By Gissel Taveras
Elinmobiliariodo@gmail.com
SANTO DOMINGO - During the past month of June, hotel occupancy in the main Dominican tourist destinations reached 71.7%, representing an increase of 2.4% compared to the previous month, which was 69.6%.
According to the latest report from the Tourism Intelligence System (Situr), an agency of the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), foreign visits reached 88.0% in the sixth month of the year, when the arrival of tourists who set foot on national territory reached 758,719 tourists by air, representing 7% more than the same month of 2023, 17% more than 2022 and 39% compared to 2019, according to data provided by the Government.
The areas with the highest average growth in hotel occupancy are La Romana-Bayahíbe, with (85.1) percent, Bávaro-Punta Cana (79.7%), Boca Chica-Juan Dolio, obtained (57.1%), Samaná (53.5%), Santiago with (57.6%), Greater Santo Domingo with (55.3%) and Sosúa Cabarete (39.4.0%).
The arrival of non-resident passengers to the Dominican Republic by air in June was 758,719, representing an increase compared to the previous month which was 704,171.
The most used airports for these trips were Punta Cana International Airport with 433,009 and Las Américas International Airport, José Francisco Peña Gómez with 192,300.
They are followed by Cibao Airport with 101,451, and Puerto Plata Airport with 23,483.
Flights by airports
A total of 5,300 flights were carried out in June, representing a 2.7% increase. So far this year, 35,518 flights have been carried out, an 8.1% increase compared to 2023.
In June, Las Américas International Airport handled 382 flights, Punta Cana 370, and Cibao International Airport 310, while Puerto Plata handled 47 flights.
Jetblue (1,109), American Airlines (560), Copa Airlines (385) and Delta Airlines (313), leading the airlines of travelers who arrived in the country in June.
The United States was the primary source of visitors (91.7%), followed by Canada (82.4%). This translates to 689,292 visitors from the Americas and 67,529 from Europe.
Women visited the country more than men, representing 53.2%, while for men it was 46.8%.
From Peru, aircraft occupancy was 83.1%, and from Ecuador, 57.2%.
These were the cities from which the most visitors came: Florida, Toronto, Miami, Montreal, and Tampa.
Cruises
So far this year, 327,172 cruise passengers have arrived in the country, and 296,916 unique cruise passengers, on 59 ships, from 169 nationalities.
June's tourism growth is reflected in the arrival by sea, with 165,017 cruise passengers visiting, reflecting a 15% increase compared to the same month last year, 111% compared to 2022 and 182% compared to 2019.
“This means that in June alone the country received 923,736 visitors, 9 percent more than in 2023, 28 percent more than in 2022 and 58 percent higher than last year,” said Tourism Minister David Collado in his latest report.
The Ministry of Tourism revealed that the country has received almost 6 million visitors in just 6 months.
The country has received 5,950,726 visits in the first 6 months, representing an increase of 11% compared to the first half of 2023, 45% compared to 2022 and 43% compared to 2019.
