The Dominican Republic remained the preferred destination of 8,362,295 visitors that have arrived both by air and sea in the first nine months of this year, for an increase of 10% compared to January-September 2023, when 7,626,033 arrived visitors.
In a press conference, the Ministry of Tourism highlighted yesterday that the country accumulated 6,430,400 Arrivals airlines between January and September, for an expansion of 7%, while Arrivals maritime shipments totaled 1,931,895, for a growth 21% compared to the same period in 2023.
In this way, the dominican tourism continues its trend of growthwith an offer from cruise tourism on the rise, and in the midst of an international tourism situation influenced by a change in the preferences of European travelers, the decrease in frequencies since USA and the suspension of direct flights from Haiti and Venezuela, factors that influence the pace of Arrivals airlines, the institution reported.
Less travel from the US
In this sense, the arrival of foreigners No residents in September of this year it was 468,916, for a decrease of 2% (9,917 tourists less) in relation to September 2023, when 478,833 passengers will arrive, due to the arrival of fewer passengers from USAthe main country of origin tourists towards the country.
The arrival of residents from USA decreased 7.5% in September, going from 245,845 Arrivals in September 2023 to 228,084 in September 2024.
This, after a slight decrease in the rate of Arrivals that has been observed since July, due to the decrease in air routes of American Airlines from Miami, a drop in frequencies that JetBlue operates from New York and San Juan, as well as the reduction and cancellation of Spirit Airlines routes after its financial crisis.
Added to all this is the uncertainty of the American politics for being in period of electionsspecify the Ministry’s data, which show that American travel decreased in the rest of the Caribbean countries (-8%), Mexico (-5.7%), and Central America (-1.1%).
Only South America maintained an arrival that grew 2.8% of the entire region of Latin America in the month of September.
Yet, USA continued to top the list of countries that sent the most tourists in September, with an influx of 39%.
The top five residency statuses of these tourists were:
- Florida (7%)
- New York (7%)
- Ontario (5%)
- Quebec (4%)
- New Jersey (4%)
Behind USA As the main country of residence of passengers, in September, was Canada (9%), Colombia (8%), Argentina (6%) and England (4%), with Argentina being the one with the highest growth of all during that month, 65.3%.
Growth in airports
When observing the growth of the flow of tourists by air by airport in September, 262,773 passengers arrived through the Punta Cana International Airport (56% of total travelers), being the one with the greatest growth during this month, with 2.5%.
This was followed by Cibao International Airportthrough which 58,592 passengers entered (12% of the total in September), with a growth of 0.2%.
27% of the passengers (126,745) arrived in the country via e-mail.l Las Americas International Airportwhich in September had a 10% decrease in passenger flow compared to September 2023, a trend that was also observed in airports such as the Roman (which fell 15% and received 2,878 tourists) and that of Puerto Plata (with 14,457 tourists and a decrease of 3%).
Cruises rebound
The arrival of visitors in September was boosted by the high demand recorded by the cruise tourismwhich totaled 111,701 visitors who disembarked through the ports Dominicans, for a growth 66% compared to September 2023.
Of this amount, 103,561 were cruise passengers and 38,753 were crew memberswhich were mobilized through 36 ships and 10 boats. 62% arrived through Amber Cove30% for Taino Bay7% for La Romana and 1% for Santo Domingo.
Thus, the arrival of visitors in September it was 580,617, for a growth of 6% in relation to 2023.
