The Dominican Republic is rapidly consolidating its position as a leading medical tourism destination, leveraging the high quality of its specialists, use of modern technologies at public and private health centers and competitive pricing. Upwards of 300,000 foreign tourists are expected to seek medical procedures in the country in 2025. The finding was presented during the 7th International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress, as reported in Diario Libre.
The most significant growth has been seen in dentistry, one of the most in-demand services. The sector attracted 227,223 foreign patients by the end of 2024, marking a remarkable 26.88% increase compared to the patients served by Dominican specialists in 2022.
“This is due to the quality, the warmth, and the good service. But above all, it’s about dedicating ourselves to promoting this product despite the adversities,” highlighted Virginia Laureano, president of the Dominican Association of Dentists, while speaking at the seventh International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress.
Laureano pointed to the figures as clear evidence that health centers choosing to focus on medical tourism can achieve substantial success.
This sentiment was echoed by Alejandro Cambiaso, president of the Dominican Association of Health Tourism (ADTS), who acknowledged that while the demand for medical tourism represents sustained growth, it also brings the challenge of increasing accreditation. He emphasized the need for dental centers, as well as those in other highly requested specialties like plastic surgery, to continuously secure the necessary certifications to comply with all international standards.
“We must continue betting on (being) an increasingly competitive and increasingly safe destination,” Cambiaso stressed when consulted.
Amalia Reyes, vice president of the ADTS, emphasized the need for greater promotional efforts to market the Dominican Republic as what it already is: the leading health tourism destination in the Caribbean and the second most important in Latin America.
“The Dominican Republic is ready to continue moving forward; we only need that synergy between tourism and health to continue strengthening to organize health tourism that generates confidence and strengthens the reputation of our destination,” she concluded.
The 7th International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress took place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 22-23 October 2025, at the Marriott Piantini Hotel. Organized by the Dominican Association of Health Tourism (ADTS) and AF Comunicación Estratégica, the event focused on strengthening the country’s position as a health tourism hub, attracting investment, and discussing innovations like AI in medical tourism.
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Diario Libre
18 November 2025