CJ Interviews

Talking Tourism in Samana With Fabeth Martinez Fernandez

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - June 10, 2013 - 9:11 am

Above: Samana

By Alexander Britell

Last month, we spoke to Ana Garcia Sotoca Pascual about the growth of tourism in La Romana in the Dominican Republic. We continue our look at the Dominican Republic’s varied destinations with a conversation about Samana on the country’s northeastern coast, which recently received a boost through new service from JetBlue. To learn more, Caribbean Journal spoke to Fabeth Martinez, executive director of the Samana Hotel and Tourism Association.

Where do you see Samana’s tourism sector today?

I think Samana is a developing destination, and we have growth every year — slow, but strong. This is really important for us, and we have the idea to grow more to offer another kind of destination [in the Dominican Republic].

What are some of the projects you’re working on right now?

Samana is not about big hotels, not about big projects. It’s about small, careful and special properties — we have a new port for cruises for the new year, and this is a really, really important project for us.

Last year, air carrier JetBlue announced it would be launching service to Samana out of New York City. How much of an impact has that flight had so far?

The flight is really important. But now, it’s only been a short time, so you can’t tell — it’s only been six months for the destination. And to develop the route, that’s a short amount of time.

Where do most of Samana’s visitors come from?

From the United States — especially from the United States, from Toronto and Montreal in Canada and we also have tourists from Italy, Spain, Portugal and France.

What do you think makes Samana unique in the Dominican Republic?

It’s because we have several things to offer tourists – it’s not only the hotel and the beaches. We have beautiful beaches, but we have the national park, we have whale watching, and we have a lot of nature. And we have several kinds of hotels — big hotels, all-inclusives, luxury hotels and small hotels — and we have gastronomy — which is really important to Samana.

Popular Posts antigua long bay

25 Perfect Caribbean Beaches to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

There’s nothing like a Caribbean beach in summer. The crowds thin out, the winds relax, and the islands start breathing in a different way. The beaches you thought you knew feel new again— stretches of sand once packed with winter […]


The 15 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, From Hidden Eco-Retreats to Luxury Towers

trinidad and tobago hotels where to stay

From Port of Spain to Tobago’s quiet coasts, these are the places to check in now No two Caribbean islands are quite like Trinidad and Tobago—and no two hotels here feel the same. This is a destination of contrast: Carnival […]


This Marriott All-Inclusive Resort Is Coming to Barbados —  And You Can Book It With Points

new brand for the caribbean

Barbados has long been a haven for adults in search of refinement — the kind of place where luxury and culture blend in quiet, confident harmony. Now, that ethos is becoming the foundation of a new resort concept that aims […]


Related Posts best caribbean islands 2021

6 Stunning Pink Sand Beaches to Visit in the Caribbean

Ranging in color from blinding ivory to exotic ebony, beaches are some of the Caribbean’s most valuable stock in trade, drawing sand-and-sea lovers from all over the world. But none are as enchanting as those pink-sand beaches, which practically beg […]


Avianca Just Relaunched Two Nonstop Flights to Cartagena, Colombia’s Caribbean Hotspot 

sofitel legend cartagena

The old city. The beaches. The art. The magic. Cartagena has been surging in popularity in recent years, with travelers drawn to its rare blend of colonial charm and modern cool. And if you’re heading to the hotspot on the […]


The Caribbean’s Best Sandwich Is Made on This Island — Here’s Where to Find It 

bokit sandwich

I remember the first time I visited Sainte Anne. The little beach town on the southern coast of Guadeloupe’s island of Grande Terre has some beautiful sand, but it’s really most famous for one thing: it’s food trucks. Head to […]