The Dominican Republic has counted more than 9.2 million visitors in the first nine months of 2026, according to figures presented by Tourism Minister David Collado. The total is 9,241,246 visitors for January to September, up 7.5 percent on the same period of 2025. The numbers were reported on October 7, 2026 by the Dominican outlet El Inmobiliario, which also reported the earlier January to August total. We could not open the Ministry of Tourism’s own release, so the figures below come from that reporting of the minister’s monthly presentation.
What the numbers say
Of the nine-month total, 7,143,993 were tourists arriving by air and 2,097,253 were cruise passengers arriving by sea. September alone brought 684,831 visitors, up 16.4 percent from September 2025. Of those, 533,735 arrived by air and 151,096 by cruise ship.
The previous monthly update covered January to August. It put the total at 8,556,415 visitors, made up of 6,610,258 air arrivals and 1,946,151 cruise passengers, up 6.9 percent on the same period a year earlier. August on its own was 856,858 visitors, including 725,560 air tourists and 131,298 cruise passengers. Cruise passengers rose 31.9 percent in August compared with August 2025. Dominican Today reported the January to July figure as 7,700,118 visitors, a seven percent increase.
The minister has said 2026 should finish above 12 million visitors. The country closed 2025 with about 11.7 million, though outlets report that total slightly differently, with some saying more than 11.6 million. El Inmobiliario also reported a projection that, if current growth continues, the year could exceed 12.4 million visitors. A projection is not a result, so treat it as an official ambition rather than a forecast we can verify.
Where visitors come from
In the August release, the United States led the source markets with 44 percent of arrivals. Canada followed with nine percent, Colombia with eight percent, Argentina with five percent, Spain and the United Kingdom with four percent each, and Puerto Rico and Mexico with three percent each. The report does not say which period those shares cover, so they are best read as a rough picture rather than an exact split.
The same release gave an August hotel occupancy of 68 percent and a visitor satisfaction score of 4.3 out of 5, with 90 percent of visitors saying they intend to return and 60 percent willing to recommend the country. These are self-reported survey results and should be read that way. On airports, Punta Cana handled 49 percent of August flights, Las Americas 29 percent and Cibao 14 percent.
What it means for a resort trip
A record year is good news for the destination, but it matters in practical ways for anyone planning a stay. Punta Cana carries about half of the flights, so the east coast resort strip is where growth is most visible. Our guides to Bavaro and Arena Gorda describe the two main areas, and our comparison of Punta Cana and the Riviera Maya sets the destination against its main rival.
Several things follow from higher traffic. First, popular travel windows may book earlier, so decide on dates sooner rather than later. Second, national figures say little about your week: the 68 percent occupancy reported for August is a national average, and availability and pricing vary widely by month and by resort. Third, busy airports reward arriving prepared with documents in order. The country uses a mandatory e-ticket system for entry, and our overview of cards, cash and currency and our lost passport guide help with the other practical pieces. Always confirm entry requirements with official government sources close to departure.
Getting beyond the beach strip
More visitors also means more people competing for the same excursions. If you plan to leave your resort, look beyond the busiest sites. Our articles on things to do in Samana and things to do in Puerto Plata cover the north and northeast coasts, which have a different feel from Punta Cana.
How to read headline tourism numbers
Government visitor counts are useful, but they combine very different kinds of trips. Cruise passengers who spend a day ashore are counted alongside tourists who stay a week. Air arrivals are the better guide to resort demand, and that figure grew from 6,610,258 at the end of August to 7,143,993 at the end of September, a gain of 533,735 in a month, which matches the September air arrivals reported. The cruise component has grown faster in some months, as the 31.9 percent August rise shows.
It is also worth remembering what a national total cannot tell you. It does not show how crowded a particular beach or resort will be in your travel week, how much rooms cost or whether flights to your home airport are full. Use the figures as context, not as a booking signal.
What to watch next
- The January to October release, which should show whether the autumn gain continues.
- Whether the full-year result passes the 12 million target the minister has set.
- New airline routes into Punta Cana and other airports for winter and summer 2027.
- Any change in entry requirements, which should always be confirmed with official sources.
For now, the picture is of a destination growing steadily, with September’s gain the strongest of the recent months. If you are planning a trip, treat the record as a prompt to book thoughtfully rather than a reason to rush.