The Dominican Republic is poised to achieve a historic milestone in tourism, with an anticipated 11.7 million visitors in 2024, marking a record high for the nation. This surge underscores the sector’s critical role as a primary driver of foreign exchange. Tourism Minister David Collado emphasized this achievement, noting its significance despite challenges such as recent storms and air travel disruptions in the United States. In 2023, the country welcomed 11,192,047 tourists, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur). By October 2024, over nine million visitors had already arrived, including 2.1 million via cruise ships. Collado highlighted that these figures exclude tourism from Russia and Ukraine, which previously contributed approximately 500,000 annual visitors. President Luis Abinader announced plans to promote the Pedernales region at the Madrid Tourism Fair (Fitur) in January 2026, aiming to transform it into a second Punta Cana due to its stunning beaches. Additionally, Abinader addressed the issue of tourist misconduct, stating that 99.1% of visitors comply with the law. The government is intensifying efforts to prosecute the remaining 0.9% involved in harmful practices, particularly child sexual exploitation, with notable progress in areas like Sosúa.
The Dominican Republic projects to close 2025 with a record 11.7 million visitors
