Dominican Republic Reports Another Record-Breaking Month For Arrivals Despite Hurricane Fiona

Last Updated 1 year ago

The Dominican Republic set a new all-time record for tourist arrivals in September this year, as more than 430,000 visitors flocked to the Caribbean island. The figure is all the more impressive considering that hurricane Fiona caused widespread damage earlier this month, canceling flights and shutting down several top resorts. Meanwhile, new flights set to operate this fall and winter will help boost travel numbers toward the end of the year.

New data published by tourism officials this week revealed that over 430,000 tourists visited the Dominican Republic this September. The figure means the country has once again reached a historic milestone, beating previous records from 2019 by more than 106,000 tourists. Overall, the country has welcomed over 5.3 million tourists so far this year as the Caribbean destination sees its popularity soar.

New flight routes from both North America and Europe, as well as growing cruise ship traffic, are helping to fuel travel to the country. The positive trend is expected to continue in the coming months even though the summer season has already ended. With new hotels opening up in the next few months, tourists can enjoy greater accommodation availability and versatility.

Punta Cana, the undisputed leader when it comes to all-inclusive resort destinations, continues to be the most popular town for tourists. Miches, a growing eco-tourism hotspot close to Samaná, is increasingly on travelers’ radars. The location is seeing two new Temptation hotels opening later this October, and more are on the way. The region is home to untouched beaches, lush rainforests, and authentic Caribbean culture.

Tourism continues to be the Dominican Republic’s main source of income, generating more than 6 billion dollars in revenue so far this year. The sector is also performing competitively compared to other Latin American destinations, and the Dominican Republic is seeing above-average rates of airline passenger traffic growth compared to other destinations in the region.

According to David Collado, the country’s tourism minister, hotel occupancy in September stood at 61%, a solid figure considering that the summer season already ended. With regard to international flights, new routes have been announced from the U.S and Canada. A new Hamilton – Punta Cana route will begin operating in January, and Frontier will soon fly from Tampa to Santo Domingo and Punta Cana.

Punta Cana International Airport remains the country’s largest and is currently undergoing a large-scale renovation. Set for completion in November, the overhaul will see several new jet bridges added, as well as more floor space to accommodate growing travel numbers. The airport was recently chosen as the best medium-sized airport in Latin America and the Caribbean, a testament to the authorities’ commitment to making the Dominican Republic a leading travel destination.

Hurricane Fiona Halts Travel Plans

Earlier last month, hurricane Fiona struck the Dominican Republic, toppling power lines, displacing large numbers of people, and temporarily closing down several resorts. The hurricane was especially problematic since it mostly affected the eastern parts of the country, where much of the Dominican Republic’s tourism infrastructure is located.

Punta Cana and Samaná were amongst the hardest-hit areas, and several famous resorts in the area had to close down for repairs. Although they were initially planned to re-open this October, many resorts, including the 5-star Sanctuary Cap Cana, have now postponed reopening from November onwards.

Hurricane Fiona also caused flight cancellations, and more than 40,000 people had to postpone their vacation to the otherwise sunny island. Fortunately, more than 90% of all resorts are now operating normally, and the remaining ones will open their doors within the following months.