Tourism in the Dominican Republic continued its powerful momentum in February, with the country welcoming 1,184,902 visitors, according to new data released by the Ministry of Tourism.
The figure represents a 13.1 percent increase compared to the same month last year, highlighting the sustained expansion of tourism to the Caribbean’s most visited destination.
Tourism Minister David Collado presented the numbers during an event at the Jaragua Hotel in Santo Domingo, where officials outlined the latest performance of the country’s tourism sector.
“And those two arrivals give us the historic figure of 1,184,902 visitors in February alone, breaking our own record,” Collado said during the presentation.
The new numbers add to a pattern of strong monthly performance for the Dominican Republic, which has seen tourism growth continue across both air arrivals and cruise tourism.
Air and Cruise Tourism Both Driving Growth
The record February total came from a combination of strong performance in both air travel and cruise tourism.
Of the 1,184,902 total visitors, 824,172 arrived by air, while 360,730 arrived by cruise ship.
Air arrivals increased 11.3 percent compared to February of last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
The cruise segment recorded even stronger growth. The 360,730 cruise visitors represented a 17.6 percent increase compared to February of last year, according to Collado.
Cruise tourism also posted strong gains compared to earlier periods, with arrivals up 18.9 percent compared to 2024 and more than 209 percent higher than in 2019, reflecting the rapid expansion of cruise operations to Dominican ports over the past several years.
The Dominican Republic has steadily increased its cruise capacity with new port investments and expanded itineraries from major cruise lines operating in the Caribbean.
Combined, the strength of both air and cruise segments produced the new monthly tourism record.
The United States Remains the Largest Market
Travelers from the United States continued to represent the largest source market for the Dominican Republic in February.
Visitors from the United States accounted for 39 percent of total arrivals, maintaining the country’s position as the most important tourism market for the destination.
Canada ranked second with 24 percent of visitors, continuing its strong presence in Caribbean travel.
Other important markets included Argentina with 6 percent, France with 4 percent, and Colombia with 3 percent.
Tourism officials say the mix of source markets highlights the Dominican Republic’s continued strength across North America while also maintaining growing demand from Europe and Latin America.
Air connectivity from major cities in the United States and Canada has played a key role in supporting that demand, with frequent flights connecting travelers to multiple Dominican airports.
Punta Cana Continues to Lead Airport Arrivals
The Dominican Republic’s network of international airports handled the surge in air arrivals during the month, with Punta Cana International Airport continuing to lead the country’s air traffic.
Punta Cana accounted for 54 percent of all tourist arrivals by air in February, underscoring its position as the country’s primary tourism gateway — and home to its largest concentration of top all-inclusive resorts.
The airport serves the country’s largest concentration of resort properties and remains one of the busiest international airports in the Caribbean.
Other airports receiving significant visitor traffic included Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo, which accounted for 24 percent of arrivals, and Cibao International Airport in Santiago, which received 10 percent.
Additional arrivals came through Puerto Plata (5 percent), La Romana (3 percent) and Samaná (1 percent).
Together, these airports provide connectivity to the Dominican Republic’s major tourism regions across the country’s north coast, east coast and capital area.
Hotel Performance Remains Strong
Hotel performance across the Dominican Republic remained robust during February.
According to Collado, hotel occupancy exceeded 87 percent during the month, reflecting the continued demand for the country’s resort destinations.
The Dominican Republic has one of the Caribbean’s largest hotel inventories, particularly in resort regions like Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, La Romana, and Samaná.
Those destinations continue to attract travelers seeking beach vacations, all-inclusive resorts, golf resorts and a growing number of boutique and lifestyle properties.
Tourism officials also reported strong visitor satisfaction levels.
According to the Ministry of Tourism’s measurements, visitors rated their experience in the Dominican Republic 4.4 out of 5, indicating high levels of satisfaction among travelers.
Tourism leaders say maintaining visitor satisfaction is a key priority as the destination continues expanding its tourism footprint.
Cruise Tourism Continues to Expand
Cruise tourism has become an increasingly important part of the Dominican Republic’s visitor economy.
The strong cruise arrival numbers in February reflect continued investment in cruise infrastructure across the country.
Ports such as Amber Cove and Taíno Bay in Puerto Plata, along with facilities in La Romana and Santo Domingo, have helped position the country as a major cruise destination in the Caribbean.
Cruise passengers often spend the day visiting local attractions, beaches, restaurants and shops, contributing additional economic activity to tourism regions.
The sector’s growth has become a major complement to the country’s traditional resort-based tourism model.
Another Strong Year Expected for Dominican Tourism
Tourism officials say the February numbers point toward another strong year for the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry.
According to Collado, all of the country’s major tourism markets are currently performing well.
The minister said current trends indicate that 2026 could become another exceptional year for Dominican tourism, building on the sector’s continued expansion in recent years.
The Dominican Republic remains the largest tourism destination in the Caribbean, attracting millions of visitors each year to its beach resorts, cultural attractions and growing network of cruise ports.
With continued air connectivity, strong demand from international travelers and ongoing investment in tourism infrastructure, the country’s tourism sector shows no signs of slowing down.
Caribbean Journal Staff
2026-03-09 18:23:00