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Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic stands out in Latin America and the Caribbean for having one of the highest hotel occupancy rates and some of the most competitive pricing, highlighting the strength of its tourism sector. However, the rise of unregulated short-term rental platforms poses a growing challenge.
Technical Vice Minister of Tourism Jacqueline Mora emphasized the need to regulate these accommodations, which have seen a rapid surge in demand, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. She noted that the number of short-term rental rooms has surpassed 100,000 units, compared to the country’s 80,000 hotel rooms, creating an imbalance that affects the traditional hotel industry.
Speaking at the 2025 International Congress of Finance and Auditing and the Latin American Seminar of Accountants and Auditors (CIFA-Selatca), organized by the Association of Multiple Banks (ABA) and DBO Dominicana, Mora revealed that short-term rentals have grown by 160%. According to data from El Dinero, there are currently around 56,497 properties offering approximately 136,312 rooms.
The hotel industry will not stop pushing this narrative until it squeezes every dollar from each tourist, leaving nothing for the common man.
The hotels want a monopoly on short term tourism rentals.
Hotels cannot cater for every type of tourist. It may be ok if you are a couple and don’t mind the restrictions that apply with the type of meals, meal times, limited space around the pool, and refreshments overpriced. Many experienced tourists and those with family or in groups want the freedom that a privately rented villa or condo provides. You can comfortably accommodate the number of guests, you can eat in using the kitchen, or go out and choose different restaurants and menus to try out. You come and go as you wish and can enjoy a private pool or a community pool with a much lower number of other guests. Purchase the drinks you want at normal prices and be assured you are not being passed off with watered-down or adulterated ones.
If the DR wants to attain and maintain high levels of longer-stay tourists, as against the one-day cruise visitors, it needs to cater to all tastes and demands. The hoteliers want to force out any competition, leaving them as the only option. That will not work and will exclude the tourists who want freedom of choice and come with money to spend in local businesses.