Six leading travel agencies and industry organizations participated in the DR Miami Road Show and took advantage of the occasion to recognize the Dominican Republic for its achievements, the Ministry of Tourism reported. The surge in accolades follows a sustained period of growth for the Dominican Republic, which has consistently outpaced regional competitors in arrivals and infrastructure development.
The accolades were presented on Tuesday, 7 April 2026 and distinguished the country as a premier global destination, specifically highlighting its dominance in the Caribbean and its rapid growth within the Latin American market.
Tourism Minister David Collado received the awards. He had words of praise for industry executives for their leadership and vision in positioning the Dominican Republic as a benchmark for quality and innovation in the post-pandemic era.
Top honors from global industry leaders
The recognitions span a wide range of categories, from consumer preference to professional event management:
• Northstar Travel Group: Awarded the country the “2025 Excellence Award for Preferred Caribbean Destination.” Jason Young, president of Northstar, a B2B travel information and marketing provider in the US and Canada, noted that the Dominican Republic serves as a regional benchmark for weddings, cruises, gastronomy, and destination marketing.
• Tripadvisor: Based on millions of user reviews, the platform named the Dominican Republic the #1 Destination in the Caribbean. Additionally, Bávaro Beach, located in central Punta Cana, was ranked as the fifth-best beach in the Caribbean, reinforcing the country’s status as a top-tier sun-and-sand destination.
• Travel + Leisure: Recognized the nation as the Caribbean Leader in Vacation Ownership and highlighted its superior performance in the timeshare sector. Esteban Arce, vice president of Strategic Partners, attributed this success to the country’s unique combination of high-quality human capital and strategic leadership.
• Viajes El Corte Inglés Américas: Distinguished the country as the “2025 Top Destination of the Americas.” Jenny Zapata, vice president for the region, emphasized the country’s growing appeal in markets like Mexico, Colombia, Panama, and Argentina.
• Despegar México: Named the Dominican Republic the Fastest Growing Destination of 2025. Pablo Jaitman, Country Manager, revealed that the group moved 650,000 passengers from Latin America to the DR in 2025 and projected that figure to exceed 750,000 by the end of 2026.
Leadership in MICE and infrastructure
Beyond leisure travel, the country was recognized for its expanding influence in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) segment. Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Latam presented an award to Minister Collado for his contribution to developing international corporate events in Latin America.
Humberto García, President of MPI Latam, noted that the RD Tradeshow provided critical data that will encourage convention organizers to pivot toward the Dominican Republic with greater frequency.
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Hoy
14 April 2026