The Dominican Republic Undergoes Unprecedented Growth

by Brian Major
Last updated: 6:00 PM ET, Thu November 28, 2024

This article originally appeared in the November issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.

The Dominican Republic is on a fast track to revolutionary tourism growth, posting record visitor arrivals numbers on land and sea even as the country develops new tourism regions, launches new cruise ports and prepares for wider visitation via a recent Open Skies agreement.

Already the most-visited Caribbean destination among American travelers, the Dominican Republic’s extraordinary visitor growth displays no signs of a slowdown.

The country reported 6,968,623 international visitors in the first seven months of this year, an all-time record, according to David Collado, the Dominican Republic’s tourism minister.

Dominican Republic Undergoes Unprecedented Growth

Strong Summer Season

At an August press briefing in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, Collado said the country is coming off a blazing summer season with 811,192 visitors in July alone, which represents a 2 percent year-over-year increase, a 10 percent increase over 2022 and a 37 percent increase over pre-pandemic 2019.

July was also a strong month for the Dominican Republic’s booming cruise sector. The country reported 206,704 cruise passengers that month, resulting in a 39 percent year-over-year increase, a 95 percent increase over 2022 and 148 percent increase over 2019.

Surpassing Previous Records

This summer’s results continue a year-long trend of extraordinary tourism growth for the Caribbean nation. The Dominican Republic will surpass 11.5 million visitors by the end of 2024 after hosting 10 million visitors in 2023, said Luis Abinader, the country’s president.

In an August 16 address to launch his second term in office, Abinader said the nation’s tourism growth has been driven by infrastructure investments that enhanced its logistical capabilities and links to source markets.

The Cabo Rojo cruise port opened earlier this year in Pedernales, while another port in the Samana province is expected to open by the beginning of 2025.

Together, the new ports will bring in an additional 1.3 million annual visitors, according to Dominican Ministry of Tourism officials quoted in local press reports.

Airport Openings, Enhancements

Dominican Republic officials have also announced plans to open Pedernales International Airport in January 2025, along with a $30 million expansion and modernization of Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo.

Facilities at Punta Cana International Airport have been expanded to twice their previous size, said Abinader, and new terminals are planned for Cibao International Airport in Santiago.

The new airport projects will support what is anticipated to be continued growth in the sector. In August, the Dominican government signed an Open Skies agreement with the U.S., which is expected to deliver “open route rights, an open charter regime, self-handling provisions and open code-sharing opportunities,” according to U.S. State Department officials.

The result will be lower airfares and increased availability to the Caribbean gateways, Dominican Republic officials said. The agreement is part of the country’s strategy to establish the Dominican Republic as a “regional air connectivity hub,” Abinader said.

“Air carriers will be able to provide more affordable, convenient and efficient air services to travelers and shippers, promoting tourism and commerce,” U.S. State Department officials added.

Arajet Airlines Takes Off

In 2022, the Dominican government launched Arajet Airlines, a discount carrier with routes to Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Canada and Jamaica. In all, the airline serves 16 countries and 23 destinations utilizing a fleet of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.

The carrier, which will primarily target Dominicans in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic visiting friends and family, applied for U.S. route approvals in February 2023, but the application remains pending.

The airline will “encourage new markets and multiply the arrival of tourists to the country,” Abinader was quoted as saying in a “Dominican Today” report.

Luxury Hotel Growth

Luxury category hoteliers are expanding across the Dominican Republic. Among the new projects is a St. Regis Cap Cana property slated to open during the first quarter of 2025.

The resort will offer 182 rooms and 28 suites, both equipped with swim-out access. Two-bedroom, 6,500-square-foot Presidential Suites will sleep six guests and feature ocean-view balconies.

Additionally, major brands including Marriott, which operates luxury resorts ranging from the W Punta Cana to the JW Marriott Hotel Santo Domingo, and Hilton, whose resorts include the Hilton La Romana and the Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, scheduled to open in February 2025, have expanded their deluxe resort operations across the country.

The brands “are making notable strides in the Dominican Republic’s all-inclusive market,” said Dominican Ministry of Tourism officials. “Their involvement is expected to further enrich the tourism experience, offering travelers a range of upscale options and innovative amenities.”

The Dominican Republic is also home to luxury properties like Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, which features the Teeth of the Dog golf course.

For more information on the Dominican Republic, visit www.godominicanrepublic.com.

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