Santo Domingo – The Dominican Republic achieved a historic tourism milestone in the first half of 2025, welcoming a record 6,145,008 visitors. This impressive figure marks an increase of almost 2 million compared to the same period in 2019, and shows a rise of over 185,000 visitors compared to the previous year.
President Luis Abinader and Tourism Minister David Collado shared these statistics at a significant event in Santo Domingo, underscoring the tourism sector’s critical importance to the nation’s economy. President Abinader attributed the ongoing boom in tourism to effective public-private partnerships, suggesting that this is a prime opportunity for further investments in the sector.
Minister Collado detailed that the total for January to June consists of 4.5 million air travelers and an unprecedented 1.63 million cruise passengers. This represents a staggering 48% increase over 2019 figures, with growth of 15% and 3% recorded over 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The majority of tourists originated from the United States (45%), followed by Canada (18%), Argentina (6%), and Colombia (4%). The most frequented airports during this period were Punta Cana, Las Américas, and Cibao, with hotel occupancy rates exceeding 77%.
Looking ahead, Collado expressed optimism that if the current trend continues, the Dominican Republic could welcome as many as 12 million visitors by the end of the year, setting a new record for tourism in the country.
This promising outlook signals not only a resurgence in travel but also a potential boost in employment and investment, reinforcing the importance of tourism as an engine for economic growth in the Dominican Republic.