Global trends redefining investment in tourism real estate, analyzed at the Forbes Real Estate Summit 2026

At the real estate event, experts agreed that the current model is focused on lifestyle, profitability, experience and sustainability, far from the classic second home model.

SANTO DOMINGO. –  It is clear that real estate tourism is one of the most dynamic drivers of economic development in tourist destinations globally, as evidenced at the Forbes Real Estate Summit 2026, held in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

Consulting the website and documents of the meeting, it is discovered that developers, investors, architects and urban planners agreed that real estate investment linked to tourism has surpassed the classic second home model to become a comprehensive proposal based on lifestyle, profitability, experience and sustainability.

The discussions at the meeting not only set trends for the Southern Cone, but also offer clear insights for markets like the Dominican Republic, which combines sustained tourism growth, macroeconomic stability, and an increasingly sophisticated real estate offering.

From Bricks and Bricks to Experience:

One of the most frequently repeated points of consensus in Punta del Este was that real estate value is no longer defined solely by location or square footage, but by the experience the project can offer the tenant. Analyses published by Forbes Uruguay emphasize that the new luxury real estate relies on the integration of architecture, natural surroundings, services, well-being, connectivity, and professional management.

This conceptual shift finds fertile ground in the Dominican Republic, in hubs such as Punta Cana, Cap Cana, Las Terrenas, Cabarete and Santo Domingo, which have evolved towards residential developments that integrate marinas, golf courses, wellness amenities, gastronomy and hospitality services.

Global Property Guide reports rank these areas among the highest-performing vacation rental destinations in the Caribbean, reinforcing the viability of the model.

Opportunity and Competition:

The summit revealed a growing interest from US, European, and Latin American investors in destinations that combine legal security, air connectivity , and stable tourist demand.

In this scenario, the Dominican Republic competes directly with markets such as Uruguay, Mexico, and Costa Rica to attract long-term real estate investment.

Data from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Tourism confirm that the country exceeded 11 million visitors in 2025, which sustains the demand for products geared towards short and medium term rentals.

Economy and territorial transformation

Real estate tourism goes beyond the construction sector, as evidenced by studies from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which indicate that this model generates productive linkages in employment, services, infrastructure and local consumption.

In the Dominican Republic, tourist-residential development has transformed entire territories, as happened in Bávaro-Punta Cana and, more recently, in Miches and the north coast, where private investment has accelerated urbanization and connectivity processes.

However, experts linked to the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association (AREUEA) warn that accelerated growth also poses structural challenges: urban planning, access to housing for the local population, pressure on public services and infrastructure, and environmental sustainability.

International experience demonstrates that countries that balanceprivate investment with efficient regulation achieve more lasting impacts. This is where the need to regulate short-term income comes in.

Lessons for the Dominican Model:

One of the most relevant lessons from the Uruguayan case, discussed in Punta del Este, is the importance of institutional efficiency and regulatory clarity as factors for attracting quality capital. Uruguay has turned these elements into a competitive advantage, a pertinent reference point for the Dominican Republic, where stakeholders in the sector have pointed to the need to streamline permits and strengthen urban planning, according to analyses published by Forbes Central America and the Caribbean.

Likewise, the rise of remote buyers and digital nomads, a recurring theme at the summit, opens new opportunities for the country, which already boasts air connectivity, a favorable climate, and established tourism services—factors highlighted in UN Tourism reports.

A sector with strategic value

. The trends discussed in Uruguay confirm that real estate tourism will continue to be a key driver of economic diversification, and for the Dominican Republic, the challenge is not only to attract more investment, but to attract better investment capable of raising urban standards, generating sustainable development, and positioning the country as one of the leading real estate and tourism hubs in the Caribbean.

Key data

. More than 11 million visitors in 2025 in the Dominican Republic
Source: Central Bank of the Dominican Republic / Ministry of Tourism.
Areas with the highest returns from vacation rentals: Punta Cana, Cap Cana, Las Terrenas.
Source: Global Property Guide.
High impact on employment and local infrastructure.
Source: Inter-American Development Bank.

Expert readings:

“The new luxury real estate is defined by experience and integration with the environment.”
-Sector analysis, Forbes Uruguay:
“The lack of professionalization in the tourism real estate sector represents one of the main competitive risks for mature destinations.”
Sector specialists quoted in El Inmobiliario

“Real estate tourism generates growth, but requires urban planning and efficient regulation.”
-Studies and presentations by AREUEA

Real estate tourism: impacts and key takeaways for the Dominican Republic

The references cited correspond to sector analyses, editorial coverage, and institutional studies widely used in the economic and real estate press. The statements in the summary table represent trends and consensus, not individual direct quotes.