More Russians than Germans visited the Dominican Republic last year. Russia is now the fourth leading source market for tourism in the Dominican Republic, after the US, Canada and France. Russian tourism was up 35% last year, with around 164,000 new arrivals.
The increase continues with a 33% increase in the first quarter of the year.
Arrivals on 449 direct flights to Russia brought some 158,415 tourists to the Dominican Republic, reports Resumen Turismo.
At present, 12 flights arrive to PUJ. Russians arrive on Transaero (eight weekly flights), from Moscow and San Petersburg. Aeroflot has two weekly flights to St. Petersburg. Orenair has two weekly flights from Moscow. Arrivals also come from St. Petersburg, Moscow and Ekaterinburg.
The aim now is to reach the one million Russian tourist number in 2013.
Most Russian tourists travelling abroad are upper-middle class, and therefore the typical Russian tourist has high purchasing power. Statistics also show that Russian tourists are mostly aged between 25 and 45.