The first stage of the development includes 548 rooms spread across two hotels linked to Marriott International. The first will be The Ritz-Carlton Yanuna, with 250 rooms, and the second Casa Mirallá, part of The Luxury Collection, which will have 298. Both brands have a long track record in high-end hospitality, and their arrival in Macao puts the area on the map for travellers seeking exclusivity, personalised service and well-preserved natural surroundings.
The project is not limited to hotel accommodation. Yanuna will also include 25 Ritz-Carlton branded residences, along with other private residential components designed for high-income buyers. This combination of hotel and luxury housing reflects an increasingly widespread trend in major international destinations, where many visitors want a property of their own without giving up the services of a top-category establishment.
Beyond the investment figures, the social impact has been one of the most highlighted aspects. Around 1,500 direct jobs will be created during the construction phase, and once the complex is up and running it will generate more than 1,600 jobs. The developers have said they will give priority to hiring local workers and working with national suppliers, so that the benefits also reach nearby communities rather than remaining solely within the large company.
President Luis Abinader took the opportunity to underline the growth Dominican tourism has experienced in recent years. In his view, the country has the capacity to welcome up to three times as many visitors as it does today, provided that development remains sustainable, orderly and safe. His words reflect a concern shared by many destinations around the world, which seek to grow without endangering the natural and cultural resources that make them attractive.
Tourism Minister David Collado offered another figure that helps gauge the moment the sector is going through. According to his forecasts, the Dominican Republic will receive twelve million visitors over the course of 2026, a figure that consolidates the country as one of the leading tourism references in Latin America and the Caribbean. Collado stressed the importance of attracting investment that diversifies the hotel offer and allows surrounding communities to genuinely share in the economic benefits the activity generates.
That idea of diversification is key to understanding the scope of Yanuna. For decades, the Dominican model has relied mainly on sun-and-beach tourism with all-inclusive formulas. Projects like this one point to a different kind of traveller, one who spends more, stays longer and values quality over price. It is a segment that demands high standards, but in return offers a greater and more stable economic return for the destination.
The challenge from now on will be to ensure that this growth translates into lasting opportunities for the people of La Altagracia and into a respectful balance with the landscape that has made Macao famous. If the promise of sustainability and local employment is kept, 2029 will mark not only the opening of two luxury hotels, but also the beginning of a new chapter for Dominican tourism.
