Santo Domingo – The Dominican Republic has cemented its status as one of the Caribbean’s most dynamic travel hotspots after announcing a historic milestone in first-half 2026 tourism, with total visitor arrivals hitting an all-time record of more than 6.6 million people, according to Tourism Minister David Collado.
In his regular monthly update on the sector’s performance, Collado confirmed that the 6,616,671 total visitors recorded between January and June this year represents a 7.7% jump compared to the same period in 2025, and an even more substantial 11% increase over 2024’s first half. The robust growth trajectory reinforces the nation’s standing as the Caribbean’s fastest-growing major travel destinations. If current demand trends hold steady through the second half of the year, official projections put total 2026 visitor arrivals at more than 12 million, which would mark another all-time annual record for the country’s tourism industry.
Breaking down the half-year figures, the record total includes 4,963,542 visitors arriving via commercial air travel and 1,653,129 cruise ship passengers, showing that both air and maritime tourism segments are posting simultaneous, strong growth.
Looking at the single-month performance for June 2026, the nation welcomed 975,012 total visitors, with 816,511 air arrivals and 158,495 cruise guests – both segments registered year-over-year increases, confirming consistent growth across the first half of the year.
The United States continues to hold its position as the Dominican Republic’s largest source market for international tourism, accounting for 53% of all visitors arriving in June. Following the U.S. are regional and long-haul markets: Colombia makes up 8% of June visitors, Canada contributes 7%, Puerto Rico and Argentina each account for 5%, the United Kingdom and Chile each hold 3%, and Mexico rounds out the top source markets with 2% of arrivals.
On the infrastructure side, Punta Cana International Airport – the country’s primary gateway for international leisure travelers – handled 53% of all international arrivals in June. Las Américas International Airport followed with 28% of arrivals, Cibao International Airport contributed 12%, and the remaining share was split between smaller regional airports in Puerto Plata, El Higüero, La Romana, and Samaná.
Beyond just raw visitor volume, Collado emphasized that the sector is also delivering strong quality performance and high visitor satisfaction. Average hotel occupancy across the country hit 71% for the first six months of 2026, and the average visitor experience rating came in at 4.4 out of 5 points. Ministry of Tourism data shows that 92% of recent travelers stated they would plan a return trip to the Dominican Republic, and 60% said they would actively recommend the destination to friends, family, and other travelers – figures that reflect widespread satisfaction with the country’s tourism offerings.