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The "Cluster of Tourism of the La Altagracia Province", the "Eastern Hotel and Resorts Association" and the "Natura Park Ecologic Foundation" are preparing an experimental volunteer program for the Cabeza de Toro project.
Objective Generate interchange and integration among people of different countries with the people of Dominican Republic. Remarks For almost 400 years, the eastern part of the island of La Hispaniola has been a power force of cattle and agriculture (sugar cane, casaba...). Also timber, from the mid 19th Century throughout half the 20th Century. After a 32-year dictatorship that ended in 1961, the La Altagracia (High Grace) Province was created, with an extension in excess of 3,000 Sq. Km., and the lowest human density –yet the biggest province- within the country. Roughly like a triangle, the province has 80 Km of coast line, half, white sandy Caribbean beaches –the now worldwide famous Punta Cana or Bavaro beaches- some lagoons (Bavaro...) and some mountains. Two thirds of La Altagracia’s territory is occupied by the typical Caribbean savanna with its semi-dry tropical forest. Also, two-thirds of the 200,000 province’s population is currently living in Higuey (the capital) and two or three small towns. They live mostly on farming, cattle and commerce. Then, in the earlier eighties, Dominican-American entrepreneurs started the first hotel: Punta Cana, followed by the French Mediterranee Club. Actually, the real first formal resort in this part of the island, yet 10 years after the also famous Casa de Campo, 150 Kilometers to the West. A couple of years later, 1984, the first of the now powerful Spaniard hotel chains, Barcelo, built their first hotel. Sooner, a handful of Mallorca hoteliers followed them: Melia, Riu, Iberostar...and 20 years later, 20,000+ “All Inclusive” hotel rooms move 1.5 Millions of tourists every year along. This represents the 15% of the Internal Product of the Dominican Republic. BUT, two decades and 50,000 jobs later, still the Altagracians are not fully integrated into Tourism! Sixty percent of the souvenirs bought by tourists are made in other countries. Almost all vegetables consumed by the hotels come from other provinces of the Dominican Republic, or, again, other countries. Same with goods and services. In 2004, leaders of the province agreed to form the “Cluster of Tourism of the Province of La Altagracia”, looking for answers. Why the most important province of the country does not have a meat/dairy industry? Why Higuey, the capital, apart from a religious monument to visit, does not have a decent restaurant? Not a Mall? Not even a theater? In 1994, crabs or turtles could be counted by the thousands. Today, you can see them only in pictures. Birds, reptiles or insects are scarce. Only mosquitoes remain. Local Ecofreaks had to mark the Guayakan trees to avoid been cut by bulldozers. Rats, the worst kind, are polluting around the horse stables in the dozens of “Eco Ranches” near the beaches. Eight thousand –bored- and very STRONG young Haitian construction workers are bringing endemic diseases with them. Including Malaria. Money also brings prostitution, drugs and high real estate prizes. But, we do are fighting back... |
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| Eco Volunteering |
| PROGRAM |