Santo Domingo. – In his accountability speech before the National Assembly, within the framework of the 182nd anniversary of National Independence, the president Luis Abinader highlighted that in 2025 the Dominican Republic will receive more of 11.7 million visitors, an interannual growth of 4.3%, equivalent to almost 500 thousand additional visitors compared to 2024 and more than 4 million compared to 2019, consolidating itself as the second destination in Latin America, only behind Mexico.
The president stated that the country also broke a record in the arrival of cruise passengers, with almost 3 million passengers, a growth of 6% compared to 2024 and stressed that Dominican tourism is moving towards a more sustainable, diversified and integrated model to the territory, with a strategic vision to 2036 and with direct impact on 91 communities through new infrastructure and development projects.
“We are today a tourist hub of the Caribbean. And we are so with firm foundations. Today we are already receiving more than one visitor for each inhabitant in our territory. Only the great tourist destinations come there. These numbers are the result of stability, promotion and continuous improvement of quality,” he highlighted, while indicating that they are not satisfied with growing. “We are transforming the model.”
The head of State explained that, in 2025, the first National Sustainable Tourism Policy and Strategy was formulated with a vision for 2036, built with the participation of more than 1,420 public and private actors and, in addition, the National Ecotourism Strategy was concluded, aimed at diversifying our offer, responsibly taking advantage of our protected areas and bringing development to new territories.
“The Colonial City, for example, became the first destination in the country to be incorporated into the Ibero-American Network of Smart Tourist Destinations, while we advance in its comprehensive recovery with an investment of USD 28.6 million in urban and heritage rehabilitation,” he said.
Likewise, he explained that, through CEIZTUR, they delivered key infrastructure: tourist docks in Miches and La Caleta, renovation of boardwalks in Haina and Guayacanes, recovery of natural spaces such as Los Patos and Boca de Cachón, and strategic urban projects in Puerto Plata, Samaná and Sosúa. In total, 91 communities received direct benefits from these interventions.
“This is the new Dominican tourism: more diversified, more sustainable, more integrated with the territory and more generator of opportunities. We have gone from being a successful destination to becoming an important leader, with a clear strategy towards 2036,” Abinader emphasized.
President Abinader concluded by stating that: “Tourism will continue to be a locomotive of economic development, but it will also be an instrument of social inclusion and territorial planning.”
