The alliances are expected to result in an additional 3,375 flights, more than 33,000 new jobs, and an extra contribution of US$910 million to the national GDP.
With the celebration of the third Tradeshow that culminated last night in Miami, Florida, United States, the Dominican Republic seeks to boost an estimated 4,425 new rooms, 3,375 additional flights, more than 33,000 new jobs, and an extra contribution of US$910 million to the national GDP.
This was explained by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, who emphasized that a growth of US$332 million in net foreign exchange earnings is also expected, along with a 7% increase in local consumption of food products and a 4% increase in the GDP of the tourism sector.
The trade meeting concluded on Wednesday night, where the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Tourism signed 30 agreements with companies from Canada, the United States, and Latin American nations, seeking to increase and diversify hotel investment in the country, according to a publication by Diario Libre.
Participants
The exhibition featured the participation of 90 companies from the industry and more than 500 representatives from the value chain of the sector in North America, Canada and Latin America.
The business meeting, which brings together key players in the tourism industry from the United States, Canada, and Latin America—from where 87.5% of visitors to the Dominican Republic arrive—is a key platform for strengthening business relationships between the destination and its main source markets.
The event brings together the main players in the Dominican tourism industry and the most relevant international partners, in an exclusive space designed to promote negotiations, strategic alliances and showcase the diversity of Quisqueya La Bella's tourism offerings.
David Collado led the inauguration. (EXTERNAL SOURCE).
Collado highlighted the importance of this commercial activity, which, he said, will give an extraordinary boost to Dominican tourism, guaranteeing a greater influx of visitors and more investment.
“This trade show, like the previous two, has become the key platform for major negotiations that will ensure more tourists continue to visit our country. The main players in the industry from the Dominican Republic, the United States, Canada, and Latin America are here,” Collado stated at the opening of the trade event, which is being held at the exclusive JW Marriott Marquis hotel in Miami.
The official expressed the projections within the framework of the signing of new agreements, a result of this third edition of the Dominican Republic Tradeshow in Miami, which is expected to contribute to attracting more than 500,000 tourists to the country, which would stimulate an approximate hotel investment of US$1.3 billion, of which US$274 million will correspond to new developments.
“The total impact of the signed agreements is estimated at 4,425 new hotel rooms, 3,375 additional flights, more than 33,000 new jobs, and an extra contribution of US$910 million to the national GDP. Furthermore, net foreign exchange earnings are expected to grow by US$332 million, along with a 7% increase in local food consumption and a 4% increase in the tourism sector's GDP,” Collado emphasized.
The official noted that in 2024, the United States consolidated its position as the country's main source of tourists, with a total of 4,537,505 visitors, reflecting a 6% increase compared to 2023 and a 21% increase compared to 2022. This market accounted for more than 50% of total tourist arrivals to the country.
Canada, Collado added, has remained the second largest historical source market, contributing an average of 15% of visitors over the last decade.
He noted that, in the past, 1,200,477 Canadian residents visited the Dominican Republic, achieving a year-on-year growth of 9%, after having grown by 52% in 2023 compared to 2022.
Collado emphasized that Latin America contributed 1.6 million visitors in 2024, registering a year-on-year growth of 12%. The countries with the highest growth were Argentina (+35%), Mexico (+33%), Chile (+12%), Colombia (+10%), Brazil (+9%), and Puerto Rico (+9%).
This Tradeshow has established itself as the most important marketing event in the Dominican Republic internationally, with the participation of more than 80 Dominican hotels, airlines and tourism providers, serving as a key platform for the expansion and strengthening of the sector.
Agreements
One important alliance was with the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) to train captains for Dominican airlines, another with Expedia, one of the most important platforms dedicated to the sale of airline tickets and hotel reservations, where Santo Domingo and Samaná stand out.
Similarly, Despegar, Hopper, and Trasant, companies specializing in the sale of tour packages, also stood out among the agreements presented at the Dominican Republic Trade Show in Miami. Air Canada, Voyage, and Travel Brands were also included in the list.
