The Central Bank reports that air travel during the first four months of year 2018 is up 5.6%. This is lower than the inter annual rate for 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 that were 6.5% and 6.4%, respectively. The Central Bank explained the decline. It turns out that this 2018, Easter Week, the peak domestic vacation holiday, occurred during March and affecting the accommodations available for international travelers.
From January to April 2018, 2,347,820 expats and international visitors traveled to the country, or 124,694 more visitors than for the same period in 2017. International travel was up 4.6%, with 90,760 additional foreign tourists. Non-resident travel since 2015 has maintained high growth rates of 6.5%, 6.4% and 5.6%.
The United States, Canada and Mexico account for 62% of all tourist air arrivals. The Central Bank reports travel from North American countries was up 7.1% for the first four months of the year. Europe provided 23.4%, South America 11.5%, and Central America and the Caribbean 2.8%.
Punta Cana International Airport is the main port of entry for tourists, with 1,426,133 arrivals from January to April 2018. Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo followed with 293,770 arrivals, Puerto Plata International Airport with 206,194 arrivals, Cibao International in Santiago with 67,200 arrivals, La Romana International with 42,585 arrivals, El Catey International in Samana with 41,731 and La Isabela International (northern Santo Domingo) with 3,591 arrivals.
95.1% of tourists arriving by air stayed at hotels; 52.4% were women, 47.6% men; 32% were ages 21-35 years, 31.3% were 50 years or more, and 22.1% were 36-49 years old. 95.8% of the tourists said they came for leisure reasons, followed by 1.4% who said they came for business.
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Banco Central
22 May 2018
