Tourism Minister David Collado reported that the sector registered a growth of more than 36% in relation to 2019 and exceeded the goal of 10 million visitors by more than 300,000.
In an act headed by President Luis Abinader, where the behavior of tourism last year was announced, Collado said that in the January-December period the country received 10,306,517 visitors by air and sea, thus surpassing with more than 300 thousand the goal of 10 million.
He indicated that last year the DR received 8,058,670 by air, as well as another 2,247,847 by sea.
“2023 has been the best year for tourism in the entire history of the country, thanks to the vision of President Luis Abinader and that great alliance of the public and private sectors,” he added.
He said that in December alone, 867,570 tourists arrived in the country by air, 106,635 more than in 2022, representing a growth of 13%.
He pointed out that in the January-December period 8,058,670 tourists arrived to the country, exceeding by 22% in 2022 and by 25% in 2019.
In addition, he said that in the same twelve-month period cruise passengers totaled 2,247,172, while in December alone 327,172 arrived, representing an increase of 45% over the same month of 2022.
Meanwhile, it was announced that the major destinations visited last year were Punta Cana with 42%, Santo Domingo with 18%, Puerto Plata with 12% and La Romana with 11%. The main countries of origin of tourists were the United States with 43%, Canada with 16%, Colombia 7%, Spain 5% and Puerto Rico with 4%.
Source: Arecoa.com