The year 2025 presented significant challenges for the construction, tourism, and real estate sectors. However, despite the challenging economic climate, the industry remained a cornerstone of the Dominican economy. Five key industry associations share the progress that defined this period.
Michael Lugo
The executive director of the Dominican Association of Tourism and Real Estate Companies (ADETI), Michael Lugo, described it as an extraordinary year for tourism real estate, making it one of the strongest drivers of national growth. He maintained that the sector not only grew but also consolidated itself as an example of tourism diversification. He highlighted the expansion of luxury projects, the high demand for properties, the outstanding occupancy rates, and record foreign direct investment. He also emphasized the expansion into new tourist destinations and the strengthening of mixed-use projects that combine residences with vacation rentals. According to figures from the Ministry of Tourism, as of October 2025, 68 tourism-real estate projects had been classified through Confotur, representing more than 75% of those approved and a total investment of US$1.421 billion, adding more than 10,100 new rooms.
Riubell Montes de Oca
Although Riubell Montes de Oca, president of the Santo Domingo East Builders Association (ASCODE), considered 2025 a year of institutional consolidation for the organization he represents, he maintained that it also presented significant challenges for the construction sector. He believes that some challenges have been overcome, while others persist and require immediate attention. His primary concern is the urgent need to revitalize the sector, as the level of investment and the necessary infrastructure required mean that the private sector alone cannot sustain the momentum needed to reactivate growth.
Yajaira Sosa
Yajaira Sosa, president of the Dominican Short-Term Rental Association (ADORECO), believes the year showed clear signs of progress for the short-term rental ecosystem in the country. She stated that industry news and analyses agree that the market has stabilized after years of rapid growth, with a more professional offering and operators who work with greater organization, processes, and technical expertise. There was also a natural streamlining of the inventory: “Those who manage with discipline remain, while improvised models disappear, which improves the overall quality of the sector.” She added that, economically, the positive impact on local businesses, services, and microeconomies continued, reinforcing the importance of the model in labor mobility, the demand for flexible stays, and broader accommodation needs.
Alberto Bogaert
“2025 has been a year of significant progress for the Dominican real estate sector. We have seen a more organized market, with better-structured projects, greater discipline in processes, and an increasingly informed buyer. Foreign investment maintained its confidence in the country, especially in tourism and urban housing, while real estate agents continued to raise their standards of professionalism and service,” said Alberto Bogaert, president of the Association of Real Estate Agents and Companies (AEI). He noted that the organization views the year as a period of consolidation and institutional strengthening, where ethics, training, and transparency made all the difference in its development.
Jorge David Pérez
The president of the Dominican Association of Portland Cement Producers (ADOCEM), Jorge David Pérez, emphasized that 2025 reaffirmed the strength of the cement sector. He noted that “the association has strengthened its role as the trade representative of the Dominican cement sector, facilitating regulatory dialogue to promote sustainable regulatory frameworks in the industry.” He added that companies in the sector increased their investments, raising installed capacity to 11 million tons of cement, enough to cover national demand for the next 15 to 20 years and strengthen the country's export competitiveness.
Photos: External source.
Originally published in issue 13 of El Inmobiliario print magazine.
