Seliné Méndez promotes the ecotourism development of the Dominican Republic from IFTM Top Resa
Deputy Seliné Méndez, in her role as vice-president of the Tourism Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, is leading a legislative delegation at the IFTM Top Resa 2026 fair. During this important international conclave, the Dominican delegation is working on the follow-up of strategic agreements, new operations, and projects that seek to boost the country’s smokeless industry.
Méndez highlighted that the National Congress maintains an active focus on the decentralization of tourism. Currently, the commission he is part of is evaluating various requests to declare new demarcations as ecotourism provinces, with the files for Espaillat and La Vega standing out among them.
Benefits of the ecotourism declaration
The legislator stressed that the status of an ecotourism province brings significant advantages to local communities:
- Access to a larger budget allocated for sustainability.
- Technical support and institutional guidance for project development.
- Promotion of the creation of modern and responsible tourism infrastructure.
Transforming a city into an ecotourism destination transcends the simple promotion of its natural beauty; it implies a comprehensive commitment to the protection of ecosystems, local economic growth, and citizen awareness regarding sustainability.
Seliné Méndez, Vice President of the Tourism Commission
National diversification strategy
This initiative is part of a broader State policy. Between February 2024 and January 2025, the National Congress approved a package of laws designating seven provinces as new ecotourism hubs or destinations. The central objective is to diversify the Dominican offering and strengthen the economies of each region.
Within this strategic framework, provinces such as Hermanas Mirabal, Puerto Plata, El Seibo, Samaná, and San Pedro de Macorís are already included, thus consolidating a more robust and varied national tourism map for local and international visitors.
