The Dominican Republic concluded 2025 with an extraordinary tourism achievement, recording approximately 960,000 air arrivals in December alone—a monumental 10% growth that represents the highest monthly figure in the nation’s history. This remarkable performance culminated in an unprecedented annual total of 11.6 million visitors, solidifying the country’s position as a regional tourism powerhouse.
This accomplishment transcends mere post-pandemic recovery, demonstrating instead the resilience and strategic diversification of the Dominican tourism model amid global geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, and shifting travel patterns. Notably, these results significantly surpass pre-pandemic benchmarks of 667,000 monthly tourists, achieved during a more favorable international climate without the adverse impacts of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which previously cost the destination over 500,000 annual visitors.
Despite challenges in traditional markets including slowed growth from the United States, the Dominican tourism sector accelerated dramatically during the final quarter of 2025. Critical to this success has been enhanced air connectivity, strategic demand management, and the seamless integration of approximately 2,500 new hotel rooms while maintaining robust occupancy rates and sustained investor confidence.
Concurrently, cruise tourism emerged as a strategic pillar with 2.8 million passengers welcomed throughout the year. The arrival of large-scale vessels and expanded international itineraries validated the country’s modernized port infrastructure, reinforcing its status as a leading Caribbean cruise destination.
Leadership under Tourism Minister David Collado received widespread recognition from global industry leaders including Gabriel Escarrer, Sabina Fluxá, and Frank Rainieri, who praised the administration’s strategic vision and execution. Uniquely, this acclaim extended beyond private sector figures to governmental peers, with tourism ministers throughout the Americas identifying Collado as a regional leader for his exceptional management in challenging times.
This consensus was formally recognized when UN Tourism designated Collado as Minister of Tourism for the Americas—a distinction that highlights both his leadership and the Dominican Republic’s model of effective tourism policy. The year’s achievements reflect institutional maturity driven by clear strategy, consistent execution, and strong public-private collaboration, establishing new historical benchmarks for Caribbean tourism.