The History of Punta Cana Past and Present

Punta Cana is one of the most popular resort destinations in the Dominican Republic. Situated in the Altagracia province on the far eastern side of the country, it is a world-renown go-to tourist destination in the Caribbean.

However, most vacationers who come here do not realize that “Punta Cana” isn’t exactly the name of the whole region south of the airport. The east coast of the Dominican Republic has long been referred to as Punta Cana when in essence, it comprises various areas such as Cabeza de Toro, Cap Cana, Bavaro, Punta Cana, Macao, Arena Gorda, etc. Nearly all hotels located in the above regions use Punta Can in their branding even though they aren’t geographically situated in Punta Cana. In a nutshell, the following is Punta Cana’s history.

Origin

The history of Punta Cana dates back to 1969 when a group of investors from the U.S. acquired 30 sq. Miles of undeveloped land in an area that bordered the east coast of the Dominican Republic. When they bought the land, it comprised a thick bush and jungle with no access road. The only thing you could find was a couple of tiny fishing villages along the coast.

What stood out about the beaches here was that they were some of the most beautiful you could find on the island and featured crystal clear waters, white sand, coconut palms, and a fantastic coral reef. A few years after the Americans bought the land in Altagracia Province, Frank R. Rainieri, a Dominican entrepreneur, joined the group with a vision to establish a resort community. This would give tourists a chance to enjoy a world-class holiday while ensuring that the surrounding natural habitat is protected. Frank Rainieri decided to rename the area Punta Cana.

The first hotel in Punta Cana was built in 1971 and was named the Punta Cana Club. This stood on the area of land presently occupied by the Punta Cana Resort and Club. In 1978, Club Med, a French resort chain, built a 350-roomed hotel called Club Med Punta Cana slightly north of the Punta Cana Club. It is said that some of the attendants who graced the inauguration of Punta Cana Club ridiculed Mr. Rainieri for buying that land, but his wild vision was soon to be vindicated.

Despite the gradual development, the region was still relatively isolated, with the nearest town, Higuey, almost six hours away. A new road was necessary, and thankfully the Colgate-Palmolive Company stepped in. A new highway was constructed and ended up reducing the journey to Higuey to only 30 minutes. This meant that Punta Cana was now connected to the entire road network on the island.

Development

After eight long years of continuous negotiations with the government, Groupo Puntacana’s low-cost airstrip got the green-light developed in 1982. This was going to have the capacity to hold a full-sized commercial aircraft. The construction began in partnership with Club Med, and by 1984 Punta Cana International Airport was launched with the maiden international flight touching the runway from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The facility was also the only privately owned international airport at the time. It played a crucial role in setting the foundation for what Punta Cana has turned out to be today. In the first year, only 2,976 passengers arrived at the airport, while in 2009, the passenger numbers had skyrocketed to just under 4 million.

By bringing the infrastructural developments to the area, Groupo Puntacana helped transform the once inhabitable jungle coastline into a world-class industry buzzing with tourist activity that today accounts for almost 1/4 of the Dominican Republic’s gross domestic product. The group has an impressive corporate social responsibility policy whereby profits accruing from the airport are reinvested back into the community. Locals get to enjoy zero-rated educational loans, funding for worker’s housing, medical amenities, and a foundation that protects the land, as well as the marine life, etc. with an effort to facilitate sustainable development.

Present-day

Punta Cana continues to develop, with plans of a new coral highway that will connect Punta Cana to La Romana already underway. This will reduce the once 90-minute journey to just less than 45 minutes. The region has become the fastest-growing tourist hub across the Caribbean, with millions of vacationers from all around the globe coming to visit every year. It currently boasts an excess of 100 resorts and hotels spanning 40 kilometers of gorgeous white sandy beaches.