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BiggerTourism, among the sectors that grew the most between January-May in Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Ministry of Economy has reported an increase in tourism, trade, and agricultural exports in the country during the period of January to May, highlighting the positive performance of these sectors so far this year.
In May, the tourism sector showed positive data with 518,932 non-resident foreigners arriving in the country, representing a 14.5% increase compared to the same month of the previous year. The total number of visitors for the year reached 2.8 million, marking a 20.3% year-on-year variation.
Agricultural exports also experienced growth, reaching $93.9 million in May, a 16.1% increase compared to the previous year. The total agricultural exports for the year amounted to $358 million, with a 3.5% year-on-year variation. This growth can be attributed to increased exports of cocoa beans to Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as preserved fruits to the Netherlands.
The report also indicates that there were 2,282,972 active workers in the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS) in May, reflecting a cumulative growth of 0.6% compared to December 2022. In addition, formal job registrations increased by 0.5% in May compared to December.
These positive indicators reflect the resilience and performance of the Dominican Republic’s economy in key sectors such as tourism, trade, and agriculture.
Yet, literally no investment in infrastructure. Crazy traffic. Out-of-control traffic lights or no lights at all. No wastewater solutions. Allowing rapid growth without concern for the environment or residential safety. Most tourists are shielded from the reality.
Actually, there have been MAJOR investments in infrastructure in recent months… starting with the extension of the metro line in Santo Domingo, which is underway, and the construction of the monorail and the cable car station in Santiago, which are slated to be completed by Q1 of 2024. Traffic will remain crazy for a while, I simply don’t see that changing any time soon. Dominicans need to establish a culture and habit of using their personal vehicles less, especially in highly dense urban areas. But that will only happen once public transportation improves.