Dominican Republic Welcomes Record 7.7Mn Visitors in First Seven Months Of 2026

  • The Dominican Republic welcomed a record 7,700,118 visitors during the first seven months of 2026, the highest January–July total ever recorded for the country’s tourism sector, Tourism Minister David Collado announced.
  • According to the Ministry of Tourism, the total represents a 7% increase compared with the same period in 2025. Between January and July, the country received 5,885,259 tourists by air and 1,814,859 cruise passengers, setting a new benchmark for international visitor arrivals. In July 2026 alone, the Dominican Republic welcomed 1,083,448 visitors, up 2.9% year over year. Of that total, 921,718 arrived by air, while 161,730 arrived on cruise ships.
  • The United States remained the country’s largest tourism market, accounting for 48% of all July arrivals. It was followed by Canada (7%), Argentina and Colombia (6% each), Puerto Rico (5%), Mexico and the United Kingdom (3% each), and Spain (2%).
  • Punta Cana International Airport continued to be the country’s main tourism gateway, handling 58% of July’s incoming flights. It was followed by Las Américas International Airport (24%), Cibao International Airport (13%), Puerto Plata (3%), and La Romana and Samaná airports with 1% each.
  • Collado also highlighted the destination’s strong visitor experience. Hotels posted an average 76% occupancy rate in July, while travellers rated their overall satisfaction at 4.4 out of 5. The survey also found that 91% of visitors said they would return to the Dominican Republic, and 59% said they would recommend the destination, reinforcing the country’s position as one of the Caribbean’s fastest-growing tourism destinations
  • While the Dominican Republic continues to record strong growth in visitor arrivals, Jamaica is showing a markedly weaker performance, with visitor traffic through its two main gateways declining during the first months of the year. Sangster International Airport, the country’s primary tourism gateway, has experienced a significant 26.7% decline in visitor arrivals, while Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston has recorded a more modest 2.23% contraction.

(Source: Dominican Today & NCBCM Research)