Progressive increase in hotel occupancy in the DR: almost 65% in August

In mid-August the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) ordered hotels to open 100% of their rooms and currently 87.5% of hotels have opened their doors.

According to Mitur statistics, the Dominican Republic, the occupancy rate continued to grow in August 2021, compared to July.

The hotel occupancy rate in the country in August was 64.80%, only 0.40% higher than the 64.40% of July 2021.

While the Occupancy rate January-August 2021 was 50.60%. For the same period of 2020, the hotel occupancy rate in the country in January-August was 30.4%, as published by the Central Bank on its website, with data from the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores ).

In the first eight months of 2021, Romana-Bayahíbe was the area that registered the highest occupancy rate (57.80%), followed by Boca Chica-Juan Dolio (53.50%) and Santo Domingo (52.0%).

Meanwhile, Bávaro-Punta Cana had an occupancy rate of 51.70%, Santiago 50.10%, Samaná 46.50%, Puerto Plata 45.40%, Sosúa-Cabarete 43.20% and the rest.

For the same period, but in the last year without a pandemic 2019, the average hotel occupancy rate January-August 2019 in the DR was an average of 74.1%, equivalent to 6.4% less than in the same period of the year 2018 than recorded an average hotel occupancy rate of 79.1% ”, according to the monthly report of the tourist association Asonahores.

This drop was caused by the reputational crisis unleashed in the US from May, due to the reports of natural deaths that occurred in the year.

It is recalled that the Mitur ordered on August 16 that hotels open at 100% of their capacity, but maintaining social distancing measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

In resolution JD-022/2021, Mitur established 90% of the capacity in vehicles for the transport of employees and tourists, and the occupation in excursions, maritime transport and water activities in 85%, as It could be modified according to the evolution of Covid-19.

The resolution makes the use of masks mandatory within closed public and private spaces for public use, as well as that establishments must ensure that they maintain social distancing between the people who are inside them.

Source: Arecoa