The Ministry of Tourism reports 913,523 tourist arrivals in February 2023, a new record for the month. The Ministry says February is the best ever in both air and maritime tourism.
Tourism Minister Collado emphasized that Dominican tourism continues its record-breaking streak. The outlook for March is forecast to be another extraordinary month.
“Not only was it the best February ever in terms of tourist arrivals by air, but it was also the best February ever in cruise arrivals, almost tripling the number of arrivals in 2022,” he said.
Air tourist arrivals at 661,088 are 17% more than those in February 2022 and an increase of 9% over pre-pandemic February 2019.
The 252,435 cruise passengers in February are an increase of 116% compared to 2019 and almost 300% compared to February. Amber Cove and Taino Bay terminals in Puerto Plata are drawing dozens of cruise ships.
Bogota has become the second most important city from which visitors come to the Dominican Republic, surpassed only by New York. The increase in travelers from Colombia comes after the start of several low cost air carriers that now offer direct service to several Colombian cities.
As for where the most travelers to the Dominican Republic come from, the top countries of origin are the United States, Canada and Colombia.
As for the destinations visited, 67% of the foreigners who visited in February stayed in the province of La Altagracia (Punta Cana, Bávaro, Bayahibe); 8% in Greater Santo Domingo, 8% in Puerto Plata, 4% in La Romana, 3% in Samaná and 2% in Santiago de los Caballeros.
As for hotel occupancy, it stood at 82%, well above the 75% of February 2022.
Regarding commercial flights, in February 2023 5,070 commercial flights landed at Dominican airports. Punta Cana International was the busiest airport, followed by Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo.
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Ministry of Tourism
7 March 2023