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Toward the beginning of summer, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for one of the most popular Caribbean destinations – the Dominican Republic.
However, it has held strong on remaining a top destination despite questions of safety. Over 7 million tourists came here for a fun beach getaway in the first quarter of the year.
The topic of crime can be tough to report since there are so many nuances involved. The hotel industry pushed back on the advisory since there had been very little crime in tourist hotspots like Punta Cana.
Now that we are heading toward the end of summer and ready to embrace what Fall has in store, the question remains: Is the Dominican Republic safe?
Here are 6 things travelers need to know:
Which Government Should You Believe?
Which government will you believe? The U.S.? Or The Dominican Republic? Ultimately, it’s up to travelers to decide.
President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, called the travel advisories ‘unjustified’ when speaking earlier this summer, claiming tourists are not victims.
Furthermore, the country was not pleased to be represented in a bad light. However, the irony in this is while the U.S. State Dept. issued the advisory, the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican kept promoting the country for American tourism.
The One Percent
No, we’re not talking about the ultra-rich one percenters visiting the Dominican. That would be St. Bart’s.
We’re talking about safety statistics in a mic-drop moment for President Abinader. Data provided by the National Police and the Public Ministry showed less than 1% have been a victim of crime in the country.
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Talk about bragging rights! These impressive numbers showed higher safety levels compared to other popular getaways, such as Puerto Rico (a U.S. territory).
Security Improvements
The Dominican takes safety very seriously, especially when word spread that the country may not be safe.
The country implemented many security forces to make tourists feel safe going out and about. More stringent requirements were put in place at hotels and transportation companies too.
Travelers should also be aware if something bad does happen, the country now has an improved emergency response system.
Simply dial 911, just like here at home.
Resorts Could Not Be Any Safer
It’s no secret there are some jaw-dropping resorts along some of the Caribbean’s finest coastlines here in the D.R.
For some travelers, staying at an all-inclusive resort is the main draw. Tourists at one of these luxe accommodations should be super safe.
In fact, our Managing Editor here at TravelOffPath recently took a trip to Punta Cana. He had a blast and felt safe the whole trip.
“Everyday tourists heading to Punta Cana and the rest of the Dominican Republic staying at a resort definitely don’t have anything to worry about in terms of safety. If you are staying on a resort, your chance of a threat due to crime is so minimal it is barely worth mentioning.”
– Tyler Fox, Managing Editor at TravelOffPath
Tyler went on to say, “During my stay at Live Aqua Punta Cana in May, it was clear that the resorts in the country take security very seriously without being super in-your-face about it. The result? Total worry-free bliss by the beach.”
Book Transportation From Airport
If safety is a concern, travelers should always book transportation from the airport. These regulated companies will provide a worry-free experience and get you where you need to go safe and sound.
It is much safer and easier to do so than to rely on taxis, especially if you choose to fly into more of an urban area such as Santiago or Santo Domingo.
Punta Cana, on the other hand, is generally safe across the board.
Book Legit Tours
Now that you have arrived in this beautiful country, you probably want to go out and see it! If you choose to go on an excursion, such as zipping, snorkeling or waterfall hikes, make sure it is booked directly with a reputable company.
More often than not, these can be booked from your resort. To make it even more efficient, they will pick you up there and drop you back off.
This will ensure your safety and lessen the rare event of becoming an unnecessary victim.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com