The Central Bank reports that 174,481 more visitors have come this year, compared to the January-June 2011 period. This is a 7.66% increase. For the first half of the year, 2,453,772 non-resident visitors arrived by air. The Central Bank says if the trend is maintained, the Dominican Republic could pass the 5-million tourist mark by the end of the year.
Total arrivals, including Dominican residents was 2,679,109 passengers, up 7.36% compared to last year. There were 183,711 more travelers using Dominican airports.
Countries sending more tourists this half-year to the Dominican Republic compared to last year were United States (99,011), Russia (26,661), Canada (21,679), Venezuela (8,394), Argentina (8,038), Brazil (7,695), France (7,515), Peru (4,407), Chile (4,218), and Colombia (3,729). Travel from other countries in Europe declined.
Punta Cana International Airport continues to be the main terminal for arrival of tourists to the Dominican Republic. Arrivals for the January-June 2012 period were 1,332,535 for 61.8% of total tourist arrivals.
Las Americas International Airport (Santo Domingo) followed with 411,551 arrivals; then Puerto Plata (218,103 arrivals); Cibao (Santiago) with 80,971; La Romana with 67,028; El Catey (Samana) with 37,763, and La Isabela (Santo Domingo) 7,224.
The Central Bank says that 64% of all visiting tourists are 21-49 years old and 50.62% are men. 90.32% of those that visited stayed at hotels, and 94% came for leisure.