Top 10 stories of 2025 reflect the record-breaking momentum of Dominican tourism

Santo Domingo.- The most significant developments in the tourism sector for 2025 highlight a year of unprecedented growth, structural modernization, and institutional maturity. As reported by the Dominican Association of Tourism Press (Adompretur) and compiled by the esteemed José Rafael Sosa, the sector has transitioned into a new era marked by a robust legal framework and historic arrival numbers. Dominican Today echoes this report, which underscores the dynamic evolution of the country’s primary economic activity.

As reported by José Rafael Sosa, these are the ten stories that defined the sector this year:

1. Dominican Republic on track for a new tourism record

The country is projected to welcome between 11.7 and 12 million total visitors by the end of December 2025. This historic performance includes over 5 million air arrivals and a maritime sector expected to reach up to 5 million cruise passengers, driven by the new Port of Cabo Rojo and the expansion of Taino Bay. Much of this success is attributed to the leadership of Tourism Minister David Collado, whose promotion efforts reached over 2,000 operators across three continents.

2. Major hotel development and new openings

Infrastructure growth remained a constant in 2025. Key milestones include the opening of Viva Miches by Wyndham Resorts and the inauguration of the Dreams and Secrets Playa Esmeralda resorts. Additionally, the 114-room Days Inn by Wyndham Juan Dolio is slated for a December debut. Data indicates the Dominican Republic will lead hotel construction in the Caribbean through the end of the year.

3. Arajet consolidates as the nation’s leading airline

Arajet became a dominant force in regional aviation this year. By December, the airline surpassed 3 million total passengers since its 2022 launch, moving over 145,000 travelers in November alone. Now ranked as the third-largest airline by volume in the country, Arajet continues to expand with projected routes to Newark, Orlando, Boston, and Chicago.

4. The relaunch of Puerto Plata and the role of Banreservas

The revitalization of the country’s first mass-tourism hub reached new heights with the Punta Bergantín project. Backed by the government and Banreservas, this development features international brands like Meliá, Westin, and Hyatt. Banreservas significantly increased its tourism credit portfolio to over RD$50 billion, supporting more than 7,000 hotel rooms and infrastructure improvements in Puerto Plata’s historic center.

5. Financial backing from Banco Popular Dominicano

Banco Popular reaffirmed its status as a primary financier of the tourism sector. By the end of 2024, its loan portfolio for the sector exceeded RD$96.5 billion. This capital supported the renovation of 30,000 rooms and the creation of 35,000 direct and indirect jobs. At international forums like FITUR, the bank presented financing plans for 26 new projects with an estimated investment of US$6.2 billion.

6. Emerging destinations gain momentum

2025 marked the definitive takeoff of the country’s newest tourism frontiers. Miches, Pedernales, and Juan Dolio consolidated their growth through increased occupancy rates and infrastructure expansion, successfully diversifying the national tourism map beyond traditional hubs.

7. A new era for Adompretur under Sarah Hernández

The association entered a transformative phase with the election of its 2025-2027 national board, led by President Sarah Hernández. This new leadership has introduced a modernized work style focused on strategic planning and organizational strengthening. A hallmark of this institutional advancement was the successful 21st edition of the Epifanio Lantigua National Tourism Journalism Awards (PEL), featuring a refreshed production and a widely praised verdict that awarded the Grand Prize to Katheryn Luna for her work on inclusive tourism.

8. The year of Javier Noguera

A prominent Dominican-Venezuelan professional and specialist in the sector, Noguera earned several of the most significant honors of the year for his communicational contributions. His platform, Infotur Dominicano, was recognized as the “Outstanding Media of the Year” at the PEL 2025 awards and further solidified its leadership by winning the 2025 National Digital Journalism Award as the best specialized tourism portal. These accolades reflect the high caliber of specialized reporting and the decade-long trajectory of Noguera’s work within the guild.

9. National and international accolades

The Dominican Republic swept the 2025 Travvy Awards and dominated the “Pasaporte Abierto” awards in Colombia. Within this wave of recognition, Dominican Today’s own Adrian R. Morales stood out for his professional excellence, receiving a special mention in the Opinion category at the Epifanio Lantigua Awards 2025 and winning the award for Best Journalistic Investigation at Pasaporte Abierto 2025 for his incisive report on tourism promotion. Additionally, within the framework of other award ceremonies held throughout the year, honors were granted to pioneers Frank Rainieri, Edmundo Aja Flaiter, and Leonardo Wehe, as well as legendary journalists Manuel Quiterio Cedeño, Jairon Severino, and José Tejada Gómez.

10. Operational records in Punta Cana

The Punta Cana International Airport continued to break its own records, handling over 800 weekly flights. It remains the country’s primary gateway and a vital hub for international traffic, ensuring the Dominican Republic’s connectivity with the rest of the world remains at an all-time high.