Dominican Republic: record tourism in 2025, boosted by global instability

Visit Dominican Republic confirms its status as one of Latin America's leading destinations. In 2025, the country welcomed 11.7 million visitors, a record that puts it just behind Mexico.

This year-on-year increase of 4.3% represents around 500,000 additional visitors, or over 4 million more tourists than in 2019. With a population of 11.5 million, the country now receives more than one visitor per inhabitant, a ratio worthy of the world's great destinations. The assets are well known: postcard-perfect beaches in Punta Cana, Unesco-listed colonial architecture in Santo Domingo and a wide range of all-inclusive holidays (« all inclusive »). The cruise sector is also part of this boom, with more than 3 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 6% over one year.

A favorable geopolitical context

Since the beginning of 2026, the Dominican Republic has been taking advantage of an unstable international environment. Tensions in the Middle East are diverting many tourists from Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, where arrivals have fallen dramatically (up to -85 % in Dubai). Even Thailand, far from the conflict zone, is affected, due to a sharp drop in air connectivity. A massive shift is taking place towards leisure and vacation destinations perceived as safer and further away from the Middle East. The Dominican Republic is benefiting directly from this: according to travel professionals, the volume of bookings for this Caribbean destination doubled in a recent week (on a par with Cape Verde).

As we enter 2026, the Dominican Republic is combining traditional appeal, timely geopolitical postponements and a long-term strategy to consolidate its position as Caribbean leader. In particular, the authorities are targeting 260,000 French visitors this year, a market deemed strategic, boosted by direct flights and excellent value for money.

Organized or customized stays

Customized tour packages are a mainstay of Dominican tourism, allowing you to take advantage of classic all-inclusive packages or discover a more authentic Dominican Republic, far from the usual seaside resorts.

Among the specialists in tailor-made holidays, Comptoir des Voyages stands out for its 100 % customizable offer: self-tours and immersive tours like « La Rep Dom des aventuriers »(12 days/10 nights with a family via Santo Domingo, Jarabacoa and Puerto Plata), « Creole Robinsonnades »(11 days on the Samaná Peninsula and Saona Island) or « A Caribbean jewel »off the beaten track in Pedernales and Barahona. These à la carte packages focus on local culture (bachata, colmados, whale watching) and varied landscapes (waterfalls, coffee forests).

Major tour operators such as TUI and Club Med dominate the all-inclusive segment, with family or couples packages to Punta Cana and Miches including flights, transfers, meals and water sports activities (diving, kitesurfing, golf). For organized tours, specialized agencies such as Evaneos, Kuoni or Marco Vasco offer itineraries in partnership with local agencies.

" Meta RD 2036 »diversifying and moving upmarket

To perpetuate and amplify this dynamic, the Dominican authorities have launched an ambitious plan called « Meta RD 2036 ». This project aims to double the country's GDP by 2036 by radically modernizing the tourism model. On the agenda: diversification of the offer beyond the classic seaside resort, decongestion of Punta Cana via the development of new areas such as Pedernales (with 12,000 hotel rooms planned, a new international airport and a cruise port), increased sustainability (coral protection, waste management, rural and community tourism) and modernization of transport infrastructures. Tourism, which already accounts for more than 12 % of GDP and generates thousands of jobs, is set to become « more and more and better and better ".

At the same time, the hotel industry is clearly moving upmarket. Major luxury chains are investing massively: the W Punta Cana, The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve join already prestigious establishments such as Eden Roc Cap Cana and Amanera. These new hotels often combine the all-inclusive concept with high standards of luxury, to appeal to a more affluent clientele in search of premium vacations, well-being and top-of-the-range services.

Stronger air links

The Dominican Republic is benefiting from enhanced air services from France. On December 15, 2025, Air Caraïbes inaugurated a direct service between Paris-Orly and Samaná (El Catey airport), making this northern peninsula the airline's third Dominican stopover after Punta Cana and Santo Domingo. The route will be served by two weekly flights during the 2025-2026 winter season (Monday and Saturday), operated by Airbus A350-900. This opening is part of the overall strengthening of the Caribbean specialist airline's 2025-2026 winter schedule, which will see up to 12 weekly flights to the Dominican Republic combining Samaná, Punta Cana and Santo Domingo. Round-trip economy fares currently start at around €750 incl. tax for dates in March-April 2026, with launch promotions starting at €700 incl. tax for certain slots at the end of March.

For its part, Air France is operating a seasonal service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Punta Cana this winter season, until March 28, 2026, with three weekly frequencies (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) operated by Boeing 777-300ER. Round-trip economy-class tickets are generally priced between €920 and €1,200 incl. tax for this winter period, with occasional offers down to around €980 incl. tax in March 2026, according to fare comparators.

In response to increasing traffic, VINCI Airports and its local partner Aerodom have launched the construction of a new passenger terminal at Las Américas airport in the capital Santo Domingo, for an investment estimated at over 230 million euros. Scheduled to open in 2028, the new terminal will increase the airport's capacity to 9 million passengers a year.