Punta Cana - One Of The Best Beach Destinations In The World

http://punta-cana.info/en/
Punta Cana - One Of The Best Beach Destinations In The World
Today, Punta Cana is considered to be one of the most beautiful beach destinations in the world. A far cry from its reputation forty years ago.

This transition began when, in 1969, a group of American investors bought 30 square miles of undeveloped Dominican land straddling 5 miles of the nation's east coast. At the time, this land was no more than thick, forbidding jungle without any access roads; the only signs of human life were a few fishing villages along the coast. The savvy investors saw the beaches, however, and their white sand, coconut palms, crystal clear waters, and lush coral reefs.

The name was wisely changed from Punta Borrachon ('Drunken Point') to Punta Cana which is the name of a local hotel. The beauty of Punta Cana was soon gonna attract the attention of travelers. Dominican fashion designer Oscar de la Renta and international music artist Julio Iglesias were among the famous early guests and investors.

In 1971 the first hotel, with room for 40 guests and 10 cabins, was built within Punta Cana itself. At the time, visiting Punta Cana was only possible using small planes. The tourism in Punta Cana took off once visitors noticed the initiative to get the place developed.

In 1982, after years of negotiation and going back and forth, the Dominican government gave permission to the owners of the Punta Cana Resort to build a real airport, so that bigger planes could land. The airport began officially operational in 1984. After just 30 years, the amount of visitors grew from 3000 to 2.4 million. Along the coast, you will discover many luxury resorts that visitors can choose from. Along a strip of 30 miles, there are around 60 resorts to choose from.

The resorts have become the backbone and foundation of the local economy along with other businesses that were positively affected by tourism. A quarter of the country's GDP comes from Punta Cana - that will give you an idea of how prosperous this place is. The investors would have never thought that their little resort project would turn into a money-making destination for the country.