Government reports that in August the country reached a record number of 621,953 tourists
The Government informed this Sunday that in August the country reached the historic record figure of 621,953 tourists and that in the eight months of this year a total of 5.66 million visitors were received.
It was explained that if to the 621,953 tourists arriving in August are added the 94,792 cruise passengers who visited the country last month, a total of 716,745 visitors are obtained.
These data were released during a ceremony led by President Luis Abinader and the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, at the El Embajador Hotel, which was attended by officials, businessmen and people linked to the world of tourism.
In his speech, the President said that tourism in the country is growing faster than in the rest of the world, which, he said, consolidates us as leaders and places us in a scenario of a very hopeful future.
He affirmed that the commitment and ambition of this government is to continue growing and making the Dominican Republic a larger nation and a leader in tourism.
“Today we can highlight that the month of August was the best month in the historical series in our country, breaking a record that month after month we are surpassing,” said the head of state.
In this regard, he specified that even when we have always had an adverse context, we have been able to shine in the tourism sector.
“Tourism means employment, business opportunities for large, small and medium-sized companies; also, the transformation and renovation of urban areas, the conservation and promotion of the natural and cultural heritage of our country”, said the President.
According to the governor, the achievements obtained in the sector are not the result of inertia or chance, but the result of the coordination of the Government, of the close collaboration that exists with other agents, “with local governments, a dynamic and competitive business sector, and a sector in the labor service whose quality and warmth are recognized worldwide”.
For his part, David Collado said that the Dominican Republic is “better than ever” by reaching the historic figure of 621,953 arrivals in August, thus surpassing that same month of 2019 by 124,563 visitors.
In showing the sector’s growth figures before President Abinader and representatives of the private sector, Collado reported that from January to August the country received 4,904,162 tourists and another 755,818 excursionists, so the projection of having the best year in the history of Dominican tourism in terms of visitor arrivals is maintained.
“This means that in eight months Dominicans received the visit of 5,655,980 people. If this is not a record in tourist arrivals, what do we call it,” said the official.
He stated that of the 621,953 visitors in August, 502,289 were foreigners and 119,674 ethnic visitors.
Collado indicated that the arrival of foreigners in August represents a growth of 27% in relation to 2019 and 11% compared to 2018.
Similarly, he highlighted that ethnic visits last month also registered an increase of 18 % more than August 2019 and 39 % compared to 2018.
Finally, he explained that the arrival of tourists by air last month marks a record, surpassing 2018, when 537,576 arrived and 2019 with the visit of 497,390.
Present at the activity were, Héctor Valdez Albizu, governor of the Central Bank; José Rijo, director general of Budget; Catalino Correa, comptroller general of the Republic; vice admiral Francisco Sosa, commander general of the Navy; major general Carlos Febrillet, commander general of the Air Force.
Also, Vice Admiral José Manuel Cabrera Ulloa, president of the National Drug Control Directorate; General Alberto Then, director of the National Police; General Minoru Matsunaga, director of Politur, and Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, director of the General Customs Directorate.
