In the first quarter of 2025, 49,001 fewer U.S. travelers arrived by air than in 2024, and 24,163 fewer Canadians in the same periods, for a total decrease of 73,164 foreigners from both destinations, the two largest sources of tourists to the Dominican Republic.
However, the total number of travelers on that route has increased in the first four months of this year, year-on-year, due to the arrival of travelers from destinations such as Argentina and other South American countries, who have been able to offset, at least in quantity, the decrease in foreigners from North America.
In the first quarter of the year, a total of 3,390,689 foreigners arrived by air, while in the same period of 2024, 3,351,306 arrived, that is, 39,383 more travelers despite the decrease from North America.
By the month of April, from Argentina, approximately 166,257 tourists have been seen by air, and in the same period last year, about 85,970, meaning almost double the number came this year compared to last.
Another destination that is sending more tourists to the country is Mexico, with 44,116 in the first four months of the year and 36,764 last year, that is, 7,352 more so far this year.
Regarding this, the Central Bank explained that there is a trend in the reduction of American and Canadian tourists, due to the adverse international environment of uncertainty.
However, the entity recognizes the effort of the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) in mitigating this trend with an active and focused promotion that has allowed other issuing countries such as Argentina and others in South America to partially compensate for the behavior of North American travelers.