SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS, Dominican Republic – Mayor Ulises Rodríguez has confirmed that the city’s strategic involvement in Madrid’s International Tourism Fair (FITUR) is generating substantial economic returns, marked by enhanced tourism metrics, breakthrough aviation agreements, and elevated global standing. For the second year running, Santiago executed a coordinated presence at the premier event, uniting municipal leadership, private sector representatives, and development institutions in a unified promotional effort.
The most notable achievement cited by Rodríguez is the definitive emergence of Santiago as a mature tourist destination, characterized by surging visitor numbers and consistently high occupancy rates across accommodation facilities. In a landmark development for regional connectivity, the mayor announced the establishment of three new direct flight routes linking Santiago’s Cibao International Airport directly with Madrid—a first-ever continuous air corridor to Europe. Further expanding its international access, Copa Airlines is commencing operations from Santiago this week, with an additional overseas route scheduled for imminent revelation.
Beyond transportation infrastructure, Rodríguez emphasized the invaluable diplomatic and promotional value generated by high-level official visits. The recent choice of Santiago by Chile’s President-Elect José Antonio Kast and the Governor of New York State as a priority destination signals growing international confidence in the city’s ongoing revitalization. Transformative improvements in urban cleanliness, public organization, and developmental planning were highlighted as key factors driving this external validation. Concluding his assessment, Rodríguez credited the national administration of President Luis Abinader for providing the strategic vision and stable governance that have positioned both Santiago and the broader Dominican Republic as benchmarks for economic progress and democratic resilience.