SANTO DOMINGO – The Dominican Republic’s food and beverage industry is posting strong momentum, with nearly 70 new restaurants launched across the capital city of Santo Domingo in the last 12 months. This upward trend was confirmed by Juan Bancalari, the top executive of the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores), who pushed back against widespread narratives that the sector is struggling with mass closures.
In his remarks addressing recent market speculation, Bancalari clarified that occasional restaurant shutdowns are a natural byproduct of healthy market competition, not a sign of systemic industry decline. While some existing operations do exit the market each year, the flow of new dining ventures has not slowed, he noted.
To back his claim of ongoing expansion, Bancalari highlighted a specific high-growth corridor in the capital: the neighborhood surrounding República de Colombia Avenue, located near the city’s embassy district. In that area alone, 10 new restaurants have opened their doors over the past year, concentrated in the newly developed Patio Colombia and Plaza Los Altos commercial spaces.
According to Bancalari, the steady influx of new dining establishments underscores the long-term growth of the Dominican Republic’s gastronomic landscape, as well as the nation’s growing appeal as a destination for travelers seeking immersive leisure, dining, and entertainment experiences. Beyond the food sector, he also celebrated the Dominican Republic’s remarkable rebound in the broader tourism industry following the global COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the country has claimed the top spot for post-pandemic tourism recovery across the entire Caribbean and Latin American region. Bancalari attributed this impressive performance to the nation’s sustained efforts to draw in international visitors and reinforce the foundations of its tourism-driven economy.