Dominican Republic Tourism Growth Reaches 8.56 Million Visitors

Tourism’s growing contribution to the Dominican Republic is extending beyond hotels and resorts, with the sector generating demand for locally produced food and services while supporting businesses ranging from farmers and artisans to taxi drivers and tour operators.

Tourism Minister David Collado said the scale of visitor spending is creating a broad economic effect across the country. He noted that a single hotel room can generate demand for a basket of products weighing as much as 23,000 pounds each month, linking the hospitality industry with domestic agricultural and manufacturing activity.

The latest figures presented by the Ministry of Tourism show that 856,858 visitors arrived in August, 6.2% more than in August 2025, 5.4% above the same month in 2024 and 52.3% higher than the August 2019 level, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international travel.

Air Arrivals and Cruise Tourism Both Expand

Air travel remained the main gateway to the country, accounting for 725,560 tourist arrivals in August. That represented increases of 2.6% from August 2025, 7.5% from 2024 and 45.9% compared with 2019.

Cruise tourism recorded an even stronger increase. A total of 131,298 cruise passengers arrived during the month, up 31.9% from August 2025 and 101.1% from the same month in 2019.

The January-August total reached 8,556,415 visitors, including 6,610,258 tourists arriving by air and 1,946,157 cruise passengers. The figures highlight the increasing role of cruise infrastructure alongside the country’s established resort destinations.

Recent and planned cruise facilities include Taíno Bay in Puerto Plata, on the northern coast, and the Cabo Rojo terminal in Pedernales, in the southwest. Collado also pointed to the expected opening of the Arroyo Barril terminal in December as part of the country’s expanding cruise network.

Tourism Demand Reaches Beyond the Hotel Industry

The industry’s economic footprint is particularly visible in sectors that supply hotels and other tourism businesses. Collado said increased visitor numbers translate into stronger demand for agricultural products, while employment and income also reach artisans, transportation providers, guides, entrepreneurs and small businesses.

The minister also said the additional visitors since the pre-pandemic period have generated more than $3 billion in additional economic activity, based on average visitor spending of more than $1,000. He linked tourism receipts to stronger international reserves and greater stability in the exchange rate against the U.S. dollar.

For international travelers, the expansion means the Dominican Republic continues to operate at a scale well above its pre-pandemic tourism levels. The country’s principal destinations include Bávaro-Punta Cana, La Romana, Bayahíbe, Samaná, Puerto Plata, Santiago and Santo Domingo, offering different combinations of beaches, resorts, cultural attractions and urban tourism.

Hotel Occupancy and Visitor Satisfaction

Hotel occupancy reached 68% in August, while destinations including Bayahíbe, La Romana, Miches, Cabrera, Bávaro-Punta Cana, Santiago, Samaná-Las Terrenas and Puerto Plata remained among the areas receiving significant visitor activity.

Tourists gave the destinations an average satisfaction rating of 4.3 out of 5, a measure that also reflects their willingness to recommend the country to others. The combination of visitor growth and relatively high satisfaction provides an important indicator for the continued expansion of the tourism sector.

The Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo has also increased its share of visitor activity. Collado said visits to the historic district have risen from 7% to 12%, which he attributed to ongoing redevelopment work. The second phase of the intervention is expected to be completed in December, including work at the Alcázar de Colón museum and other pending projects.

North America Remains the Main Source Market

North American travelers continue to account for the largest share of visitors. The figures presented by the ministry place the United States first among individual source markets, representing 44% of arrivals, followed by Canada at 9% and Colombia at 8%.

Argentina accounted for 5%, while Spain and the United Kingdom each represented 4%. Mexico and Puerto Rico contributed 3% each. Overall, the distribution underscores the importance of the North American market while showing a significant contribution from Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean.

August also saw 6,030 flights, 0.9% more than the same month in 2025 and 18.9% above the 2019 level. Punta Cana International Airport handled 49% of the flights, followed by Las Américas International Airport with 29% and Cibao International Airport with 14%. El Higüero and Puerto Plata each accounted for 3%, while La Romana and Samaná each represented 1%.

The sustained growth of both air and cruise arrivals is reinforcing tourism’s position as a major source of activity for the Dominican economy. With visitor numbers continuing to exceed pre-pandemic levels and tourism demand reaching suppliers and service businesses throughout the country, the sector’s performance is increasingly tied to a wider network of domestic economic activity.