Dominican Republic sets new tourism record The Dominican Republic’s tourism sector continues to surge, setting another record as more than 8.59 million visitors arrived between January and September 2025. Tourism Minister David Collado shared the figures this week in Santo Domingo, underscoring the industry’s sustained growth and its role in the national economy. The total represents a forty-nine percent increase compared to 2019, a thirteen percent rise over 2023, and a two-point-six percent gain from last year. Of those visitors, 6,575,483 arrived by air — a thirty-two percent jump over 2019, nine percent higher than 2023, and up 2.3 percent year over year. Cruise tourism added another 2,017,221 passengers during the same nine-month period. “Those two numbers mark another record: 8,592,694 visitors in just nine months. We’ve done it again,” Collado said. The momentum continued in September, with 490,431 air arrivals, an increase of 4.6 percent compared to last year, along [...]

Global hotel leaders praise David Collado’s leadership in tourism The CEOs of four leading international hotel chains—Meliá Hotels, Grupo Piñero, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, and Iberostar—have praised Dominican Tourism Minister David Collado for his outstanding leadership and achievements in both national and global tourism. Their recognition follows UN Tourism’s recent decision to name Collado Minister of the Americas, the first distinction of its kind granted by the organization. Gabriel Escarrer, president and CEO of Meliá International Group, described Collado’s accomplishments over his five-year tenure as “impressive,” noting that the Dominican Republic continues to set new records in tourist arrivals and spending. Encarna Piñero, CEO of Grupo Piñero, commended Collado for transforming the country into a benchmark for world tourism, adding that UN Tourism’s recognition reflects his sustained efforts and dedication. Alejandro Reynal, global CEO of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, highlighted Collado’s “incredible” leadership, crediting him with revitalizing tourism after the [...]

Minister predicts a quick recovery of tourism in Eastern Cuba After the impact of Hurricane Melissa in the eastern region of Cuba, the country's tourism authorities immediately activated their protection and recovery protocols. "When we say that Cuba is a safe destination, it includes protection and defense against natural phenomena of this magnitude," said the Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García Granda. During his participation in the television program Mesa Redonda, García Granda emphasized that the priority was to protect the lives of tourists, citizens, and sector employees, followed by the preservation of material resources and hotel infrastructure. Holguín: efficient evacuation and international cooperation The province of Holguín, one of the country's main tourist destinations, had a high concentration of foreign visitors at the time of the hurricane forecast. In the face of the threat, tourist activities were suspended and both tourists and residents were evacuated, including those staying in private [...]