The PUJ is consolidating its position: it attracts 53% of the tourists who visited the Dominican Republic in June
Air transport continues to be the main driver of growth in Dominican tourism. During the first half of 2016, the Dominican Republic received 37,895 commercial flights, a record figure representing a 7.7% increase compared to the same period in 2015, equivalent to 2,694 additional operations. Furthermore, the country surpassed pre-pandemic levels by 24.5%, with 7,448 more flights than in January-June 2019.
This performance is due to the sustained increase in international demand and the strengthening of the country’s air connectivity, both of which have boosted tourist arrivals at the main national tourist destinations.
Punta Cana continues to solidify its position as the country’s main air gateway. The airport accounted for 53% of all air operations recorded in June, followed by Las Américas International Airport (AILA) with 28% and Cibao International Airport with 12%. Puerto Plata and El Higüero followed with 3% each, while La Romana and Samaná each contributed 1%.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), as reported by areocoa.com, the distribution demonstrates the importance of the Eastern region within the Dominican tourism industry, driven by its wide range of hotels, beaches, and direct connections to the main source markets.
The data also shows that the United States remains the primary source market for flights, accounting for 53% of total operations. It is followed by Panama (7%), Colombia (6%), Puerto Rico (6%), and Canada (5%), markets that maintain consistent connectivity with the country.
Among the busiest routes are the connections between New York (JFK) and Santiago (STI), New York (JFK) and Santo Domingo (SDQ), as well as flights from Panama (PTY), San Juan (SJU), and Miami (MIA) to Punta Cana, reflecting the importance of the US market, the Caribbean and Central America in the national tourism dynamic.
The increase in air operations is closely linked to the growth in tourist arrivals. Between January and June 2026, the Dominican Republic received 4,963,542 tourists by air, a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2025, representing an additional 449,449 visitors. Compared with 2019, this growth is 38.8%, confirming the country’s consolidation as one of the fastest-recovering and fastest-expanding tourist destinations in the region.
These results reflect the strengthening of international connectivity, the opening of new routes, and increased airline frequencies, elements that continue to position the Dominican Republic as the main tourist hub in the Caribbean and one of the most competitive destinations in Latin America.
