Negative media campaign against DR resulted in reduction of 100 thousand visitors to the DR from January—September 2019

4.2 MILLION IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2019 COMPARED TO 4.3 MILLION IN 2018

The sector recorded a cumulative drop in arrivals of 2.8%

During the first nine months of last year, the Dominican Republic received a little more than 4.3 million international vacationers. In the same period of 2019, that flow was a little more than 4.2 million visitors, a figure that represents a decrease of about 100 thousand tourists. The leading cause of this decrease has been the negative media attacks against Dominican tourism.

Thus, for the third consecutive month, the influx of foreign tourists reflects a decrease, reaching a cumulative interannual rate of 2.8% for the period January-September 2019.

These numbers indicate that in the first nine months of this year, the number of foreign tourists who have visited the country up through September of this year is lower by 121,216 vacationers.

This data compares to the number of international visitors during the months of January-September 2018.

These data reflect in the latest monthly report on the tourist flow disclosed by the Central Bank, which corresponds to the January-September period of this year.

As for the arrival flow of Dominican visitors, there is a growth rate of 14.6%, lower than the 15.2% in which it grew in 2018. But, even so, a very high growth rate, which largely compensated, but not entirely, the fall in the arrival of foreigners. Thanks to the flow of arrivals of non-resident Dominicans, the pace in the fall of visitors between nationals and foreigners was meager, -0.4%.

Viewed by residences, the most significant influx of foreign tourists came from North America, which contributed 60.6%, while 22.3% of visitors arrived from Europe, and 12.6% arrived from South America.

The remaining 4.2% came from Central America and the Caribbean; and 0.3% from Asia and Rest of the World.

According to the statistics of the Central Bank, the first half of 2019, the average daily expenditure of foreign tourists when they visit the country is 137.2 dollars with an average stay (number of nights) of 8.27.

These numbers allow us to have an approximate idea about the financial impact the decrease of the arrival of international tourists to the DR has meant for the Dominican economy and the tourism sector. 

Stays and daily expenses alone represent about US $137.5 million dollars.