Santo Domingo.-The Dominican Republic strengthens its position as a regional benchmark in civil aviation and tourism with an estimated investment of US$700 million for the country’s different airports between the remainder of 2025 and 2026.
President Luis Abinader explained during his participation in La Semanal con la Prensa, held within the framework of the International Civil Aviation Negotiation Event (ICAN 2025) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), that this investment reinforces the coherence between national strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in addition to consolidating the sector’s capacity to generate jobs, foreign exchange and stability in the face of international shocks.
“Without air connectivity there is no success in tourism,” said the president, highlighting that the air transport liberalization policy adopted by his government has been given as an example to more than 600 delegates from 90 countries gathered this week in Punta Cana.
Investment and expansion
The president explained that the Dominican Republic maintains an expansion and modernization plan that includes the Las Américas, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, La Romana, Santiago and Cabo Rojo (Pedernales) airports.
Together, these works exceed US$700 million, an amount that is added to the commitments previously executed under public-private alliances and international concessions.
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Among the most notable projects is the new terminal of the Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), with an investment of more than US$250 million, and the construction of the Cabo Rojo International Airport, valued at US$68 million, within the Pedernales tourism development.
The results of this policy are reflected in the most recent global indices. The country climbed positions in the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 and in the ranking of the World Economic Forum, standing out for its connectivity, security and regulatory framework.
Air connectivity
The country continues to strengthen its position as one of the main air hubs in the Caribbean, thanks to its sustained growth in connectivity and its ability to adapt to global changes in tourism demand.
Abinader highlighted that the country ranks fourth in connectivity in Latin America, consolidating its role as a strategic destination for airlines and international travelers.
“For tourism to grow, air connectivity must also grow. Tourism cannot be promoted without strengthening the offer of routes and available seats. Both must go hand in hand, and that is what we have done these last five years,” said the president.
The director of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), Héctor Porcella Dumas, highlighted that between 2020 and 2025 the country has approved more than 1,300 air routes, with an operational effectiveness of 88%, which means that almost nine out of every ten approved routes are currently in operation to or from Dominican territory.
Tourists
The Dominican Republic is about to exceed 9 million visitors today, marking a new milestone in the history of national tourism.
This was revealed by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, during his participation in La Semanal con la Prensa.
“We are going through the best year in the history of Dominican tourism. We have just recorded the best months of May, June, July, August, September and October. At the end of October we were at 8 million 500 thousand visitors, and today we are already around 9 million,” he indicated.
The official announced that the official data will be presented during the week, but estimated that the country will close the year between 11.5 and 11.7 million visitors, combining the arrival of 7 million by air and more than 2.3 million by cruise ship.
Collado highlighted that these record figures are achieved despite recent challenges, such as the storms that have affected the country and the air crisis in the United States.
Pedernales will be a central theme in Fitur 2026
Promotion. President Luis Abinader confirmed that the Dominican Republic will participate in the next edition of Fitur, in Madrid, where the central promotion theme will be Pedernales, although other destinations in the country will also be promoted.
The edition of La Semanal con la Prensa was developed within the framework of the International Civil Aviation Congress (ICAN 2025), organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization under the auspices of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), an event that brings together leaders of the world aeronautical sector in Punta Cana.
