SANTO DOMINGO - The most recent report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) , in collaboration with Oxford Economics, places the travel and tourism sector as one of the main drivers of the Dominican and regional economy, contributing 20.5 billion to the Dominican Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year.
This figure is equivalent to 16.1% of the national economy and also generated more than 876,000 jobs, representing 17.6% of the national total. According to the document, in terms of expenditure, international tourism reached US$11.2 billion, and domestic tourism US$3.9 billion, with growth rates of 17.6% and 12.3% respectively compared to 2019 levels.
The organization described this performance as extraordinary and projected sustained growth for the coming years. According to Roxana Puente, Regional Manager of the WTTC, these results reflect the Dominican Republic's regional leadership, driven by joint efforts from the public and private sectors.
During the presentation of the study, Aguie Lendor, executive vice president of the Dominican Association of Hotels and Restaurants, Asonahores, highlighted the sector's commitment to sustainability and quality in the tourism offer.
By 2025, the industry's contribution to GDP is projected to exceed US$21 billion (15.8% of the total), and employment in the sector is expected to reach 893,000 jobs (17.9% of the workforce). In the long term, it is estimated that by 2035 tourism will generate more than US$29 billion for the Dominican Republic's GDP and nearly 980,000 jobs, with an average annual growth rate of 3.3%.
At the regional level, the Caribbean reached a tourism contribution of 81.4 billion dollars in 2024 (17.6% of regional GDP) and by the end of 2025, this figure is expected to rise to 86 billion, with more than 3 million jobs, confirming tourism as a key economic pillar in the region.
“The Dominican Republic continues to demonstrate exemplary leadership in the region and is consolidating its position as a global tourism benchmark. The projections for 2025 reflect its significant efforts in connectivity and promotion, as well as the ongoing strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors, which is having a real impact on the economy and employment,” said the WTTC executive.
