El repentino cambio al Plan Sectorial de Ordenamiento Territorial Turístico Punta Cana, Bávaro-Macao, que permitirá construir torres turísticas de hasta 22 pisos en Macao, enfrenta a los hoteleros con el Gobierno, y algunos representantes del sector aseguran que se trata de una jugada para beneficiar a grupos económicos.
Tras cinco años de vigencia y una aplicación que los hoteleros califican de ideal para el desarrollo turístico en la República Dominicana, el Ministerio de Turismo cambió sorpresivamente en septiembre el Plan Sectorial de Ordenamiento Territorial Turístico Punta Cana, Bávaro-Macao para permitir que en esa zona se construyan torres de hasta 22 niveles en una segunda franja detrás de una primera línea, más próxima a la costa, de desarrollos turísticos con alturas de hasta cuatro niveles. Esa era precisamente la altura máxima que estaba permitida para toda la zona. El cambio del plan se hizo público este mes.
El presidente de la Asociación de Hoteles de la Zona Este, Ernesto Veloz, mostró su indignación por la repentina modificación. “No se nos acercaron ni nos llamaron antes de aprobar este proyecto”, destacó, al tiempo que agregó que esa medida cambia las reglas de juego que han tenido por años.
“Lo que entendemos es que, evidentemente, se están generando beneficios para un sector perjudicando a otro”, dijo Veloz.
Pero no es el único cambio que ha autorizado el Ministerio de Turismo recientemente y que cambiará el horizonte turístico de la República Dominicana. En Cap Cana, cuyos proyectos se rigen por ordenamientos urbanísticos especiales, ya se autorizó la construcción de 17 torres por encima de los cinco niveles permitidos, y el pasado 19 de diciembre hasta se otorgaron los incentivos fiscales, a través de la clasificación provisional de proyecto turístico que autoriza Confotur.
Quince torres de esas que ahora se podrán construir a gran altura en Cap Cana están registradas como empresas individuales, pero, según los registros comerciales, pertenecen a la misma compañía: Cap Cana S.A., igual que el proyecto Condos Playa Juanillo. Es la misma empresa que está relacionada con Trump Organization, y que en febrero pasado recibió al hijo del entonces recién electo presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump.
En lo que respecta a la zona de Macao, todavía se desconocen los nombres de las empresas y los desarrollos que han sido autorizados, pero fuentes consultadas por Diario Libre indicaron que al menos dos torres de altura cuentan con el visto bueno del Ministerio de Turismo, en el marco del cambio al plan de ordenamiento territorial para Punta Cana, Bávaro-Macao.
Pero eso no ha detenido a la Asociación de Hoteles y Turismo de la República Dominicana (Asonahores). Enviaron una carta al ministro del área, Francisco Javier García, para que revoque la resolución por considerar que su contenido es contrario a los principios de confianza legítima y seguridad jurídica. Asonahores indica en la misiva que el Gobierno aprobó en 2012 ese plan turístico a 10 años y que lo mínimo era que se respetara su vigencia, “sin que, de manera unilateral y sorpresiva, el MITUR modificase las características y limitaciones de edificabilidad y densidad que tanto impactan sobre el derecho de propiedad de los terrenos y el atractivo comercial de los proyectos”, escribió el presidente de esa entidad, Joel Santos, al titular del despacho de Turismo.
No son los únicos que se han expresado sobre el cambio. La presidenta de la Asociación de Constructores y Promotores de Viviendas (Acoprovi), María Gatón, considera que en las zonas turísticas la altura no es una ventaja. Al contrario: mientras más altura, más niveles de contaminación y menos sostenibilidad en términos medioambientales.
“No veo la necesidad de subir a 22 pisos la zona de Macao. Entiendo que es más amigable la zona turística de baja altura y la baja densidad”, zanjó la presidenta de Acoprovi.
Fuente: Diario Libre[:en]
The sudden change to the Punta Cana, Bávaro-Macao Land Use Planning for Tourism, which will allow holiday apartment blocks with up to 22 floors to be built in Macao, has led to a stand-off between hoteliers and Government, and some representatives of the sector are certain it is a ploy to benefit financial groups.
After five years in force and an application that hoteliers describe as ideal for tourism development in the Dominican Republic, in September the Ministry of Tourism surprisingly changed the Punta Cana, Bávaro-Macao Land Use Planning for Tourism to allow tower blocks with up to 22 floors to be built in that area, along the second strip inland from the first beachfront strip, where the height is up to four floors, precisely the maximum height that was allowed for the entire area. The change of plan was made public this month.
The president of the East Zone Hotel Association, Ernesto Veloz, expressed outrage at the sudden change. «They did not approach us or call us before approving this project,» he said, adding that this measure changes the rules of the game they have had for years.
«Obviously, we understand they are creating benefits for one sector and damaging another,» said Veloz.
But it´s not the only change the Ministry of Tourism has recently authorized that will change the tourist horizon in the Dominican Republic. In Cap Cana, where projects are governed by special urban arrangements, the construction of 17 towers with more than the five permitted floors was authorized, and on December 19th, they were even granted the tax incentives under the provisional tourism project classification issued by CONFOTUR.
Fifteen of these high rise blocks that may now be built in Cap Cana are registered as individual companies, but, according to commercial records, belong to the same company, namely Cap Cana S.A., just like the Condos Playa Juanillo project. It is the same company that is related to the Trump Organization, and that last February received the son of the then newly-elected president of the United States, Donald Trump.
Two towers for Macao
As to the Macao area, the names of the companies and the developments that have been authorized are still unknown, but sources consulted by Diario Libre indicated that at least two high rise towers have clearance from the Ministry of Tourism under the revised zoning plan for Punta Cana, Bávaro-Macao.
But that has not stopped the Dominican Association of Hotels and Tourism (ASONAHORES). They sent a letter to the minister of tourism, Francisco Javier García, demanding that the resolution be revoked on the grounds that its content is contrary to the principles of legitimate expectations and legal security. ASONAHORES indicates in the letter that, in 2012, the Government approved a 10 year tourism plan and that it should at least respect its validity, «and not MITUR unilaterally and surprisingly changing the construction and density characteristics and limitations that affect both the property rights to the land and the commercial attractiveness of the projects,» wrote the president of the entity, Joel Santos, to the head of Tourism.
They are not the only ones who have spoken out about the change. The president of the Home Builders and Developers Association (Acoprovi), María Gatón, believes that height is not an advantage in tourist areas. On the contrary: the higher the building, the higher the levels of pollution and the less sustainability in environmental terms.
«I see no need to go up to 22 floors in the Macao area. I believe that the tourist area with low height and low density is friendlier,» concluded the president of Acoprovi.
No response from Tourism and hoteliers demand nullity
Ministry of Tourism
The Ministry of Tourism has offered no explanations about the regulatory changes and authorizations to the high rise holiday apartment blocks in the areas of Macao and Cap Cana. The only answer was offered this Wednesday, and only to say that explanations will be given «in due time and within the deadlines» to ASONAHORES´ approach, entity that questioned the modification of the height levels along the Macao coastline in the province of La Altagracia. The technical deputy minister, Radhames Martinez Aponte, defended the ministry´s resolution indicating in a statement saying that it was drawn up taking all the current legislation into account. Concerning the towers, the official said that these «projects belong to hotel entrepreneurs with great experience in the industry and unquestionable economic solvency.» Despite this explanation, Diario Libre learned that the minister Francisco Javier Garcia insistently seeks a meeting with the hoteliers.
ASONAHORES
Hoteliers said that the resolution by the Ministry of Tourism «was issued in violation of the administrative procedure for drawing up administrative rules, established in articles 30 and following of Law 107-13, which refer to people´s rights in relation to public administration and administrative procedures.» In a public statement ASONAHORES said that the aim of this article is «that all regulations and programs by the Public Administration are the result of a transparent and participatory procedure,” an issue that has not been met in this resolution, whose preparation dispensed with public view, discussion and participation. It added that the procedures envisaged in the law «are not mere guidelines or formal standards,» and that their «non-observance entails the nullity of the resulting action.»
Source: Diario Libre[:]