After years of pandemic-related disruption to international tourism events, the Dominican Republic has marked its highly anticipated comeback to Paraguay’s flagship tourism exhibition, serving as the official guest nation at the 21st edition of the International Tourism Fair of Paraguay (FITPAR). The event is being hosted at Asunción’s Mariscal Convention Center, bringing together tourism stakeholders from across the globe to unlock new travel opportunities.
As the guest of honor, the Dominican delegation is advancing a clear strategic goal: drawing more Paraguayan tourists to the Caribbean nation and showcasing the full breadth of its tourism offerings beyond the globally popular beach destination of Punta Cana. Reina Olivares, who leads the Dominican Republic Tourism Office’s operations covering Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, emphasized that the country’s return to FITPAR after the pandemic represents a key milestone in rebuilding and expanding its tourism connections in South America. Olivares noted that the exhibition provides an unrivaled platform to deepen working relationships with Paraguayan travel agencies and tour operators, who serve as critical partners in driving visitor arrivals from the region.
While Punta Cana has long held strong popularity among Paraguayan leisure travelers, the Dominican delegation is actively highlighting a diverse slate of alternative destinations for visitors to explore. These include the coastal charm of Puerto Plata, the lush natural landscapes of Samaná, the tranquil beachscapes of Bayahíbe, the golf and coastal resorts of La Romana, and the vibrant cultural capital of Santo Domingo. Each site offers unique experiences, from ecotourism and historical exploration to immersive cultural getaways, expanding the options available to travelers beyond all-inclusive beach vacations.
A key competitive advantage the country highlights to grow travel between the two nations is its existing air connectivity, which streamlines travel for Paraguayan visitors and makes it easier to access the full range of Dominican destinations across the island. This infrastructure lays a solid foundation for increasing visitor numbers in the coming months.
This year’s FITPAR, organized by the Paraguayan Association of Travel Agencies and Tourism Companies (Asatur), is one of the largest tourism industry events in South America, gathering more than 600 exhibitors, 300 leading travel brands, and official representatives from 11 countries. Beyond showcasing global tourism destinations, businesses and institutions, the fair hosts a full program of professional networking sessions, business-to-business partnership meetings, and public activities highlighting global gastronomy, culture and travel trends.
For the Dominican Republic, participation at FITPAR aligns with its broader national tourism strategy: diversifying its international source markets, strengthening commercial and institutional ties with the Paraguayan travel sector, and building awareness of its full portfolio of destinations among South American travelers. Industry observers expect the guest country participation to translate into steady growth in Paraguayan visitor arrivals over the next year.