suite Secrets resort planned for Macao Beach in March 2027 and a Zoëtry property overlooking Cap Cana Marina. Historic Santo Domingo: The Colonial City draws 14% of the country’s tourists, as renewed streets and heritage-focused projects add to its appeal. Dance & Culture: Choreographer Alina Abreu is marking 40 years in dance with “La Ciguapa,” a production celebrating her career. Tourism Outreach: The Dominican Republic returned to Paraguay’s FITPAR travel fair to attract more visitors, while Santo Domingo hosted a regional congress on religious tourism.