The data for the first half of the year and the cumulative total up to August come in a context where international tourism continues to grow, although at a much more moderate pace than predicted at the beginning of the year
SANTO DOMINGO. While international tourism is beginning to show signs of slowing down, the Dominican Republic is among the destinations that managed to increase visitor arrivals by double digits during the first half of 2026, according to the most recent UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer, which places the growth of international arrivals to the country at 10% between January and June.
This result contrasts with the general behavior of the Caribbean, which did not register growth during that period.
The Dominican Republic's performance stands out in a region where results were more moderate. According to the report, the Caribbean registered 0% growth during the first half of the year, while the Dominican Republic achieved double-digit growth.
In Latin America, performance was also uneven. El Salvador led regional growth with 37%, followed by Paraguay with 34%. Bolivia also registered an increase of 10%, while Argentina and Ecuador grew by 8%.
The data places the country among the destinations that have managed to sustain a higher growth rate in a year marked by higher travel costs, air connectivity problems and greater international uncertainty.
More than 8.5 million visitors through August
The figures accumulated by the country show that the movement of visitors continued during the following months.
In that regard, between January and August, the Dominican Republic received more than 8.5 million visitors, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism. Of that total, 6,610,258 arrived by air, while 1,946,151 arrived by sea, primarily through cruise tourism.
Likewise, the arrival of visitors through both routes keeps tourism as one of the main activities linked to the movement of travelers to the country.
Global tourism is slowing down
The international scenario, however, is less favorable than that observed in recent years.
The tourism agency estimates that some 690 million tourists traveled internationally between January and June 2026, just three million more than in the same period the previous year.
The organization also lowered its forecast for global growth this year. It now expects an increase of between 1% and 2%, down from the 3% to 4% it had projected in January.
Factors weighing on the outlook include the evolution of international conflicts, oil prices, and inflation.
The Middle East records the biggest drop
One of the biggest changes occurred in the Middle East, where international arrivals decreased by 22% during the first half of the year.
The region has been directly affected by the conflict, with disruptions to air traffic and decreased traveler confidence. Several Gulf destinations saw significant declines.
Elsewhere in the world, the results were also mixed. Asia and the Pacific grew by just 1%, although they still remain 11% below 2019 levels. Oceania, on the other hand, increased by 4%, despite the drop recorded in June due to the impact of Typhoon Sinlaku.
In Europe, Uzbekistan and Moldova grew by 25%, while Greece and Ireland registered increases of 15%.
Travelers more attentive to prices
The UN Tourism report points to a shift in traveler behavior. Rising prices and economic uncertainty could lead more people to seek out nearby destinations, domestic travel, and options that offer better value for money.
In that same order, the data for the first half of the year and the accumulated total up to August are produced in a context in which international tourism continues to grow, although at a much more moderate pace than expected at the beginning of the year.
The evolution of the coming months will be conditioned by external factors, especially energy prices, inflation and the duration of the conflicts that are affecting transport and traveler confidence.
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