The Dominican Republic on 26 December 2023 celebrated the 10 millionth tourist arrival for the first time in a year.
The Ministry of Tourism announced that Ariana Guilak, a systems engineer from California, was the symbolic 10 millionth arrival. She flew in on American Airlines from Miami to Punta Cana.
Tourism Minister David Collado highlighted the record in arrivals is the result of the public and private sectors making decisions for the sector together. “The country is celebrating,” said Collado.
The flight was received with a water salute and Minister of Tourism David Collado and Frank Rainieri of the Puntacana Group bestowed the honor on Ariana Guilak once she landed at the Punta Cana International Airport.
Tourism is the sector that makes the most significant contribution to the Dominican economy, with an estimated 20% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The Dominican Republic is third behind Mexico, which received 38 million tourists in 2022, and Canada, with 12.8 million in 2022, as the most visited country in the Americas.
The 10 million tourist goal was set in 2012 when President Danilo Medina initiated his Presidency. At the time, former president of the National Hotel & Restaurant Association (Asonahores) and former Caribbean Tourism Organization, Dominican lawyer Enrique Eduardo de Marchena, was vocal about the positive impacts of the goal.
Tourism Minister David Collado says the country will now work towards the goal of 15 million tourists by 2030.
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DR1 News
9 January 2024