The Dominican Republic has achieved an unprecedented milestone in the tourism industry by welcoming its 10 millionth visitor in the year 2023. The news was announced by the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, who emphasized the significance of this accomplishment for the country and the entire region.

This historic milestone was made possible through strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors, as well as the vision of President Luis Abinader, who entrusted the Ministry professionals to undertake unprecedented efforts in boosting tourism.

According to the figures presented during a ceremony at Punta Cana International Airport, the Dominican Republic surpassed the 10 million mark, with 7,863,542 tourists arriving by air and 2,168,209 cruise passengers arriving by sea.

Minister Collado expressed his pride in this achievement and highlighted that each of these visitors contributes to the country's economic development, generating employment in various sectors such as agriculture, construction, and other productive areas. Additionally, the economic impact of tourism in 2023 translates to over 620,000 direct jobs and an estimated generation of over 11 billion dollars in foreign exchange, according to data presented by the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR).

The Dominican Republic has experienced significant growth in tourist arrivals since 2019, increasing from 6.4 million to over 10 million at present. The country has also been internationally recognized for its remarkable recovery in post-COVID tourism.

The pinnacle of this celebration was the arrival of the 10 millionth tourist, Ariana Guilak, a visitor from the United States on American Airlines flight AA 2638 from Miami. The symbolic ceremony took place at Terminal B of Punta Cana International Airport, where Ariana was welcomed by Minister of Tourism David Collado and entrepreneur Frank Rainieri, among other figures in the tourism sector.

The festivities extended to other major airports in the country, including Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Cibao International Airport in Santiago, as well as the cruise ports of Amber Cove and Taino Bay in Puerto Plata.

Minister Collado emphasized that this achievement is a cause for celebration for all Dominicans, regardless of political affiliations, and underscored that the Dominican Republic will continue to be a benchmark in the tourism industry of the region.

Furthermore, it is anticipated that tourism will remain a fundamental pillar for the Dominican economy, contributing significantly to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), estimated to reach over 20% this year.

This news marks a milestone in the tourism history of the Dominican Republic, solidifying it as a leading destination in the Caribbean region.