Tourism Minister David Collado said that the Russian war has affected the arrival of tourists, and has already registered a decrease of 60,000 visitors to the country, but that the arrival of Canadians has been picking up, in addition to the fact that an increase in tourist arrivals from different destinations was registered yesterday, mainly from the United States (56%).
Yesterday, he stated, 17,012 foreigners arrived in the Dominican Republicof which 66% arrived through Punta Cana and 22% through the International Airport of the Americas (AILA).
The tourism minister said 76% of foreigners who visit the Dominican Republic come from 76 countries, of which 56% come from the United States and 16% come from Canada.
He indicated that the 24% of foreign visitors correspond to the adventurous segment with an average age of 29 years.
75% of tourists stay in hotels, 31% in resorts and 13% in boutique hotels.
The Ukrainian market, a country involved in the Russian war, is an emerging market. he said she.
Speaking about the achievements and challenges of tourism, before the American Chamber of Commerce (AmchamDR), Minister Collado highlighted that the country is number one in the world in the recovery of tourism “And it is not small thing”.
He spoke of the work carried out during the pandemic and the amount of investments that have been made and in projections, as well as the marketing strategy assumed towards digital.
Upon arrival, he stressed, found a hotel occupancy of 48% that today is 88%, In December, more than 5,200 flights were registered, the generation of foreign exchange was US$5,500 million and an Intelligence Center was created, which is the most important in the region.
The minister also stated that the Ministry’s payroll has been reduced, generating savings of RD$160 million per year and more than RD$237 million in purchases and also in insurance.
He maintained, when making a count of the reduction of expenses, the new projects in investment that in this moment of war and inflation there is no time to lose and, therefore, believes “firmly” in Public-Private Partnerships that generate value and in companies that pay taxes and create jobs.
In the year and seven months of management in the Ministry of Tourism, Collado stated that savings of RD$5,395 million have been achieved only in international promotion.
United States
Minister Collado explained the importance and strategic role that the United States plays in the country’s tourism recovery, at a key moment of economic recovery.
“The United States is the number one country in issuing tourists and the third country with the highest investment and growth. In March alone, 57% of the tourists who came to the country are from the United States,” she noted.
“In 2021, 134,000 passengers traveled to the Dominican Republic as a result of promotional actions by the Ministry of Tourismwith a total investment of US$775,000, equivalent to a cost of 5.8 dollars per tourist”, added Collado.
He also explained the economic impact of these visits, to the extent that each tourist represents more than US$100 in direct and indirect taxes, and more than US$1,000 in added value. The tourism minister participated as a guest speaker at the AmchamDR Encounters.
Tourism in the Dominican Republic is of great importance, because it represents more than 15% of its gross domestic product and generates 899,000 jobs, he explained.
Roberto Herrera
The president of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmchamDR), Roberto Herrera, shared with Minister Collado the positive outlook in a context of recovery after the pandemic, and highlighted the importance of tourism as one of the main economic sectors for the Dominican Republic, especially what he pointed out: “All Dominicans must defend tourism”
He pointed out the relevance of the US market as part of the success of this recovery and as one of the main sources of tourists to the country, considering the fact that 80% of the tourism that arrived in the country during the pandemic was from the United States.
“Dominican tourism has shown signs of returning to the load stronger than ever in the East and Puerto Plata,” added William Malamud, executive vice president.
Recovery
David Collado indicated that after the pandemic, the Dominican Republic is “the number one country in tourism recovery.”
The United States is a strategic partner
Collado highlighted the importance and strategic role played by the United States in the recovery of tourism in the country, at a key moment of economic recovery.