Dominican Republic Cracks the 11-Million-Visitor Plateau in 2024

The Dominican Republic reached a major milestone this Sunday, surpassing 11 million visitors in a single year, setting a new record and solidifying its position as a leader in regional tourism.

Minister of Tourism David Collado welcomed the 11-millionth visitor, Bruce Pirt, during a vibrant celebration at Punta Cana International Airport. Pirt arrived with his wife Kathryn and their daughters Melissa and Anna on an Air Transat flight from Canada.

Visibly surprised, Pirt described the Dominican Republic as a "wonderful country" where he and his wife celebrated their wedding 20 years ago. The family returned to mark their anniversary in the same destination.

Minister Collado highlighted the significance of this achievement, emphasizing its economic impact.

“Today is a day for grand celebration as we surpass the barrier of 11 million visitors in one year—another historic record for Dominican tourism,” Collado stated.

He noted that this accomplishment represents 949,000 jobs created (directly and indirectly) in 2024, $26 billion in GDP, and nearly 20% of the country's total economic output. Additionally, tourism generated 130 billion Dominican pesos in tax revenues.

This milestone follows last year’s achievement of reaching 10 million visitors, which was another long-standing goal of the sector.