The announcement came during the World Travel Market 2026 in London, where he also reported on negotiations to increase flight frequencies from Europe
ENGLAND– Tourism Minister David Collado announced the signing of a ten-year agreement between the Casa de Campo Airport and Cruise Terminal, owned by Central Romana, and Carnival Corporation, guaranteeing 327 new flights to the Dominican Republic. The initiative aims to strengthen international connectivity and expand tourism in La Romana.
During his participation in the World Travel Market (WTM) 2026 fair, Collado described the agreement as "a decisive and precise step forward" for the national tourism sector and highlighted Carnival Corporation's confidence in the country and its private initiative.
"We are very excited about this agreement, which will last for 10 years and will guarantee 327 new flights to the Dominican Republic for 10 years," the official said, highlighting the scope of this alliance.
He also explained that the agreement will allow the integration of cruise tourism with air transport, strengthening La Romana's position as a destination and connection point for international travelers.
An alliance to boost tourism in La Romana
Referring to the repercussions of this initiative, the Minister of Tourism pointed out that its scope should extend beyond airport and port operations to benefit the various sectors involved in tourism.
In that regard, he congratulated Luis Emilio Rodríguez, president of the Airport and Cruise Terminal of Casa de Campo, as well as the representatives of Carnival Corporation for their commitment to the development of the Dominican Republic.
Similarly, he emphasized the opportunities that could be generated for small businesses and service providers in the province.
"May this translate into job creation, sales opportunities for our artisans in La Romana, for taxi drivers as well, and for tour operators," Collado stated.
Based on this vision, he argued that the growth of the industry should translate into benefits for the entire value chain, so that new connections and the arrival of visitors have an impact on the receiving communities.
For his part, Luis Emilio Rodríguez praised the agreement as a step forward in further positioning La Romana as a cruise destination and international hub. He also thanked Carnival Corporation for its commitment to a long-term relationship with Central Romana and the country.
Collado announces negotiations to add flights from Europe
In addition to the agreement with Carnival Corporation, the minister reported on other efforts undertaken during the London fair to expand Dominican air connectivity with the European market, particularly with the United Kingdom.
At the start of the second day of WTM, the official offered details of the meetings held the previous day with airlines and tour operators.
"Well, yesterday we held meetings with British Airways, where we agreed to explore the possibility of adding an extra flight to Punta Cana, given that the occupancy rate with this airline is over 98%," he explained.
Similarly, he reported on the progress of talks with World2Meet and World2Fly, companies linked to the European market that, he indicated, are responsible for transporting more than 700,000 tourists to the Dominican Republic.
"We also agreed to add an additional flight to the Dominican Republic in January," Collado added, referring to the agreements with both companies.
In that same context, he announced that he would be making another announcement related to Casa de Campo, referring to the agreement that includes 327 new flights over a decade.
Connectivity and diversification of the tourism offer
The initiatives announced in London are part of the Ministry of Tourism's efforts to increase visitor arrivals, strengthen ties with key source markets, and diversify the Dominican Republic's tourism offerings.
In particular, the agreement between Casa de Campo and Carnival Corporation seeks to coordinate air operations with the movement of cruise passengers, while opening new possibilities to boost the economy of La Romana.
In this way, Collado highlighted the confidence of the private sector and international companies in the national tourism potential, with a strategy that seeks to convert the growth of connections and the flow of travelers into jobs, investments and opportunities for the communities.
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