Tourism Boom: Dominican Republic Set for $21B Positive Economic Impact by 2025

Dominican Republic’s Travel and Tourism Sector Set for Steady Growth by 2025

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Dominican Republic’s travel and tourism sector is expected to contribute more than $21 billion to the country’s GDP by the end of 2025, accounting for 15.8% of the national economy. This reflects a 3.3% year-over-year increase, indicating ongoing progress in tourism development.

The WTTC’s Economic Impact Research (EIR), prepared in collaboration with Oxford Economics, estimates that the sector will support nearly 893,000 jobs in 2025—approximately 17.9% of the country’s total employment.

Tourism Spending Forecasts

• International tourism spending is projected to reach $11.4 billion by the end of 2025.

• Domestic tourism spending is expected to reach $4.1 billion, highlighting the continued relevance of local tourism demand.

2024 Performance Overview

In 2024, the sector contributed approximately $20.5 billion to GDP (16.1%) and supported over 876,000 jobs (17.6% of total employment).

• International tourism spending reached $11.2 billion

• Domestic tourism spending reached $3.9 billion, representing growth compared to the 2019 figures.

Leisure vs. Business Travel

In 2024, leisure travel accounted for 93.7% of total tourism, while business travel made up 6.3%.
Top source markets included:

• United States (39%)

• Canada (14%)

• Colombia (4%)

Comments from Industry Leaders

WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson highlighted the sector’s growing role in driving economic and employment growth.

Frank Rainieri, Founder of Grupo Puntacana and a member of the WTTC Executive Committee, attributed the positive performance to coordinated public-private efforts to develop tourism and support economic stability.

Long-Term Outlook to 2035

The WTTC projects that by 2035, the sector could contribute over $29 billion to the GDP and employ around 980,000 people, adding more than 87,000 new jobs in the next decade.

Caribbean Region Outlook

• In 2024, the Caribbean’s tourism sector is expected to contribute $81.4 billion to regional GDP (17.6%).

• By 2025, the figure could rise to $86 billion (18.2%), with employment surpassing 3 million jobs, or 16.1% of the region’s workforce.