Santo Domingo.- The Minister of Tourism, David Collado, remains optimistic about reaching the goal of 11.5 million visitors to the Dominican Republic by the end of 2024. So far, 7,781,690 visitors have been registered in the first eight months of the year. Despite a slight dip in August, with 812,949 visitors compared to July’s 1,017,896, Collado reaffirmed his confidence in achieving the year-end target.
Collado noted that seasonal declines in visitor numbers are expected and emphasized that now is the best time to invest in Dominican tourism. He highlighted plans to diversify into gastronomic, luxury, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism. In August, 675,196 visitors arrived by air and 137,753 by cruise ship, with 54% coming from the United States.
He also mentioned that the open skies agreement with the U.S. would boost tourism, but final approval from the Constitutional Court is still pending. This agreement is seen as a critical step towards increasing competitiveness and allowing Dominican airlines greater access to U.S. destinations.