标签： Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has witnessed a remarkable surge in larimar exports, with figures skyrocketing from 85,480 pounds in 2024 to 291,340 pounds this year, as reported by Joel Santos Echavarría, the Minister of Energy and Mines. Santos emphasized the importance of integrating larimar into the nation’s tourism offerings, stating, “We are a tourist country, and larimar must be part of that Dominican tourist product.” He also underscored the stone’s protection under the International Registration of the Larimar Barahona Origin Designation and celebrated the establishment of the first Artisanal Mining Emergency Response Brigade as a significant milestone. These remarks were made during a promotional fair in Barahona province, marking National Larimar Day, where miners, artisans, designers, and brigade members were honored for their contributions to the mineral’s industrialization. Rolando Muñoz Mejía, the Mining Director at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, highlighted that approximately 950 workers are engaged daily in larimar extraction. However, the industry faces challenges, as voiced by miners and artisans. They pointed to the lack of financial resources, low market prices for raw and crafted larimar, and insufficient promotion as critical areas needing attention. Fernando González, a seasoned miner with over four decades of experience, noted that while a pound of larimar currently sells for RD$4,000 to RD$5,000, its unique value could command higher prices. Similarly, artisan Alexander Vargas called for increased promotion and financial support to enhance extraction methods and boost international awareness of larimar’s uniqueness.

Daypass, the premier digital platform for booking day-access experiences across Latin America and Spain, has officially launched operations in the Dominican Republic. This strategic expansion marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to transform hospitality accessibility throughout the region.

Within just two months of operation, the platform has demonstrated remarkable market traction, issuing over 1,000 day passes and establishing a diverse portfolio of more than 120 unique experiences across the country. The catalog continues to expand weekly, showcasing growing demand for flexible tourism options.

The innovative platform serves as a digital bridge connecting consumers with premium hospitality venues including luxury resorts, spa facilities, and exclusive beach clubs. By eliminating the traditional requirement for overnight accommodation, Daypass enables both visitors and local residents to access amenities previously reserved exclusively for hotel guests.

CEO and Co-founder Rafa Gómez expressed enthusiasm about the platform’s reception: ‘We are profoundly encouraged by the rapid adoption in the Dominican Republic. The trust from venue partners and strong booking activity from customers demonstrates genuine interest in diversified tourism experiences.’

This business model represents a paradigm shift in tourism infrastructure utilization, allowing hotels and resorts to optimize their existing facilities while forging stronger connections with local communities. The expansion into key destinations including Punta Cana, Bayahibe, Puerto Plata, and Santo Domingo promotes more inclusive and flexible tourism options nationwide.

For the Dominican Republic’s tourism sector, Daypass introduces multiple strategic benefits: strengthening domestic tourism during off-peak seasons, creating additional revenue streams for hospitality providers, and positioning the country as an innovative leader in regional tourism technology. The platform’s growth signifies evolving consumer preferences toward experience-based travel and more accessible luxury offerings.

Carnival Cruise Line has unveiled a strategic redeployment of its fleet for the 2027-28 season, responding to unprecedented consumer demand by introducing extended Caribbean itineraries and optimizing vessel assignments across key homeports. The comprehensive restructuring will position four ships from Galveston, Texas, beginning November 2027, offering voyages ranging from four to ten days throughout the Caribbean basin.

The revised deployment strategy features distinct itinerary patterns based on duration. Shorter cruises will focus primarily on Mexican destinations including Cozumel and Progreso, while extended voyages will encompass an expansive array of ports across multiple nations. These longer journeys will include calls at Belize, Grand Turk, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, Limón in Costa Rica, Colón in Panama, Roatán, Grand Cayman, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, alongside Carnival’s private destinations of Celebration Key and Half Moon Cay.

Notable itinerary innovations include Carnival Sunshine’s introduction of eight new cruises featuring a specialized 10-day circuit visiting Cozumel, Isla Tropicale, Montego Bay, and Grand Cayman. Simultaneously, Carnival Spirit will operate from Tampa, Florida, offering six to eight-day voyages to Belize, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios in Jamaica, and Mexican ports. The Spirit will additionally deploy six eight-day Panama Canal itineraries visiting Limón, Grand Cayman, and Colón, culminating in an exceptional 13-day Carnival Journeys cruise on January 30, 2028, with extended port calls in Grand Cayman, Limón, Colón, Aruba, Curaçao, and Ocho Rios.

A significant vessel reassignment will see Carnival Sunshine, with its 3,000-passenger capacity, repositioned to Galveston instead of Carnival Spirit, which will transition to Tampa operations. This capacity enhancement strategically addresses growing demand from the Texas market while enabling the introduction of novel longer-duration Caribbean voyages from Florida.

Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, emphasized the consumer-driven nature of these changes: ‘This strategic redeployment allows us to serve increased guest demand in Galveston while simultaneously introducing new, extended Caribbean itineraries for travelers departing from Tampa.’ The comprehensive fleet optimization demonstrates Carnival’s commitment to matching vessel capacity with market demand while expanding destination options for Caribbean-bound travelers.

The Dominican Republic faces a complex economic landscape as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) emphasizes the urgent need for fiscal and structural reforms. While the country has demonstrated resilience in navigating a turbulent global environment, concerns persist over stagnant incomes, chronic budgetary deficits, and rising public debt. The IMF has called for immediate action to address these issues, particularly in the electricity sector, where subsidies are escalating while revenue from energy supply declines. Economist Rosa Cañete Alonso echoed these concerns, warning that the nation is trapped in a cycle of stagnant revenues and rigid spending, prioritizing debt repayment over future investments. Despite these challenges, the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic highlighted positive developments, noting sustained economic growth and a 3% increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2024, contrasting with an 11% global decline. The Central Bank emphasized the country’s ability to cover its current account deficit and strengthen its regional economic position. However, the opposition has criticized the government, accusing it of economic mismanagement and deteriorating public services. Columnist José Luis Taveras urged the opposition to move beyond unconstructive criticism and propose viable solutions. As the Dominican Republic balances optimism with pressing reforms, the path to sustained economic stability remains a critical focus.

Viva Resorts by Wyndham is experiencing unprecedented demand from Argentine travelers, driven by new air connectivity and a strategic shift in tourist preferences. Viviana Cuomo, Regional Sales Manager for South America, revealed these developments during the Tourism Marketing Meeting (ECTU) at the Marriott Hotel in Buenos Aires.

Cuomo reported exceptional performance across the group’s Dominican properties, particularly highlighting the Viva Tangerine and Viva Heavens resorts in Puerto Plata. These northern region hotels have become standout choices for the upcoming season, benefiting significantly from Copa Airlines’ expanded flight routes from Córdoba, Rosario, and Mendoza.

The executive identified three key factors driving Argentine interest: competitive pricing, sargassum-free beaches, and diverse cultural experiences beyond traditional resort offerings. Puerto Plata’s comprehensive package—including Tobacco and Rum Circuit tours, Cocoa excursions, key island visits, dolphin water parks, and rich historical attractions—resonates strongly with modern travelers seeking authentic experiences.

Financially, Puerto Plata presents a compelling value proposition with packages starting at $1,700-1,800 during peak season, positioning it favorably against both Punta Cana and Brazilian alternatives. Meanwhile, Viva Miches has completed its first year of operation with remarkably positive market reception, further strengthening the brand’s regional footprint.

This surge in Argentine visitors represents a significant market transformation, with travelers increasingly prioritizing new destinations, seaweed-free beaches, and differentiated experiences that combine recreational and cultural elements.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has formally recognized the Dominican Republic’s robust economic recovery and underlying resilience, attributing this positive trajectory to effective government policies and key sectoral growth. In its concluding assessment of the 2025 Article IV consultation, the Executive Board highlighted how strategic monetary and fiscal measures, coupled with expansions in credit, exports, and tourism, have fortified the nation’s macroeconomic performance.

Economic projections outlined in the report anticipate growth accelerating to 4.5% in 2026, with a subsequent convergence toward the country’s long-term potential growth rate of 5%. This follows a period of moderated expansion in late 2024 and early 2025, influenced by global financial uncertainty. Despite these headwinds, inflation has remained well-anchored, hovering near the central bank’s target range of 4% (±1%) and is forecast to average 3.7% for 2025.

The IMF’s analysis further indicates a strengthening external position, deemed consistent with fundamental economic principles. The current account deficit is expected to narrow to 2.5% of GDP this year, buoyed by robust export earnings and steady remittance flows. Notably, this deficit is projected to be fully financed by foreign direct investment (FDI), underscoring international investor confidence.

Fiscal health is also on an upward path, with government deficit and debt levels set to decline gradually. This fiscal consolidation is driven by anticipated reductions in losses from the electricity sector and more efficient targeting of energy subsidies. These reforms are poised to generate significant fiscal space for planned increases in public investment.

The report commends the Dominican Republic’s two decades of solid macroeconomic performance, achieved through the continual strengthening of policies and institutions. This foundation positions the nation favorably to navigate external risks, including volatile global financial conditions and vulnerability to natural disasters. The IMF specifically urged authorities to maintain prudent fiscal policies, increase public investment in line with the medium-term budgetary framework, and fully implement the Electricity Pact to ensure sectoral resilience and mitigate fiscal risks.