It surpasses 2019 with almost three million visitors
SANTO DOMINGO.-Tourism Minister David Collado reported this Thursday that the sector registered a growth of over 36 percent compared to 2019 and exceeded the goal of 10 million visitors by more than 300,000.
At an event led by President Luis Abinader, where the performance of tourism last year was revealed, Collado said that in the period January-December the country received 10,306,517 visitors by air and sea, thus exceeding the goal of one million by more than 300,000.
He indicated that last year the Dominican Republic received 8,058,670 by air, as well as another 2,247,847 by sea.
“2023 has been the best year for tourism in the country's history, thanks to the vision of President Luis Abinader and that great alliance between the public and private sectors,” Collado said when presenting the sector's statistics for last year.
He revealed that in December alone, 867,570 tourists arrived in the country by air, 106,635 more than in 2022, representing a growth of 13 percent.
He noted that in the period January-December, 8,058,670 tourists arrived in the country, exceeding 2022 by 22% and 2019 by 25%.
He added that in that same twelve-month period, cruise passengers totaled 2,247,172, while in December alone, 327,172 arrived, representing a 45% increase compared to the same month in 2022.
President Abinader highlighted the importance of tourism to the country's economy and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), contributing to the generation of direct and indirect jobs and boosting investment and economic development.
He asserted that after the successful results in tourism, "today is still the best time to invest in the country.".
“Today we are already on the path of growth, recognition from the entire international community, greater control of security, being one of the safest countries in the world.”.
The president emphasized that the public-private partnership formed by his administration and the Tourism Cabinet is yielding results with projected investments in new destinations in Puerto Plata, Miches and Cabo Rojo, among others, and the construction of road projects that connect with tourist destinations.
The most visited destinations last year were Punta Cana with 42%, Santo Domingo with 18%, Puerto Plata with 12% and La Romana with 11%.
The main countries of origin for tourists were the United States with 43%, Canada with 16%, Colombia 7%, Spain 5% and Puerto Rico with 4%.
During the event, President Abinader and Collado presented an award to businessman Rafael "Papo" Blanco.
