2026 Travel News ArchiveTravel

Tourism surges 13% in February, breaking all-time records

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 …
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Private international airport authorized for Playa Grande on the north coast

President Luis Abinader has officially sanctioned the development of the Playa Grande International Airport in the province of María Trinidad Sánchez, marking a significant infrastructure addition to the country’s burgeoning luxury tourism sector, Diario Libre reports. Issued via Decree 115-26 on 19 February 2026, the mandate authorizes the construction of a private, non-commercial terminal located …
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DR gets 7 spots in the Lonely Planet 13 Best Beaches in the Caribbean list

Lonely Planet published in February 2026 a list of 13 beaches that highlight the diverse coastal beauty of the Caribbean. The beaches range from bustling tourist hubs to remote, untouched sanctuaries. Lonely Planet emphasizes that the Caribbean offers much more than just a place to sunbathe; it is a destination for world-class reef diving, expert-level …
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Historic Clásico Legends match to reopen Estadio Olímpico

The biggest rivalry in world football is coming to the Caribbean. This coming Saturday, 14 March 2026, the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez will host the “Noche de Leyendas” (Night of Legends), featuring iconic former players from FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30pm in what will serve as the official grand reopening …
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Colombia continues strong as a leading source for Dominican tourism

Dominican participation in the XXV Anato Tourism Showcase in Bogota, Colombia, under Tourism Minister David Collado, was a large one, with 45 Dominican companies present. Minister Collado told reporters that in 2025, over 400,000 tourists from Colombia visited the DR, a 19% increase from the previous year. The strength of the Colombian market resides in …
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President Abinader inaugurates “hotel-school” at Meliá hotel complex in Punta Cana

President Luis Abinader officially inaugurated the Gabriel Escarrer Juliá Hospitality and Tourism School on Monday, 2 March 2026, marking a significant milestone in the country’s public-private educational partnerships. The new training center is located within the Meliá Caribe Beach Resort and Meliá Punta Cana Beach complex in the Verón-Punta Cana municipal district. Operating under a …
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President Abinader inaugurates doppler radar at Las Americas achieving full coverage

In a pivotal move for national aviation safety, President Luis Abinader officially inaugurated a new C-Band Solid-State Dual-Polarization Doppler weather radar on 25 February 2026. The government reports the new WRS300 radar was a RD$250 million investment. Located at the Dominican Aeronautical Complex adjacent to Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), the facility marks a historic …
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President Abinader inaugurates new tourist dock at Isla Catalina

President Luis Abinader was in La Romana to inaugurate the Atelón tourist dock on Isla Catalina. Isla Catalina is an off island that services day excursions and cruise ship passengers. The new dock is a Dominican Port Authority investment. Jean Luis Rodríguez, director of the Dominican Port Authority (Apordom), stated that with this one, 22 …