Tourism leads Dominican Republic’s economic expansion, strengthens credit to private sector
Tourism remains among the activities leading the expansion of the Dominican economy, while also driving greater demand for financing and contributing to the growth of credit to the private sector, which registered a year-on-year increase of 9.1% at the close of June 2026, reported the Association of Multiple Banks of the Dominican Republic (ABA).
The entity highlighted that the loan portfolio showed an acceleration compared to the accumulated growth of 7.4% recorded in December 2025, with an additional injection of more than RD$80 billion during the first half of the year, equivalent to 1.0% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
According to the ABA, the greatest dynamism in financing has been concentrated mainly in the commercial and mortgage segments, supporting strategic sectors for economic growth, including tourism, construction, transportation, and private investment.
The association highlighted that channeling resources toward productive activities strengthens the Dominican economy’s capacity to sustain its growth, particularly in an international environment marked by heightened uncertainty.
The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) projects that credit to the private sector in national currency will continue to accelerate gradually during 2026, reaching 10.5% growth by the end of the year.
This expansion would represent an increase in financing of RD$149,818 million, equivalent to 1.9% of GDP.
The ABA noted that credit behavior demonstrates the role of the financial system in supporting activities that are driving the economy, with a particular impact on sectors such as tourism and construction.
Alongside the increase in credit, public deposits accelerated, rising from 9.2% in December 2025 to 14.9% in June 2026.
During the first six months of the year, the deposit base available to financial intermediation entities increased by RD$257,124 million, equivalent to 3.3% of GDP.
The ABA added that statistics from the Superintendency of Banks show that the financial system maintains a liquid asset ratio above 40% and a stable delinquency rate below 2.0%.
According to the entity, these indicators reflect the financial system’s ability to maintain stable conditions and continue channeling resources to the productive sectors that sustain the country’s economic growth.
