SANTO DOMINGO– The Dominican Republic received 6,616,671 visitors during the first half of 2026, the highest figure recorded by the country for a January-June period, consolidating the sustained growth of the tourism sector and bringing the country closer to the goal of exceeding 12 million visitors by the end of the year.
According to data presented this Thursday by the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), the volume of visitors represents a growth of 7.7% compared to the same period in 2025 and 11% compared to 2024, reflecting the expansion of both air tourism and the cruise segment.
The statistics were released during the monthly presentation on the performance of the tourism sector, led by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, before representatives of the industry, at an event held in Santo Domingo.
Air tourism continues to lead
According to official figures, between January and June, 4,963,542 tourists arrived in the country by air, while another 1,653,129 visitors arrived via cruise ships, consolidating the simultaneous growth of both segments.
In June alone, the Dominican Republic received 975,012 visitors, an increase of 6% compared to the same month last year and 5.5% compared to 2024.
Of that total, 816,517 people entered by air, a figure that also exceeds the records of previous years, including pre-pandemic levels.
The United States remains the main market
The report presented by MITUR shows that the United States continues to be the main source of visitors to the Dominican Republic, representing 53% of the arrivals registered in June.
They are followed by Colombia, with 8%; Canada, with 7%; Puerto Rico and Argentina, with 5% each; the United Kingdom and Chile, with 3%; and Mexico, with 2%.
Regarding air traffic, more than half of the flights received during June came from the United States, followed by Panama, Colombia, Puerto Rico and Canada.
Punta Cana accounts for more than half of the arrivals
Airport terminals continued to show a strong concentration of operations in the east of the country.
According to official statistics, Punta Cana International Airport received 53% of all flights registered in June, followed by Las Américas International Airport with 28%; Cibao International Airport with 12%, while Puerto Plata, El Higüero, La Romana and Samaná accounted for the remaining percentage.
The industry projects exceeding 12 million visitors
The sector's performance during the first six months of the year strengthens official projections that the Dominican Republic could close 2026 with more than 12 million visitors, a figure that would mark a new historical record for the national tourism industry, the entity indicated.
The data presented by the institution also reflects an average hotel occupancy of 71% during the semester, as well as a satisfaction index of 4.4 out of 5 points among visitors.
According to the survey, 92% of tourists said they would return to the country, while 60% indicated they would recommend the Dominican Republic as a tourist destination, indicators that support the country's positioning as one of the leading destinations in the region.
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