This year has gotten off to an amazing start for the Dominican Republic’s tourism sector. Month after month, the country is seeing record-breaking numbers of visitors, showing that more people than ever are choosing the Dominican Republic as their vacation destination.
The total number of visitors arriving by air and water last month alone was close to one million. In February, 661,088 visitors arrived by air, 9% more than before the 2019 pandemic and 17% more than in 2022. The increase in cruise passenger arrivals is even more remarkable.
More than 250,000 travelers arrived by cruise ship in February of this year, which is more than double the number of cruise arrivals in 2019 and triple the number in the same month last year.
Adding to these remarkable numbers is the fact that January also saw a record number of visitors. In total, the Dominican Republic recorded more than 1.8 million visitors in the first two months of 2023. The country appears to be well on its way to reaching its lofty goal of receiving 10 million visitors by the end of the year.
Most tourists arrive in the province of La Altagracia, where Punta Cana, the tourist capital of the Dominican Republic, and many of the best resorts are located. In this stunning area, incredible beaches are waiting to be enjoyed.
The destinations of Punta Cana, Bávaro and Bayahibe hosted 67% of international visitors.
The capital Santo Domingo and its surroundings are the second most visited place. The province of Santo Domingo hosted 8% of foreign visitors.
In addition, 8% of foreign tourists stayed in the province of Puerto Plata. Puerto Plata, the original tourist hub of the Dominican Republic, is still admired for its magnificent scenery, which includes the coast, mountains, rivers and, of course, stunning beaches.
The 27 Charcos of Damajagua, a collection of 27 waterfalls along the Damajagua River that can be explored on foot with a local guide, are the regions most famous attraction.
The other locations that draw tourists from abroad are La Romana (4%), which is home to the well-known Casa de Campo resort, Samaná (3%), and Santiago de los Caballeros (2%), which has some of the best restaurants and nightlife in the Dominican Republic in addition to being full of fascinating museums and cultural sites.
