Support for Small Business in Bayahibe

The La Romana-Bayahibe Hotel Association in the Dominican Republic have invested in a program called "Model for Sustainable Tourism Management in Bayahibe". The project's goals are to increase the competitiveness of the Bayahibe region as a tourism destination by integrating the community in the creation of new services and opportunities for SMEs (small-medium enterprises). The project also focuses on conservation and preservation of key natural resources and ecosystems including environmental education, awareness building; and marketing, promotion and destination branding. They recently released a Bayahibe Tourism Guidebook for snorkelling.

Despite the recent high levels of national economic growth, the poor have not always seen notable improvement in their standard of living. Continued reforms are needed in the area of economic competitiveness, environment, energy and education in order to broaden and sustain the benefits of the current high economic growth rates. USAID (The United States Agency for International Development) Dominican Republic launched a new 5-year development strategy during the summer of 2002. This new strategic plan will help advance Dominican Republic and USAID priorities in the areas of economic growth, democracy and governance, and health. USAID plans to invest US$100 million in these areas over a 5-year period.