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Last year was a banner year for the Dominican Republic. The beautiful Caribbean country is making a strong post-pandemic recovery by welcoming a record number of tourists. In fact, December 2022 was the nation’s busiest month ever, with over 750,000 visitors and hotels reaching 76% occupancy. Despite a recent travel warning, the trend is set to continue into 2023, with more tourists than ever visiting the Dominican Republic.
While the Dominican Republic continues to grow in popularity, it has become one of Americans’ favorite places to visit. In fact, Americans make up the largest group of tourists to the country, with the majority flying into Punta Cana Airport.
But why do so many Americans choose to visit the Dominican Republic year after year?
Incredible All-Inclusive Resorts
The Dominican Republic is known for having amazing resorts that can cater to any type of traveler. The country boasts over 100 all-inclusive resorts, with 70 in the tourist hotspot of Punta Cana.
According to a recent survey, Americans are looking for a vacation where they can simply relax and do nothing. Staying at an all-inclusive is an easy way for tourists to enjoy a “nothing-cation.” All-inclusives typically offer guests fantastic amenities while eliminating the need to worry about paying for food, drinks, and activities.
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The Dominican Republic’s all-inclusives are consistently ranked on Caribbean hotel “best-of” lists and make headlines for their extravagance. Just last month, the five-star Cayo Levantada Resort began taking reservations for its 2023 opening on a private island near Samaná Bay.
Easy Access From The U.S.
Another draw of the Dominican Republic is its easy access from the U.S. Unlike some islands that are harder to reach, the Dominican Republic has frequent direct flights from U.S. cities. While the Punta Cana Airport is the country’s busiest for tourists, Las Américas Airport in Santo Domingo is also popular.
At present, there are 43 direct flights from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic. Departure cities include Miami, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Chicago. Flights are operated by American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, LATAM, Southwest, Spirit, and United.
Stunning Nature
The Dominican Republic boasts an impressive 1,000 miles of coastline and is home to many beautiful beaches. While Punta Cana and its 30-mile-long Playa Bávaro are the most well-known beach destinations, there are white sands all over the country suitable for every type of traveler.
But the Dominican Republic is so much more than just sun and beaches. In addition to an impressive display of sand and sea, there is also a diverse natural environment worth exploring. In just 3 hours you can travel from the hot sunny coast to a cool mountain town. The country’s 29 national parks offer visitors a taste of the varied landscapes. This includes everything from mountains, caves, and waterfalls to sand dunes, lakes, and offshore islands.
A Rich Culture To Explore
One of the most intriguing parts of traveling comes when you get to experience another culture. The Dominican people have a rich, welcoming culture that is worthy of venturing outside of your hotel. Their eclectic merengue and bachata music can be heard everywhere and reflects their diverse roots, as does the nation’s cuisine.
The country’s traditions especially come to life during its cultural celebrations – the most famous being Carnival. During February, every major city hosts parades each Sunday, complete with extravagant costumes and masks. The month-long event culminates in early March with an epic Carnival celebration in the capital city of Santo Domingo.
The Proof Is In The Numbers
At a press conference this week, President Luis Abinader stated that the country had welcomed 7,165,387 tourists by air and 1,311,129 by cruise ship in 2022. When comparing these numbers to statistics from 2019, air arrivals have increased by 10%, while cruise passenger arrivals are up 20%. The total number of tourist arrivals to the Dominican Republic in 2022 was a remarkable 8,476,651!
The trend doesn’t look to be slowing, and 2023 is sure to be another record year for this gorgeous Caribbean destination.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Ryan
Tuesday 17th of January 2023
I'd stay away from DR - I went there 2 years ago and it wasn't a pleasant place to be - I was harassed multiple times in the street, got sick from the water (which smell horrible!), got cheated many time in the restaurants, etc.