SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The Dominican Republic’s tourism sector continued its strong upward trajectory during the first five months of 2026, with the country receiving more than 5.6 million visitors and setting new records for international arrivals, according to Tourism Minister David Collado.
Presenting the latest tourism performance figures, Collado reported that 4,147,025 tourists arrived in the country by air between January and May, representing a 10.8% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Combined with 1,494,634 cruise passengers arriving by sea, total visitor arrivals reached 5,641,659, marking an 8% increase over previous records and establishing the strongest start to a year in the history of Dominican tourism.
“Those 4.1 million air arrivals and nearly 1.5 million cruise passengers bring us to more than 5.6 million visitors in just five months. It is yet another record for the Dominican Republic,” Collado said.
Air Arrivals Continue to Drive Tourism Growth
Air travel remained the primary driver of tourism growth, with 744,045 visitors arriving by air in May alone. The figure represented a 10.4% increase compared to May 2025, a 9.8% rise over 2024, a 19.7% increase compared to 2023, and a remarkable 40.9% growth compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The minister noted that the Dominican Republic continues to outperform many regional competitors, supported by strong international demand, expanded air connectivity, and sustained promotional efforts in key source markets.
Cruise Tourism Adds Nearly 1.5 Million Visitors
The cruise sector also maintained strong momentum, contributing significantly to the country’s overall visitor totals. In May, 139,881 cruise passengers arrived through Dominican ports, while total cruise arrivals reached nearly 1.5 million during the January-May period.
Industry officials have credited ongoing investments in port infrastructure and destination development for the continued expansion of cruise tourism across the country.
United States and Canada Remain Top Source Markets
According to Ministry of Tourism data, the United States remained the Dominican Republic’s largest source market in May, accounting for 41% of all international arrivals.
Canada followed with 21%, while Argentina contributed 7% of visitors and Colombia accounted for 5%. France, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Chile, and Peru each represented approximately 2% of arrivals.
The figures highlight the continued diversification of the Dominican Republic’s tourism base, with strong growth from both North American and Latin American markets.
Punta Cana Continues to Lead Airport Arrivals
Punta Cana International Airport maintained its position as the country’s primary tourism gateway, handling 66% of all air arrivals during the first five months of the year.
Las Américas International Airport (AILA) ranked second with 19%, followed by Cibao International Airport with 10%, Puerto Plata with 5%, and La Romana and Samaná with approximately 1% each.
In May, Punta Cana accounted for 54% of all tourist arrivals, while Las Américas received 28%, Cibao 11%, Puerto Plata 3%, Higüero 2%, and La Romana and Samaná approximately 1% each.
High Satisfaction Levels Support Repeat Tourism
Collado also highlighted the sector’s strong performance in visitor satisfaction. Hotel occupancy rates exceeded 79% during the January-April period, reflecting sustained demand across the country’s tourism regions.
Visitor satisfaction ratings reached 4.5 out of 5 points, according to official surveys, reinforcing the Dominican Republic’s reputation as one of the Caribbean’s most popular vacation destinations.
The data also revealed strong visitor loyalty, with 93% of tourists indicating they would return to the country and 60% saying they would recommend the destination to family and friends.
Tourism Industry Maintains Growth Momentum
The latest figures underscore the Dominican Republic’s continued leadership in Caribbean tourism, driven by strong airlift, growing cruise operations, expanding hotel capacity, and high levels of visitor satisfaction.
With Punta Cana remaining the country’s main tourism gateway and international demand showing no signs of slowing, industry leaders expect the sector to continue breaking records throughout the remainder of 2026, further strengthening its role as a key pillar of the national economy.
