For the first time ever, non-resident travel to the Dominican Republic has broken the five- million annual mark. Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia says that these are the best times for the tourism industry in the past 40 years, consolidating the country not only as a leader in the Caribbean, but also for Central America and South America. Garcia said that the goal set by President Danilo Medina upon taking office of reaching 10 million tourists by 2022 could be met before that year.
The Central Bank reports that from January to November 2015 the numbers are 5,016,106 non-resident visitors. Statistics show there were 409,059 more travelers compared to January-November 2014, with an increase of 8.9%.
The Central Bank forecasts more than 5.6 million tourist arrivals by the end of the year, with a contribution of US$6 billion to the economy.
The November report shows that 80.1% of the growth in arrivals was foreign arrivals or 327,666 passengers and 19.9% were non-resident Dominican arrivals, or 81,393 passengers.
During November, 51.7% of visitors arrived from the United States, Canada and Mexico, 27% from Europe, 16.4% from South America, 4.5% from Central America and the Caribbean and 0.4% from Asia and the rest of the world.
The increase in Venezuelan tourists was dramatic. Many Venezuelans are visiting to look into the possibility of relocating to the Dominican Republic. In November, there were 11,220 additional Venezuelan visitors, which is outstanding compared to the 10,816 increase in travelers from the United States.
Punta Cana International Airport continues to be the main airport of arrival, with 66.2% of arrivals, followed by Las Americas International (Santo Domingo) with 18.7%, and Puerto Plata on the north coast with 7.6%. So far this year, 248,478 more tourists have arrived via Punta Cana International Airport.
The Central Bank says that 94% of travelers to the country say they are coming for leisure.
Meanwhile, Arturo Villanueva, executive vice president of the National Tourism & Hotel Association (Asonahores) forecasts that the year will close with double-digit growth, well above other Caribbean islands.
Tourist arrivals this year include over 40,000 through the new Amber Cove cruise ship terminal in Maimon Bay, Puerto Plata so far this year.
http://www.bancentral.gov.do/publicaciones_economicas/informe_turistico/informe_turistico2015-11.pdf
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=455811