More than 1,200 travel professionals gathered at the fourth annual Dominican Republic Trade Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center, showcasing the destination’s continued momentum across key source markets in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. The event brought together tour operators, travel advisors, airlines, cruise lines and online travel agencies, creating a platform for business development, partnership building and destination promotion.
Recommend connected with David Collado, Minister of Tourism for the Dominican Republic, to discuss the country’s record-breaking growth, evolving tourism strategy and what it means for travel advisors selling the destination.
Recommend: The Dominican Republic welcomed 11.6 million visitors in 2025. What is the next phase of growth, and how will the destination sustain this momentum?
Collado: Reaching 11.6 million visitors in 2025 was a major milestone—but more importantly, it reflects a trajectory that has been consistently built over time, not a one-time surge. In recent years, the Dominican Republic has implemented a strategy of gradual and structured growth, grounded in a deep understanding of how travelers are evolving—their preferences, behaviors and expectations. This approach has allowed us to expand deliberately and sustainably, ensuring that growth is both stable and scalable.
The next phase is focused on consolidating that growth and projecting it into the long term. At the same time, we are leveraging data and strategic partnerships to understand traveler behavior better and make more informed decisions.
Recommend: What should travel advisors be focusing on when selling the Dominican Republic today?
Collado: The Dominican Republic today offers a much broader narrative than ever before. While all-inclusive remains a strong pillar, the focus is expanding toward:
- Luxury and upper-upscale travel, driven by new global brands entering the market
- Experiential and cultural tourism, with authentic, community-based offerings
- Adventure and nature, particularly in destinations like Samaná and Miches
- Multi-generational travel, where the diversity of the destination becomes a key advantage
What we are offering advisors is not just a destination, but a portfolio of experiences they can tailor to different traveler profiles.
Recommend: What makes the Dominican Republic competitive from a value standpoint? And which destinations beyond Punta Cana and Santo Domingo are seeing the most growth?
Collado: The Dominican Republic’s competitive edge lies in its ability to deliver high value across multiple segments. From an all-inclusive perspective, the country continues to offer one of the strongest value propositions in the Caribbean. But beyond pricing, what truly differentiates us is the breadth of the offer—from luxury to boutique, from mass to niche—combined with consistent quality and accessibility.
In terms of growth, one of the most anticipated regions right now is Miches, which is experiencing rapid, strategic development with a focus on luxury and sustainability. At the same time, Puerto Plata is undergoing a strong resurgence, and Samana continues to grow as a hub for nature-driven and experiential travel.
Recommend: How critical is air connectivity from the U.S. and Canada to sustaining tourism growth?
Collado: Connectivity is fundamental—in many ways, the backbone of tourism growth. The U.S. and Canada remain our most important source markets, and ensuring strong, reliable and competitive air access from these countries is critical to sustaining demand.
We are actively working with airlines and industry partners to continuously explore opportunities to strengthen and expand connectivity, always aligned with evolving traveler demand and the country’s broader tourism strategy.
These ongoing conversations focus on how to further enhance accessibility, optimize travel options, and support the development of both established and emerging destinations. Our approach is dynamic and collaborative, with a clear objective: to ensure that connectivity evolves in step with the destination.
