The Dominican Republic is a beautiful and popular Caribbean nation, already attracting many travelers. However, it will soon be even more popular, with lower airfares and increased access under the Open Skies agreement. Moreover, an increase in cruise passengers is set to happen,

The Dominican Republic soars in popularity in the Caribbean

According to a statement by the Dominican Republic’s president, Luis Abinader, the country will surpass 11.5 million visitors by the end of 2024. This comes after the country boasted a record 10 million visitors in 2023.

In the first seven months of 2024, the Caribbean nation welcomed 6,968,623 visitors, another record. Moreover, the Dominican Republic posted all-time highs this year in both summer land and cruise visitors.

Abinader spoke of the country’s tourism growth during his second-term inauguration speech on August 16. He attributed the increase in visitors to continuing infrastructure investments, which have enhanced connectivity and logistic capabilities. Moreover, the growth also comes from the construction of new cruise ports in Perdanales, with another scheduled to be built in the Samana district.

Moreover, Abinader pointed to other new projects, including the doubling of facilities at the Punta Cana International Airport. Other projects include the upcoming construction of Terminal 2 at the Santo Domingo Airport, and new terminals at the Santiago Airport. Meanwhile, he also pointed to the January opening of Pedernales International Airport.

Increase in tourism in July 2024

In an August 18 address in Santo Domingo,  David Callado, the country’s tourism minister, said that in July this year, the Dominican Republic welcomed 811,192 travelers visiting by air, which is 2 percent more than in July 2023. Moreover, the figure is 10 percent more than in 2022 and 37 percent more than in 2019. Callado also said that since August 2020, the country has welcomed 31,947,565 visitors.

Meanwhile, he added that the number of cruise passengers arriving in July 2024 was 206,704, 39 percent more than in June. Moreover, the figure is 95 percent higher than in July 2022 and 148 percent more than in pre-pandemic days in July 2019.

In the first seven months of this year, the Caribbean nation welcomed 5,286,174 airline passengers, 8 percent more than the same time in 2023. Moreover, the number is 23 percent higher than the same period in 2022 and 27 percent more in airline passengers in 2019.

Cruising to the Dominican Republic

Meanwhile, the Caribbean nation’s cruise visitor growth has exceeded its land-based arrivals. Collado said that 1,682,449 cruise passengers visited during the first seven months of 2024, which is 19 percent up from the same period in 2023. Moreover, the number is 155 percent up from 2022 and 156 percent higher than in 2019.

Moreover, the increase in cruise visitors started early, with 829,385 passengers arriving in the Dominican Republic’s cruise terminals in the first quarter of 2024. According to the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism, this is an 8.37 percent increase in the same period last year, when 802,260 cruise passengers arrived.

This is likely to rise even more when at the beginning of October, the Pedernales cruise port in Cabo Royo is set to welcome a cruise ship every eight days, which represents “a significant boost in the region’s tourism” according to Jean Luis Rodriguez, the Executive Director of the Dominican Port Authority.

Moreover, by 2025, two new hotels will open in Pedernales, with around 500 rooms each. According to Joel Santos, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of the Presidency, this will further advance the nation’s tourism development. Santos predicts that the city will attract one million annual travelers within the first three years.

More flights with Arajet

Thanks to the Dominican Republic’s recent Open Skies agreement with the US, the country’s state carrier, Arajet, is preparing to offer flights connecting the nation’s capital of Santo Domingo with more US cities.

According to Arajet officials, they expect to receive approval from the US Department of Transportation to commence its new proposed routes. This will follow the implementation of the Open Skies pact, which has to first be reviewed by the Dominican Constitutional Court and the nation’s congress. Arajet hopes to launch the first departures in the first half of 2025.