Tourism in the Dominican Republic has continued to improve over the numbers from 2009, a year of practically no growth. For the sixth straight month tourism was up over the 2009 figures. In February, according to the Central Bank, the number of tourists increased by 2.14% over 2009. In absolute numbers, this means that there were 8,292 more visitors in 2010. In January, the numbers showed a 5.81% increase.
Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia made the announcement during the 44th International Tourism Exchange in Berlin (ITB Berlin). Javier Garcia was accompanied by National Hotel and Restaurant Association president Haydee Kuret de Rainieri, Dominican ambassador in Germany Rafael Calventi Gavino and the director of the Tourism Promotion Office in Germany, Petra Cruz.
The Central Bank report states that more than 800,000 tourists arrived in the first two months of the year.