The Tourism Record That Hides a Different Reality
In recent months, the Dominican Republic has been presented as a historic tourism success story in Latin America, and it certainly is. Official figures speak of 11.7 million visitors, an unprecedented record that places the country as the leader of the Caribbean and a regional benchmark.
But an important question arises: Are we talking about the same type of tourism that was projected more than a decade ago?
Before diving deeper, let's make one thing clear: The Dominican Republic is indeed a success story in the tourism sector. The data supports this when compared to other countries in the region.
Dominican Republic vs. The Region: A Revealing Comparison
When analyzing tourism revenues in billions from 2015 to 2025, the regional landscape is clear:
- Mexico remains the regional giant: high volume, great diversity, and stable growth
- Dominican Republic bets on accelerated growth, air connectivity, and port expansion
- Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Panama have a similar pattern of moderate growth
This comparison is key because it shows that Dominican growth is real, although there may be some data that deserves more detailed analysis.
The Case of Cuba: A Dramatic Contrast
By the year 2000, the Dominican Republic and Cuba were fairly similar in terms of tourist arrivals. Not equal, but similar in their growth. However, the Dominican Republic has been the Caribbean champion for decades.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, everything came to a halt and tourism in Cuba never recovered. They fell to 2000 levels. Recently, media outlets like Repotur reported that Russian tourists were leaving Cuba after just three days due to unbearable conditions: power outages, lack of water, and food shortages.
Even the Canadian government has warned its nationals about the risks of traveling to Cuba, pointing to shortages of food, water, medicine, electricity, and fuel that also impact hotels and tourist areas.
The contrast is evident: while Cuba's failure has been caused by poor management, Dominican success is explained by good management of the public sector, authorities, and the private sector.
The Uncomfortable Data: Only 3% of Cruise Passengers Disembark
Here comes the crucial point. According to data revealed by the newspaper El Dinero from records of the General Directorate of Migration (DGM):
Only 3 out of 100 cruise passengers get off the ship and set foot on Dominican soil.
DGM data shows that only 3% of cruise passengers go through immigration control in the Dominican Republic. This means:
- The vast majority never set foot on Dominican territory
- They don't stay overnight in the country
- They don't consume local services significantly
However, they all count as "visitors" in the official figure.
The Original 2012 Goal
Dominican tourism authorities set an ambitious goal in 2012: reach 10 million tourists by 2025. But that projection had a very specific definition of "tourist":
People who arrive by air, stay overnight in the country, generate spending in hotels, transportation, restaurants, and excursions.
That is, traditional tourism, not visitors who pass by the coast on a cruise and don't disembark. In fact, the main cruise ports (Taino Bay and Amber Cove) didn't exist in 2012.
The Real Numbers
According to the DGM, around 84 thousand cruise passengers actually set foot on Dominican soil out of a total of approximately 2.8 million. If we do the math:
| Concept | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total reported visitors | 11.7 million |
| Cruise passengers who did NOT disembark | ~2.7 million |
| Real tourists who stayed overnight | ~8.9 million |
Therefore:
- ✅ Yes, the record for total counted visitors was broken
- ❌ No, the original goal projected in 2012 was not strictly met, which referred to tourists who stay overnight
These are two different metrics, with very different economic impacts.
The Trick Behind the Numbers
It's not that the "record" of 11.7 million is false, but rather that it's presented without clarity. It includes air tourists and cruise passengers, meaning visitors who never get off the ship.
The result is an accountably correct figure, but economically misleading if its composition is not explained.
On average, cruise passengers who disembark leave between $100 and $110 for shopping and tours. Compared to a tourist who stays several days, the economic impact is significantly lower.
Why Don't Cruise Passengers Get Off the Ship?
The problem isn't the tourist, it's the trip design. Cruise passengers don't plan an extended stay. They've contracted an experience of multiple destinations in a few days, with accommodation, food, and entertainment already included on board.
The Visitor Profile
Between 90 and 91% of cruise passengers arriving at Dominican ports depart from Florida, mainly from Miami and Port Canaveral. This means:
- The predominant language is English
- They seek quick, organized, and frictionless experiences
- They have limited time at each destination
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), this is the typical cruise passenger profile in the Caribbean. It's not a phenomenon exclusive to the Dominican Republic, but a regional challenge.
Solutions to Increase Real Impact
Although the model has limits, there are margins for improvement to increase the number of cruise passengers who disembark and spend in the local economy:
1. Improve the Disembarkation Experience
Modern terminals, local music, lively environments, and quality welcomes in English and Spanish that invite visitors to feel comfortable from the first minute.
2. Design Short, High-Value Tours
Well-organized excursions, of a few hours, with high cultural and gastronomic value, designed to fit the cruise passenger's limited time.
3. Pre-Trip Digital Campaigns
The decision to disembark shouldn't be made at the dock. Digital campaigns targeting cruise passengers before boarding can change visitor behavior.
4. Hybrid Cruise-Hotel Packages
In partnership with hotels and cruise lines, packages combining cruises with one or more nights in Dominican hotels could be strengthened.
Conclusion: Real Success, But with Nuances
The Dominican Republic is indeed a tourism success story:
- Leads the Caribbean
- Has solid connectivity
- Recovered better than many countries after the pandemic
- Has surpassed Mexico in GDP per capita thanks in part to tourism
But the current record is not equivalent to the goal set in 2012. The real challenge going forward is not just how many arrive, but:
- How many stay
- How much they spend
- How much value they leave in the local economy
The Open Question
How much of that tourism translates into direct income for local businesses? How many dollars actually circulate, day by day, in the towns and communities that receive visitors?
The all-inclusive tourism model has generated employment, attracted investment, and contributed fiscally to the country. That's indisputable. But it also poses a challenge: to what extent does that economic spillover reach the average citizen?
More than celebrating record numbers, the real challenge for Dominican tourism in the coming years will be ensuring that growth is felt not only in official reports, but in people's everyday economy.
Data based on records from the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) and reports from El Dinero newspaper.
