Why Canadians Are Flocking To The Dominican Republic More Than Ever

Last Updated 8 months ago

A record-breaking number of Canadian travelers are planning on vacationing in the Dominican Republic this year, according to new statistics.

The recent signing of the Open Skies treaty, as well as Punta Cana’s irresistible tropical weather and culture, are contributing to growing travel numbers.

A new report by the Canadian Embassy shows that more than a million Canadians are expected to flock to the Dominican Republic this year.

The record-breaking number is in line with the Dominican Republic’s own projections, which show that the country could welcome up to 8 million travelers this year.

Canadian travelers can also look forward to a greater choice of flights – and plenty of cheap deals – as more airlines plan new routes to the sun-soaked island.

While Punta Cana remains by far the most popular resort destination, visitors are also keen on discovering new destinations like Samaná and, increasingly, Miches and Pedernales.

Aircraft parked outside of Punta Cana airport terminal

With travel numbers up sharply, here are the top reasons why Canadians are going crazy for the Dominican Republic in 2023.

New Open Skies Treaty Will Make Flying Cheaper

Canada and the Dominican Republic recently signed a new Open Skies treaty, the details of which took over 14 years to finalize. The landmark agreement has brought several noteworthy changes to the way routes and planned and priced.

Under the new framework, Canadian airlines can directly negotiate new non-stop routes with Dominican airports, cutting down on red tape and increasing the availability of cheap flights. Travelers can currently fly to the Dominican Republic from Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, and Vancouver, among others.

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Crystal clear water and white sand in La Romana

Several Canadian carriers already operate an extensive network of flights to the sunny island, including Air Canada, Rouge, and low-cost airlines like Air Transat and Sunwings.

Travel Restrictions Are A Thing Of The Past

Canada removed all travel restrictions imposed as part of the country’s anti-COVID measures in October last year. With years of pent-up travel demand, Canadians are eager to take off and visit sunny tropical destinations, including the likes of Punta Cana.

Since then, travel numbers have grown sharply, especially to the Caribbean, which has succeeded in attracting travelers more than any other region.

This year, the trend is set to continue, especially as the Dominican Republic was recently named one of the top 10 destinations to visit in 2023, according to Tripadvisor.

Seating area in a popular Punta Cana white-sand beach

New Destinations Are Increasingly Available For Travelers

Although Punta Cana remains the most popular destination for Canadian travelers, welcoming nearly 70% of all inbound tourism, new destinations like Miches and Pedernales are catching tourists’ attention.

The Dominican Republic is seeing a flurry of new investments in hotels and resorts in those regions. Home to untouched nature and virgin beaches, travelers are interested in escaping Punta Cana’s packed beaches and resorts.

A remote tropical beach with no tourists in the Dominican Republic

Several new properties are already available for travelers, including two adults-only Temptation resorts in Miches.

Nature lovers can rent a car and opt for Pedernales, where stunning eco-properties await travelers for a truly relaxing getaway.

Year-Round Tropical Weather

Punta Cana’s excellent tropical weather is one of the strongest draws for Canadian travelers.

With freezing temperatures during the winter, Canadians have been flocking to Dominican resort destinations for years in search of warm weather and tropical beaches.

Exclusive beach area in Punta Cana with palm trees

Unlike Canada, destinations like Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, and La Romana are characterized by year-round warm weather, with average lows of 21 degrees Celsius and highs of up to 35 degrees Celsius.

Canadians Are Enthusiastic About Cruising Again

With COVID-19 no longer an issue, travelers are once again warming up to the idea of booking cruises.

While most Caribbean cruises depart from Florida or Texas, the Dominican Republic is planning on opening massive new cruise ship terminals later this year.

A large cruise ship arriving at port with beautiful tropical water

More cruise liners, including Norwegian Cruise Line, have already announced new routes to Pedernales, months before the construction of the country’s flagship port is expected to be complete.