David Collado calls for higher hotel rates and tourist spending

Punta Cana.- Tourism Minister David Collado called for a new stage in the Dominican Republic’s tourism development focused not only on attracting more visitors, but also on raising hotel rates and increasing tourist spending so that the sector’s growth generates greater economic benefits for Dominicans, according to El Dinero.

Speaking at the Asonahores 2026 Trade Show in Punta Cana, Collado said the country has made significant progress in increasing visitor arrivals and should now prioritize raising the economic value generated by each tourist.

“We need to increase hotel rates. Tourist spending needs to be much higher,” Collado said, stressing that tourism growth should translate into more income and opportunities for the Dominican population. “What’s good for tourism and tourists has to be better for Dominicans,” he added.

The minister said this next phase must also be guided by sustainability and territorial planning, particularly in destinations experiencing rapid tourism and urban expansion. He identified Bávaro-Punta Cana, Samaná, Puerto Plata, La Romana and Bayahíbe as areas where stronger planning will be necessary.

Collado argued that the sector’s success should ultimately be measured not only by the number of tourists arriving in the country, but also by the economic impact of their visits and the extent to which tourism contributes to improving the income and opportunities of Dominicans.

His proposal places higher visitor spending, greater profitability, sustainability and territorial planning at the center of what he described as the next stage of Dominican tourism development.