Punta Cana Hotel Occupancy Hits 69% in August
The Punta Cana hotel occupancy rate reached 69% in August, according to the Dominican Ministry of Tourism. This positions Punta Cana behind La Romana (80%), Miches (77%), Cabrera (74%), and Samaná (68%) in regional occupancy for the month.
Ana Solange Marte September 13, 2026
From January to August 2026, the Dominican Republic welcomed 8,556,416 visitors, a 6.9% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Of these, 6,610,259 arrived by air and 1,946,157 via cruise ships.
Minister of Tourism David Collado noted the country remains on track to receive 12 million visitors by the end of 2026. “This growth continues to benefit hotels, local businesses, artisans, and transportation providers,” Collado stated during the report’s presentation.
August alone saw 856,858 arrivals, a 6.2% rise from August 2025. Air arrivals totaled 591,186 international tourists, reflecting a 3.8% year-over-year increase. The U.S. accounted for 48% of air traffic, followed by Panama and Colombia (7% each), and Canada and Puerto Rico (6% each).
Airlines operated nearly 6,000 flights in August, up 1% from 2025 and 19% compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Average flight load factors rose from 65% to 68% year-over-year.
Cruise passenger numbers reached 1,946,157 between January and August, a modest 1.4% increase from the same period last year. This aligns with broader regional tourism trends observed in recent months.
Collado emphasized that the tourism boom continues to ripple across the economy, supporting hotels, local commerce, agriculture, transportation, and small businesses. For more on local regulatory updates, read our coverage of Bávaro’s recent policy changes.