SANTO DOMINGO. – The Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores) believes it is necessary to diversify the Dominican Republic's tourism offerings by developing new emerging destinations and adding modalities to the existing offerings, distinct from the traditional ones.
This was stated by the president of that business group, Juan Bancalari , during the opening yesterday of the twenty-fifth edition of the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange, DATE 2025 which will be held until May 16 at the Barceló Bávaro Convention Center.
He mentioned the potential in emerging destinations like Miches and Pedernales and growth destinations like Juan Dolio, Samaná and Puerto Plata.
Along those lines, he advocated for continuing to promote alternative forms of tourism to the traditional sun and beach, such as sports, religious, cultural and gastronomic tourism.
“We have a historic opportunity to consolidate the Dominican Republic as a leading, diverse, sustainable, and competitive tourist destination,” Bancalari concluded. He reaffirmed the central role of tourism as a pillar of national economic growth and presented the sector's goals and projections for the coming years.
Bancalari emphasized that tourism represents 19.3% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) directly, indirectly, and through induced effects, and is responsible for approximately a quarter of the foreign exchange the Dominican Republic receives, even surpassing remittances. "Tourism is much more than an economic engine; it is a strategic pillar of national development," he stated.
Regarding industry statistics, the business leader highlighted that over 11 million tourists are projected to visit by 2025, with a goal of reaching 15 million in the coming years. This sustained growth is supported by a high hotel occupancy rate, which averaged 80% nationwide during 2024.
“This indicates that the supply must continue to expand,” he said, announcing that the construction of more than 9,000 new hotel rooms is projected over the next three years.
Juan Bancalari . (EXTERNAL SOURCE).
He also highlighted the opening of new air routes connecting the country with a growing number of international destinations, which further strengthens the destination's competitiveness.
One of the highlights was the sustained increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the tourism sector, which exceeded one billion dollars last year, representing nearly 50% of the total FDI received in the country. This dynamism, he maintained, is possible thanks to a stable legal environment that inspires confidence in investors.
Bancalari emphasized the importance of maintaining laws such as CONFOTUR , which have been fundamental to the competitiveness of Dominican tourism compared to other destinations in the region.
For her part, Aguie Lendor, executive vice president of Asonahores, expressed that these fruits of the collaborative effort between all actors, both from the private and public sectors, as well as a solid and stable legal framework, have made it possible for this sector to continue growing in the way it has been doing in recent years.
“DATE is a testament to this development. From the first editions, held in Santo Domingo, to this twenty-fifth edition, more than two decades have passed, during which the fair has continued to grow into what it is today. In this edition, we have more than 400 participating companies, with more than 120 supplier booths that will have the opportunity to showcase their offerings through appointments scheduled via a digital platform, of which there are already more than 8,000,” explained Lendor.
