- Tourism accounts for nearly 20% of the nation’s GDP this year
- Over RD$130 billion in tax contributions from the sector
Bruce Pirt and Kathryn Jennifer Curtis embarked on a special journey yesterday from Ottawa, Canada, to the Dominican Republic. The couple chose this destination to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in the same country where they tied the knot two decades ago. Regular visitors escaping the harsh Canadian winters, they were joined by their daughters, Melissa Jane and Anna Wyn, for this memorable occasion.
To their surprise, Bruce was honored as the symbolic 11-millionth visitor to the Dominican Republic, marking a historic milestone in the country’s tourism industry. This record-breaking achievement, encompassing air and sea arrivals, is projected to generate an impressive $10.6 billion in foreign exchange for the Dominican economy.
A water cannon salute welcomed the Air Transat Flight 830 carrying Bruce and his family, a fitting tribute for the visitor who made history. Air Transat, which accounts for 50% of Canadian travelers to the Dominican Republic, played a key role in this milestone.
“We got married here 20 years ago, and now we’ve returned,” Bruce shared emotionally after being greeted with vibrant folkloric merengue music. The family walked down a red carpet to meet Tourism Minister David Collado and Grupo Puntacana Chairman Frank Rainieri, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
Minister Collado emphasized the importance of celebrating Dominican tourism achievements, noting that welcoming an additional million visitors for the second consecutive year is no small feat. “It’s a moment of pride and growth for our nation,” he added.
“Those 11 million visitors represent 949,000 direct and indirect jobs this year (…), they account for 26 billion dollars of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) that entered this country, and nearly 130 billion pesos in tax payments to the Dominican State. That is what we are celebrating here.”
David Collado, Minister of Tourism.
He highlighted the significance of this milestone, especially given Canada’s position as the second-largest source of tourists to the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, Rainieri emphasized that Bruce also represents the arrival of the 5 millionth passenger at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). This milestone reflects the remarkable growth since the airport’s inauguration 41 years ago when it welcomed just 2,541 visitors during its first year of operation.
“Five million is half of the Dominican population. Sometimes, we mention numbers without realizing that 11 million visitors means one visitor for every Dominican,” emphasized the executive. He stressed that both the public and private sectors must continue to work together in order to reach the goal of attracting an average of 15 million visitors annually by 2030.
Challenges Ahead for 2025 Goals
According to Collado, strengthening air connectivity and expanding hotel capacity are the two main challenges facing Dominican tourism if it aims to surpass the target of 12.5 million tourists, a goal set by President Luis Abinader for 2025.
One key aspiration of the government is to reduce airfare prices through open sky agreements recently signed with the United States and Argentina.
While ticket prices will be influenced by free market competition, Collado hopes that these agreements will lead to a reduction of up to 30% in current airfare prices.
Regarding the hotel sector, several projects are already planned for completion by 2025. In Miches, El Seibo province alone, over 1,000 hotel rooms are expected to open by 2025. Of these, up to 500 rooms will be opened by the Rainieri family, and 200 will be operated by Wyndham Resorts, Collado highlighted.
Looking ahead to 2025, Rainieri predicts that the tourism industry will grow by between 5% and 7%, which could bring an additional 500,000 to 700,000 visitors per year.
Source: diariolibre.com
