The Central Bank first quarter tourism stats show non-resident travel to the country was up 8%. Non-resident arrivals increased from 961,213 inbound air arrivals to 1,038,388 from January to March 2005. Punta Cana continued to be the airport with most foreign arrivals, with 413,969 non-resident travelers coming during the first three months of the year. Traffic to Punta Cana was up 4% this year. Santo Domingo?s Las Americas International Airport (primarily serving Santo Domingo, Boca Chica and Juan Dolio tourism) showed a 12% increase, going from 212,047 non-resident arrivals in 2004 to 237,629 non-resident arrivals in 2005.
Traffic to Puerto Plata, nevertheless, slightly decreased, going from 237,629 during the first quarter in 2004 to 218,491 for the same period in 2005, or a 2% decline.
La Romana did well with an increase in 12,425 non-resident arrivals, or 91,758 passengers, up from 79,333 in the previous year.
Santiago?s Cibao International Airport posted the greatest increase, 15.6%. Non-resident arrivals to that airport increased from 50,136 in the first quarter of 2004 to 79,513 for the same period in 2005.