Dominican Republic tourism continues record growth with 6.6 million visitors

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic welcomed a record 6,616,671 visitors during the first half of 2026, marking the strongest January-to-June tourism performance in the country’s history, according to Tourism Minister David Collado.

Speaking during his monthly tourism briefing, Collado said the total represents a 7.7% increase compared with the same period in 2025 and an 11% increase over 2024, reinforcing the Dominican Republic’s position as one of the Caribbean’s fastest-growing travel destinations. Based on current trends, the country is projected to welcome more than 12 million visitors by the end of the year.

The record-breaking total includes 4,963,542 air arrivals and 1,653,129 cruise passengers, highlighting strong growth in both air and maritime tourism.

In June 2026 alone, the Dominican Republic received 975,012 visitors, including 816,517 tourists arriving by air and 158,495 cruise passengers, both reflecting year-over-year growth.

The United States remained the country’s largest tourism source market, accounting for 53% of visitors in June. It was followed by Colombia (8%), Canada (7%), Puerto Rico and Argentina (5% each), the United Kingdom and Chile (3% each), and Mexico (2%).

Punta Cana International Airport handled 53% of all international arrivals during June, followed by Las Américas International Airport (28%), Cibao International Airport (12%), and the airports in Puerto Plata, El Higüero, La Romana, and Samaná.

Collado also highlighted the sector’s strong performance beyond visitor numbers. Hotels posted an average 71% occupancy rate during the first six months of the year, while visitors rated their experience 4.4 out of 5. According to the ministry, 92% of travelers said they would return to the Dominican Republic, and 60% said they would recommend the destination, reflecting high levels of visitor satisfaction.