SANTO DOMINGO.- The Dominican Republic tops the list of global destinations with the best performance in 2023, according to the results of the “Global Travel Trends Report 2023”, prepared by ForwardKeys, a leading travel analytics firm.
The country leads the list with 14% more visitors than in 2019, received by air in 2023; it is followed by Colombia and Mexico, both with 5% more, followed by Greece (+3%) and Saudi Arabia (0%) with the same number of flight arrivals as in 2019.
The remaining destinations are led by Portugal (-1%) in sixth place, followed by Argentina (-3%), the United Arab Emirates (-7%), Turkey (-9%), and Egypt (-10%), based on the recovery of destinations in terms of international tourist arrivals. According to this data, the list of the top 10 destinations is dominated by Caribbean countries.
The Dominican Republic also leads the list of best-performing destinations post-recovery. It is followed by Costa Rica and Aruba, both with an 11% increase in 2023 compared to 2019; Jamaica and Puerto Rico, both with a 9% increase; Colombia and Mexico, both with a 5% increase; the Bahamas and Greece, both with a 3% increase; and Saudi Arabia, which remains stable, receiving the same number of flight arrivals as in 2019.
Punta Cana, located in the east of the country, ranks among the top 10 destinations in America for international tourist arrivals, with a record growth of 22%, making it the world's leading destination.
Urban destinations
Travelers have developed a strong preference for destinations that offer 'sun and beach'. However, in 2023 there was a notable change in this trend.
Urban destinations are becoming increasingly popular with tourists, with a growth rate of 52% compared to 26% growth in 'sun and beach' destinations during the same period in 2022, the report indicates.
Other trends shown by the study include the value placed on shared experiences, which is evident in the popularity of family groups, in which three to five passengers travel together.
He says the recovery has been slower, couples' trips are the second most resilient segment across all regions and are only slightly behind family group trips in APAC and America.
Investigation
The report examines emerging patterns in global tourism and evolving traveler behavior that are driving changes in the industry. It classifies and analyzes airline tickets issued up to September 26, reflecting arrivals on flights scheduled up to that date and bookings through the end of the year.
The benchmark is 2019, the last normal year for international travel before the pandemic decimated the industry. Globally, air traffic in 2023 is expected to finish 25% below the 2019 peak.
