The Dominican Republic Has a New Tourism Goal: 14 Million Visitors 

It was back in 2013 at the DATE conference, the Dominican Republic’s annual local tourism conference. Then-Vice Minister Radhames Martinez Aponte took the stage and boldly declared a big goal for the country: 10 million annual visitors by 2023. 

At the time, it was ambitious. Very ambitious. But after a sustained boom driven by a post-pandemic renaissance, 10 million is old hat. The country is actually projecting 12 million visitors by the end of this year alone. 

Now, the plan is for even bigger growth, according to current Dominican Republic Vice President Raquel Peña. 

The goal? 14 million annual visitors before 2028, part of the country’s broader 2036 sustainable growth strategy. 

Now, it’s not unreasonable to foresee that kind of growth — thanks to surging air arrivals and a quietly sizzling cruise industry centered around the northern coast of the country. 

While Punta Cana remains the country’s tourism stronghold, it’s traditionally less popular destinations that are driving the tourism expansion. 

That includes the capital, Santo Domingo, which has an ever-expanding pipeline of new hotels (and new airlift) and up-and-coming spots like Miches, one of the country’s big hopes for resort development and an area that has already welcomed hotels from brands like Temptation and Club Med (and a new Marriott-branded one, too, on the way)