SANTO DOMINGO.-The visitor who brought the Dominican Republic's total to 11 million visitors arrived at Punta Cana International Airport from Canada yesterday, Sunday, one million more than the number the country received last year, 2023.
A delegation headed by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, received him along with Frank Rainieri, founder of Grupo Punta Cana, in a colorful ceremony held at the main Dominican airport, located in the country's main tourist destination.
Collado explained that by surpassing this new goal of 11 million visitors, the Dominican Republic consolidates its position as a leader in tourism in the region.
"Today is a day for a big celebration, as we have surpassed the 11 million visitor mark in a single year. Another historic record for Dominican tourism," the official stated.
He stated that he not only celebrates, together with the private sector, the arrival of the tourist who has accumulated 11 million visitors, but also what that represents for the Dominican economy.
"What does that mean for our country's economy? It means 949,000 jobs in 2024, both directly and indirectly, and it means $26 billion of the Gross Domestic Product, meaning that tourism represented almost 20% of GDP," he stated.
That means, Collado also pointed out, 130 billion pesos in tax paymentstothe treasury.
He recalled that last year the country reached the goal of 10 million visitors, a long-standing aspiration of the sector, in a scenario similar to that of this Sunday.
She came to celebrate 20 years of marriage
Bruce Pirt was the 11 millionth Canadian tourist, who, along with his wife and two daughters, arrived in the Dominican nation from Canada.
Pirt said that the Dominican Republic is a country that amazed him, where he celebrated his wedding 20 years ago.
Bruce arrived in the country to celebrate his wedding anniversary with his wife Kathryn and his daughters Melissa and Anna.
Projection
The Dominican government's goal is for the Dominican Republic to reach 12 million visitors by 2025, supported by large real estate investments being made in various tourist destinations such as Miches, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, and Pedernales.
When announcing on December 2nd the arrival of 10 million visitors, President Luis Abinader commented that the nation's new goal is to achieve 12 million tourists arriving in the Dominican Republic next year.
“But next year, David, we have to aim for 12 million tourists. And we can do it, because we're going to keep working, we're going to continue with the public-private partnership that has been so successful for us these past four years,” the president added, after celebrating the figure reached in 2024.
In November, the country received 881,499 foreigners (both by air and sea), which is 54% more than in the same month of 2019. The figure also represents 15% more than in 2022 and just 2% more than last year.
