The Dominican Republic’s tourism sector continues its aggressive upward trajectory, welcoming a record-breaking 1,184,902 visitors in February 2026. The figures represent a 13.1% increase compared to the same month last year, signaling what officials describe as an “extraordinary year”.
Tourism Minister David Collado released the data on Monday, 9 March 2026, during an industry briefing at the Hotel Jaragua. He noted that the current growth far outpaces pre-pandemic levels, showing a 64.2% jump over February 2019.
A breakdown of the arrivals
The total visitor count is comprised of both air travelers and cruise passengers, both of which saw significant gains:
• Air arrivals: 824,172 tourists arrived by air, an 11.3% increase over February 2025.
• Cruise passengers: 360,730 visitors arrived by sea, marking a 17.6% rise from last year and a staggering 209.6% surge compared to 2019.
“These two arrival streams give us the historic figure of 1,184,902 visitors in February alone, effectively breaking our own record,” Minister Collado stated.
The number of air arrivals was similar to that of January, when the Ministry of Tourism had reported 825,000 air arrivals, a record for the country.
Market share and infrastructure
The United States remains the primary source of tourism for the country, accounting for 39% of all visitors, followed by Canada at 24%. Other significant contributors included Argentina (6%), France (4%), and Colombia (3%).
North and South America are driving the surge in tourism in the Dominican Republic. North America continues to be the primary engine for the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry, accounting for 63% of all arrivals to the country. This regional dominance is fueled by significant year-over-year gains across its three major markets.
The United States maintained its upward trajectory, posting a 6% growth compared to February 2025.
Mexico showed a remarkable 47% increase, followed by Canada with a 14% rise.
South America’s overhaul contributed 17% of total tourism for the month of February. The region showed strong internal momentum, with several nations reporting double-digit growth. Colombia posted a robust 35% growth, Peru 29%, Argentina 17% and Chile 7%.
The data underscores a diversifying visitor base, as both traditional North American markets and emerging South American hubs show robust interest in the Caribbean destination.
In terms of entry points, Punta Cana International Airport remains the dominant hub, handling 54% of air arrivals. This was followed by:
• Las Américas (SDQ): 24%
• Cibao (STI): 10%
• Puerto Plata (POP): 5%
• La Romana (LRM): 3%
• Samaná (AZS): 1%
•
Hotel occupancy and tourist satisfaction
The surge in visitors translated to high demand for local infrastructure, with hotel occupancy exceeding 87% throughout the month. The Ministry reported a 4.4 out of 5 satisfaction rating among surveyed tourists.
Minister Collado concluded his presentation by noting that all major source markets are currently “in the blue,” predicting that 2026 will be a landmark year for the Dominican economy.
Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Tourism
Diario Libre
10 March 2026