Santo Domingo.- The tourism sector in Santo Domingo is on an upward trajectory, with the city set to welcome 1,500 new hotel rooms this year, further enhancing its appeal to tourists. Among the new additions are hotels like Marriott, Courtyard Piantini, Hyatt Centric, Kimpton Las Mercedes, and a yet-to-be-revealed American hotel chain, as outlined by Mónika Infante, president of the Santo Tourism Cluster, CTSD.
Infante foresees continued growth in the tourism sector in Santo Domingo, especially with the imminent establishment of a large convention and events center.
The General Director of Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom) highlighted the strong collaboration between the public and private sectors and Las Américas International Airport (AILA). He noted a significant surge in air traffic this year, with a growth rate of 12.5%, a substantial increase from the previous 2 or 3%. This surge has prompted new investments in the airport infrastructure to meet the escalating demand.
Plans include the construction of a second terminal, requiring an investment of US$250 million and slated for completion by the summer of 2025. Preliminary work, including soil studies, terminal design, and scheduled demolitions, is already underway.
In addition to the terminal expansion, ongoing renovations at the airport include upgrades to baggage handling systems, expanded parking facilities, and enhancements to the check-in and arrival areas, with an estimated investment of $16 million. These developments are expected to accommodate the surge in passenger traffic, doubling the airport’s capacity to accommodate 11 to 12 million passengers by 2023, according to El Hoy.