90% of tourists chose this type of destination in September, while 93% stated they would return to the country, and satisfaction reached 4.4 out of five points
SANTO DOMINGO- Sun and beach tourism remains the main motivation for visitors who choose the Dominican Republic, the preferred option for 90% of tourists who arrived in the country in September, according to a survey by the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur).
The survey also revealed that 93% of respondents expressed their intention to return to the Dominican Republic, while 63% said they would recommend it to others. Furthermore, the overall satisfaction level reached a score of 4.4 out of five.
According to the results released by Mitur on October 8, 2026, five out of ten tourists carried out activities outside their accommodations during their stay, reflecting the interest in getting to know other attractions and enjoying experiences that complement the hotel offer.
Advertising influences the decision to travel
The survey indicated that 64% of visitors felt that advertising influenced their decision to travel to the Dominican Republic. An equal proportion of participants reported having seen advertisements for the destination online.
In addition, 43% bought a tour package that included airfare and accommodation, a modality that allows both components of the trip to be organized through a single booking.
Social networks, among the main sources of information
Digital platforms played a significant role in the search for information about the destination. According to the study, 82% of tourists used social media to learn more about the country.
Instagram led the platforms mentioned, with 52%, followed by Facebook, with 45%; YouTube, with 33%, and TikTok, with 28%.
These figures indicate that travelers used different networks to find out about the Dominican Republic's tourism offerings, so the percentages do not necessarily represent mutually exclusive groups.
Saona Island led the excursions
Saona Island, located in the eastern region, was the most popular excursion during September, with 42% of preferences. Buggy or four-wheeler tours came in second place, with 28%.
Additionally, 16% of respondents went snorkeling, while 15% visited the Colonial City and 9% enjoyed horseback riding.
Regarding the cost of these experiences, 60% of tourists indicated they paid less than US$100 for the activities. Furthermore, 84% expressed their willingness to repeat the experiences they enjoyed during their visit.
Satisfaction according to the reason for and company of the trip
The report also presented satisfaction scores related to visitors' motivations and companions. Reasons for travel included business, leisure, visiting friends and family, weddings, honeymoons, and sporting activities.
However, the percentages of 4.6%, 4.5% and 4.4% reported for these categories do not allow us to establish with certainty whether they correspond to proportions of travelers or satisfaction ratings, and therefore require further verification.
Regarding the composition of the groups, the survey included people who traveled alone, with coworkers, as a couple, with friends, or with family. The document published by the Ministry of Tourism also presented scores by country of residence: Puerto Rico registered 4.7; Argentina, the United Kingdom, Colombia, and Mexico, 4.6; the United States and Chile, 4.4; Canada, 4.3; and Spain, 4.2.
These figures correspond to the results reported by the survey and do not necessarily represent the proportion of visitors from each market.
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