Dominican Republic Shatters Tourism Records As Destination Grows In Popularity

Last Updated 7 months ago

Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic have just reported another record-breaking month for travel with over 700,000 international tourists visiting the country in March.

As global travel picks up, a growing number of visitors are flocking to the Caribbean island, which is home to world-class shores, top-notch resorts, and an impeccable safety record.

Here’s the latest on the Dominican Republic’s unstoppable tourism appeal:

Dominican Republic Reports Record Arrival Figures In March

The Dominican Republic has seen arrival numbers soar consistently since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March, the sun-soaked island reported yet another successful month for travel with the arrival of over 700,000 visitors.

An aircraft after take off in Punta Cana International Airport

The country is on track to welcome well over 8 million travelers by the end of the year, and its travel industry is optimistic about the country’s direction toward becoming one of the most successful destinations in the Caribbean.

In his monthly press conference on the state of tourism, the Dominican minister for tourism, David Collado, had a lot of good news to share.

According to the high-ranking official, the Dominican Republic welcomed over 2 million travelers from January to March this year.

“With this figure, we have exceeded our previous records, with over 10% more travelers this year than in 2019 and 190% more than in 2021,” the minister remarked.

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A resort beach during sunset in the Dominican Republic

Meanwhile, the local travel industry shares the minister’s bullish outlook, as resorts in Punta Cana and other touristy hotspots report growing occupancy rates.

Most establishments in the country have sold, on average, 80% of their rooms over the past several months, representing a significant growth compared to previous years.

aerial view of punta Cana with a beach and trees

New resorts are constantly being announced in the Dominican Republic, and investors have shown great interest in the island destination.

Despite being packed with resorts, travelers can’t seem to get enough of Punta Cana, which is set to open the largest resort in the country in 2024 once the 2000-room Moon Palace opens.

Growing travel numbers are also affecting destinations like Puerto Plata as the coastal city soars in popularity.

Known for its stunning mountain scenery and some of the country’s most versatile nature, Puerto Plata offers a range of luxury accommodations.

A beautiful white-sand beach in the Dominican Republic

While travelers continue to flock to classic destinations like Punta Cana, Samaná, and La Romana, new property developments are taking place in Miches and Pederanles, which are poised to become new resort hotspots in the near future.

Located in the north-central and southwestern parts of the country, respectively, the Dominican Republic’s new resort areas are teeming with nature and virgin white-sand beaches.

Home to some of the country’s best eco-properties, the destinations are projected to have several thousand new rooms over the coming years.

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One significant factor behind the Dominican Repuböic’s growing travel numbers is the recently signed Open Skies treaty between the tropical island and Canada.

The landmark agreement, which came into effect a couple of months ago, cut down on red tape and is expected to boost air travel between the two nations.

While air travel remains the largest source of inbound tourism, the Dominican Republic is becoming a leading Caribbean cruise hub.

Home to some of the largest ports in the region, over 250,000 cruise ship passengers set foot in the country in March, setting a new all-time record.

A cruise ship docked at sea with palm trees and blue waters

The Dominican Republic has invested heavily in the cruise industry, and a new flagship port will open this December in Pedernales.

The state-of-the-art facility will handle over a million passengers per year, inviting travelers to explore the wonder of the country’s newest resort destination.