What the WTTC Says About Tourism in the Dominican Republic

At a time of geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainty affecting the most important markets for Dominican tourism, the report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) on the Dominican Republic is encouraging.

We are already halfway through 2025, and it's certain that this report was prepared in the early weeks of the year. Given these stormy winds, if we only manage to surpass 95% of the strong results from 2024, it would be a great achievement. Let’s take a look at what this report—produced in collaboration with Oxford Economics, a prestigious and globally recognized entity—has to say:

The Travel and Tourism sector in the Dominican Republic remains a key economic driver, with significant growth projections for 2025.

In 2024, it contributed DOP 1.2 trillion (USD 20.5 billion) to the GDP, representing 16.1% of the total economy and generating 876.1 thousand jobs (17.6% of total employment). By 2035, the GDP contribution is expected to reach DOP 1.7 trillion (USD 29.3 billion), supporting 980.0 thousand jobs.

Global Impact:

In 2024, the global Travel and Tourism sector grew by 8.5% in its contribution to GDP, surpassing 2019 levels by 6% and generating 20.7 million new jobs.

An additional 6.7% growth in global GDP contribution is forecast for 2025, along with 14.4 million additional jobs.

International visitor spending is expected to surpass its 2019 peak by 8.6%.

Dominican Republic – 2024 Impact:

GDP Contribution: DOP 1.2 trillion (USD 20.5 billion), representing 16.1% of the total economy.

Jobs Supported: 876.1 thousand jobs, accounting for 17.6% of total employment.

Visitor Spending:

International: DOP 661.0 billion (USD 11.2 billion), 74.2% of total spending.

Domestic Tourism: DOP 229.8 billion (USD 3.9 billion), representing 25.8% of total spending.

Spending Purpose: Leisure accounted for 93.7% of total internal spending, while business travel represented 6.3%.

Characteristics of the Sector in the Dominican Republic:

International Arrivals: The main countries of origin were the United States (39%), Canada (14%), Colombia (4%), Argentina (3%), and Puerto Rico (2%).

Outbound Travel: The main destinations were the United States (49%), France (28%), Colombia (5%), El Salvador (2%), and Mexico (2%).

Environmental and Social Impact (2023):

Travel and tourism accounted for 14.3% of total greenhouse gas emissions, and 93.2% of the sector’s energy mix came from fossil fuels.

This report “highlights the leadership” of the Dominican Republic in the travel and tourism sector, with “steady growth and significant economic impact both nationally and globally.” Tourism continues to be a fundamental pillar of the Dominican economy, with projections indicating continued strengthening in the coming years.

The conclusion is that we must continue to drive this sector forward. A key part of that goal is maintaining our image as a country with friendly people, great hospitality, low levels of social violence and crime, and a long period of political, economic, and social stability. This can only be achieved if we all recognize the importance of this sector, which is a cornerstone of our economy and social stability.