As of the end of June 2026, tourism revenues registered an increase of US$891.2 million, equivalent to a year-on-year growth of 15.3%, according to data from the Central Bank
SANTO DOMINGO.– The activity of hotels, bars and restaurants registered an expansion of 5.8% during the first half of 2026, driven by the favorable performance of food and beverage services and, especially, the lodging segment, according to the economic report of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD).
The performance of tourism activity was accompanied by an increase in visitor arrivals and hotel occupancy, factors that boosted demand for tourism infrastructure and kept the Dominican Republic as an attractive market for new real estate investments linked to the sector.
Nearly five million tourists arrived by air
As the document describes, between January and June 2026, the total arrival of non-resident passengers through international air terminals reached 4,963,343 visitors, for a year-on-year growth of 10.0%, according to statistics cited by the Central Bank.
Of the total, 4,235,602 were foreigners, equivalent to 85.3%, while 727,741 corresponded to non-resident Dominicans, representing 14.7% and registering a year-on-year increase of 6.2%.
In addition, 1,636,251 cruise passengers arrived through the country's various ports.
Overall, non-resident passengers who entered the Dominican Republic by air and sea totaled 6,599,594 visitors during the first six months of the year.
Hotel occupancy exceeds 80%
The increase in the flow of travelers was also reflected in the occupancy levels of hotel establishments.
According to the BCRD, the hotel occupancy rate went from 79.0% between January and June 2025 to 81.5% in the same period of 2026, for an increase of 2.5 percentage points.
The areas that registered the highest occupancy levels were La Romana/Bayahíbe, with 88.6%, and Punta Cana/Bávaro, with 88.2%, two of the main tourist centers of the country and markets with high activity in the development of real estate projects associated with tourism.
Tourism contributes an additional US$891.2 million
The dynamism of tourism activity also had a favorable impact on the income of the Dominican economy.
As of the end of June 2026, tourism revenues registered an increase of US$891.2 million, equivalent to a year-on-year growth of 15.3%, according to data from the Central Bank.
This behavior reaffirms the importance of tourism as a generator of foreign exchange and as one of the sectors that continue to stimulate the national economy, particularly in destinations that concentrate a greater hotel infrastructure and tourism projects.
Tourism infrastructure remains attractive to investors
The result achieved during the first six months of the year occurred within a context of initiatives aimed at strengthening and expanding the national tourism infrastructure, as well as diversifying the offer and promoting the country's attractions internationally.
These conditions help position the Dominican Republic as a favorable destination for investment, especially in areas with high visitor demand and potential for the development of hotels, tourist residences and other infrastructure related to the real estate market.
Transportation also registers growth
The favorable performance of tourism was accompanied by a positive evolution of other activities linked to transport.
According to figures from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD), the real aggregate of this activity showed growth compared to the same period of the previous year, mainly associated with the expansion of other transport and support services, which increased by 6.8%; land passenger transport, with 6.6%; and the indicator of the volume of goods transported to points of sale for their commercialization, with 2.4%.
The behavior of these sectors reflects the effect of increased passenger and freight mobility on different areas of the economy, while strengthening the conditions for the development of new investments related to tourism and infrastructure.
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