More than 661,000 tourists arrived in the Dominican Republic by air, while more than 250,000 did so through cruise ships this month of February, which places this month as “the best” in historical terms, according to the Ministry of Tourism. “Not only was it the best February in history for the arrival of tourists by air, but it was also the best February in history for the arrival of cruise passengers, almost tripling the arrival of 2022,” he remarked. Together with the vice minister, Jaqueline Mora, she presented that the arrival of tourists by air represents an increase of 17% compared to the same month of 2022 and an increase of 9% compared to February 2019.
Likewise, regarding the arrival of cruise passengers, 252,435 visitors arrived in the country, an increase of 116% compared to 2019 and almost 300% compared to February 2022. The total number of consolidated visitors was 913,523 when those who arrived by air are added together with those by sea, with which in the first two months of the year more than 1.8 million visitors have been received in the country, a record. According to the figures presented, Bogotá continues to climb as a source city of tourists for the country and became the second most important city from where visitors come to the Dominican Republic, only surpassed by New York. Regarding the issuing countries, the United States, Canada, and Colombia continue to lead the first three places.
Regarding the destinations visited, 67% of the foreigners who came to the country in February stayed in the La Altagracia province (Punta Cana, Bávaro and Bayahíbe), 8% in Greater Santo Domingo, and 8% in Puerto Plata, 4% in La Romana, 3% in Samaná and 2% in Santiago de los Caballeros. As for hotel occupancy, it stood at 82%, well above the 75% of February 2022. As for commercial flights, it was the first time that the month of February exceeded 5,000 flights, with 5,700 registered at Dominican airports, with Punta Cana being the busiest, followed by Las Américas Airport.