The Dominican Republic Basks in the Limelight in Orlando

For the third time, the Dominican Republic hosted a Roadshow in Orlando, Florida, gathering over 350 tour operators, travel agents, and representatives from major airlines to showcase the country’s rich tourism offerings. Orlando holds special significance, ranking as the third most important city for the Dominican Republic and sixth globally.

During the event, David Collado, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, highlighted the country’s paradise-like beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. He also shared recent statistics reflecting the tourism sector’s remarkable recovery, noting an exponential increase in visitor numbers and flights since the pandemic. Collado emphasized new air connectivity routes with carriers like American Airlines, JetBlue, Copa Airlines, and Delta, and introduced several new attractions that make the island a top destination.

The United States remains the leading source of tourists for the Dominican Republic, with Orlando being particularly impactful. In 2023 alone, 215,000 tourists arrived from Orlando International Airport, accounting for 19% of total U.S. visitors. By September 2024, this percentage has risen to 22%.

“This is why strengthening business ties and investment opportunities with this city is crucial for our nation,” Collado remarked.

He continued, “We remain committed to advancing tourism in the Dominican Republic to create jobs, generate foreign exchange, and strengthen our economy. As of September, we’ve already welcomed 197,000 air travelers from Orlando, with a projected 10% growth by year’s end. These figures make us proud and drive us to keep positioning the Dominican Republic as a top destination in the international market.”

This event is part of the Ministry of Tourism’s strategy to enhance the Dominican Republic’s presence in international markets and boost sustainable growth in the tourism sector.