Pace of tourism slows, global uncertainties put a dapper on tourism increases

[DrNoob]

The difference is I spend my time in San Cristobal, usually without spotting any expat or tourist for months.

Nothing against mass tourism or expat cluster’s but it is not for me.

There's a sweet spot where enough expats bring services catering for them but the DR is a land of excess in terms of real estate. Windeguy is actually right, there is too much construction around Caberete/Sosua.

I was bored and set up a web scraper for 1 real estate platform (limited to 120 agencies I could find on that platform) and that brought 21000+ properties for sale of which only around 9000 were under construction. and thats not even all the agencies on that platform. If I add more, the number might double.

I have no idea about the strength of the real estate market here, may be people who were here around the 2008/2009 crash and the COVID dip can say if there was a lowering of prices and sales at that time

 

[aarhus]

There's a sweet spot where enough expats bring services catering for them but the DR is a land of excess in terms of real estate. Windeguy is actually right, there is too much construction around Caberete/Sosua.

I was bored and set up a web scraper for 1 real estate platform (limited to 120 agencies I could find on that platform) and that brought 21000+ properties for sale of which only around 9000 were under construction. and thats not even all the agencies on that platform. If I add more, the number might double.

I have no idea about the strength of the real estate market here, may be people who were here around the 2008/2009 crash and the COVID dip can say if there was a lowering of prices and sales at that time

There seems to be a dip now. I got a good offer on my apartment here in 2022. Since then it has gone down. I have moved back to Europe and selling now just seems to be complicated both here and there regarding taxes. So I am keeping it and I love staying in it when I can. I reckon if I never sell it I will never have a tax issue with it haha

 

[chico bill]

Indeed, I recommend all Expats to move to Punta Cana as several hundred more housing units are being built a short walk from me.
There is the rumble of a "steam roller" flattening a 8 foot high pile of caliche rocke upon which will be built another condo complex in front of Costa Azul.
There is still room for a third condo complex just west of the second one.

Behind Cota Azul, the building of Great Wall between La Cienaga and the Cabarete Country Club commenced recently.

If they build them, will they come?

Today Paradise put up a parking lot

 

[drisforme]

European tourism also declined in February with a 25.2% decrease when compared to 2024, or 75,305 in Feb 2025 to 100,804 in 2024. The decline is attributed to the continuing of the Ukraine and Russia war, and economic uncertainties.

Don`t think that many people care about the war in Ukraine to choosing where they go on vacation or the location to retire, except if they were planning to go to Ukraine!

European tourism decline should be mainly attributed to the fact that DR has become expensive in the past 10 years, and DR is now more expensive than many European countries. If people are not convinced, they should spend a week in Spain, Italy, or Portugal .

Peace.

 

[bob saunders]

Don`t think that many people care about the war in Ukraine to choosing where they go on vacation or the location to retire, except if they were planning to go to Ukraine!

European tourism decline should be mainly attributed to the fact that DR has become expensive in the past 10 years, and DR is now more expensive than many European countries. If people are not convinced, they should spend a week in Spain, Italy, or Portugal .

Peace.

Have been on vacations recently in all the countries you have mentioned, Italy and Spain are more expensive than the DR and Portugal about the same. The travel cost would be less.

 

[PJP]

You’d need to follow him on Facebook

For the rest of us then, please

 

[PJP]

Don`t think that many people care about the war in Ukraine to choosing where they go on vacation or the location to retire, except if they were planning to go to Ukraine!

European tourism decline should be mainly attributed to the fact that DR has become expensive in the past 10 years, and DR is now more expensive than many European countries. If people are not convinced, they should spend a week in Spain, Italy, or Portugal .

Peace.

Please list the European countries that are less expensive than the DR. Thank you

 

[PJP]

You are channelling windeguy's spirit but he usually limits that to North Coast expat overcrowding

Would this be Dolci E’ Sapori in Sosua ? https://www.instagram.com/dolciesapori.rd/

No. It was almost directly across Pedro Clisante from Elefante Roso. Antigua something.

The other restaurant I was talking about is owned by Arien of Casa Valeria. It's a country family style place. Excellent food and service

 

[keepcoming]

For the rest of us then, please

Look it up on FB, I am sure you remember Robert

 

[drstock]

Please list the European countries that are less expensive than the DR. Thank you

Albania?

 

[PJP]

Look it up on FB, I am sure you remember Robert

So even though 2 members have requested the link you refuse to provide it? How rude

 

[PJP]

Look it up on FB, I am sure you remember Robert

You claim to be sure about many things you're wrong about 😔

 

[SKY]

You claim to be sure about many things you're wrong about 😔

I am assuming we are talking about Robert who ran this forum for many years single handed. And he never took shxxt from anyone....................I knew him well.........

 

[chico bill]

I was driving through Sosua and on to Cabarete today.
What I see is raging building going on from Playa Laguna all the way to Cabarete and a bazillion apartments in Encuentro by Casa Linda and more down on the beach.
And everywhere you look on either side of Cabarete multi-level condos are being thrown up.
I may just be a Debbie-Downer but I can see a train wreck coming with all the over-building coupled with increasing crumbling infrastructure - All this with now falling home prices in DR yet with rampant inflation on other items showing no signs of abating.
Something has to give or at least roll back quite a bit.
Seems like we are going back to the doldrums for property demand

 

[DrNoob]

I was driving through Sosua and on to Cabarete today.
What I see is raging building going on from Playa Laguna all the way to Cabarete and a bazillion apartments in Encuentro by Casa Linda and more down on the beach.
And everywhere you look on either side of Cabarete multi-level condos are being thrown up.
I may just be a Debbie-Downer but I can see a train wreck coming with all the over-building coupled with increasing crumbling infrastructure - All this with now falling home prices in DR yet with rampant inflation on other items showing no signs of abating.
Something has to give or at least roll back quite a bit.
Seems like we are going back to the doldrums for property demand

Yup. way too much construction that once you get to the narrow part of Central Cabarete, it actually feels more peaceful

 

[Fulano2]

Please list the European countries that are less expensive than the DR. Thank you

For example Tenerfe, it’s not a country but we go there frequently. Spain, not Barcelona or Madrid of course, daily living is cheaper and more comfortable.

 

[JD Jones]

I was driving through Sosua and on to Cabarete today.
What I see is raging building going on from Playa Laguna all the way to Cabarete and a bazillion apartments in Encuentro by Casa Linda and more down on the beach.
And everywhere you look on either side of Cabarete multi-level condos are being thrown up.
I may just be a Debbie-Downer but I can see a train wreck coming with all the over-building coupled with increasing crumbling infrastructure - All this with now falling home prices in DR yet with rampant inflation on other items showing no signs of abating.
Something has to give or at least roll back quite a bit.
Seems like we are going back to the doldrums for property demand

Infrastructure issues are going to be a never ending problem. I bet all of those condos going up have mega-sized cisterns.

 

[PJP]

I too could list off places that are cheaper than the DR but I am still hoping for Drisforme to respond. Colombia has been very inexpensive and I'll soon see how Ecuador is first hand

 

[aarhus]

Sometimes the cheapest is also just what you know. As a place to have a vacation home the DR is best for me and probably the cheapest because I know it. In hindsight I might have done something else. I don't think I can go back to living here full time again. On this trip I learned a few valuable lessons.

 

[CristoRey]

Colombia has been very inexpensive and I'll soon see how Ecuador is first hand

I have a few friends who've spent years living between here and Colombia. Lots of pros and cons for both. Way too many to list. One of our fellow DR1 members and long time friend of mine is currently in Medellin as we speak. Although cheaper, it's also less safe.

Never been to Ecuador but I love all those small mountain towns north of Quito. Recently watched videos on YouTube about Otavaio, Cotacachi and Ibarra. Scenery is amazing. Reminds of the area between Jarabacoa and Constanza which also happens to be my favorite area of the country to spend my vacations when not visiting family in Florida.