The Dominican Republic Breaks Record for Most Tourist Arrivals In April

Last Updated 2 years ago

The Dominican Republic welcomed a record-breaking 626,000 tourists in April, the highest ever reported number for that month. While most flew by plane, over 129,000 cruise ship passengers visited the country’s ports. These figures indicate a strong recovery for Dominican Republic tourism after the COVID pandemic, which significantly affected travelers’ vacation plans. With entry restrictions fully lifted, the country is easier to visit than at any time during the pandemic. Travelers are choosing to spend their holidays in the Dominican Republic thanks to an abundance of all-inclusive resorts and tropical beaches.

The delightful news comes as the ministry for tourism published its monthly travel statistics for April. The island registered 91% more visitors when compared to the same month in 2021 when international travel was still at a low due to the pandemic.

The North American market continues to be the most significant one for the Dominican Republic. The United States saw the largest number of foreign arrivals, representing nearly 40% of the total. This trend is set to increase as more and more vacationers flock to the sunny island for the upcoming summer season.

As for the country’s most popular destinations, Punta Cana registered by far the highest number of foreign visitors. Around 60% of all passengers entered the country through Punta Cana International Airport. Meanwhile, the capital’s Las Américas International Airport welcomed 23% of the country’s visitors. The smaller airports of Santiago and Puerto Plata handled 11% and 5% of all passenger traffic respectively.

The Punta Cana International Airport, the largest in the country, is currently undergoing a major 280 million dollar renovation program due to increased passenger traffic. This will help attract even more visitors hoping to enjoy the region’s beaches, rainforests, and all-inclusive resorts.

According to David Callado, the Dominican tourism minister, April 2022 was the first time in the country’s history that more than 600,000 visited the island. This is also excellent news for the Dominican economy, which received more than 700 million dollars thanks to foreign visitors.

“The recovery of international travel is a reality. We’ve done it again. The recorded growth in April is an achievement without precedents. It’s the best April in the history of tourism in our country”, the minister said as he was presenting the monthly overview.

With many U.S tourists planning their upcoming summer vacations, the Dominican Republic is amongst the most popular destinations. In a recent ranking published by the international travel insurance group Allianz, Punta Cana was named the fifth most popular summer destination among American travelers. Punta Cana climbed three spots from last year’s ranking and now sits at the top alongside other Caribbean locations like Cancún.

Many tourists are also heading to the Dominican Republic onboard cruise ships. After a long break due to the COVID pandemic, passengers are once again embracing the comfort of these floating hotels. According to the tourism ministry, April 2022 was an unprecedented month for cruise arrivals, with nearly 130,000 passengers choosing this form of travel.

Not only is the Dominican Republic recording good arrival numbers, but travelers’ are giving the country top-notch satisfaction ratings. Up to 93% of all travelers would recommend the island to others or visit it again. This indicates that despite packed beaches, the Dominican Republic offers guests a range of activities to make the most of their vacation.

If all goes well, the Dominican Republic may be on track to welcoming 7 million tourists by the end of the year. This too would be a record, and the country’s travel sector is looking forward to a busy summer.