DR exhibits record numbers with the arrival of cruise passengers to Dominican ports during 2022

Puerto Rio Haina, SDO- The executive director of the Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM), Jean Luis Rodríguez, assured that the Dominican Republic is getting closer to becoming the Cruise Hub of the Caribbean, reaching the historical figure of 85 thousand 912 cruise ships that arrived on the Dominican coast in the month of October of this year, thus surpassing the same month of 2019, which was 61,209 passengers.

Rodríguez affirmed: “An October for the history of cruise ships in the DR! We received 85,912 cruise passengers in October of this year, an increase of 149% compared to October 2021 and 40% compared to October 2019. We surpassed the pre-pandemic numbers and the high season is just beginning!”

When showing the figures of the growth of the sector, Rodríguez explained that only in the month of October in Amber Cove they received 49 thousand 318 cruise passengers; 26,004 disembarked in Taíno Bay, and some 10,590 passengers arrived in La Romana.

“In the last two years, we have managed to diversify the reception platform and cruise ship touchdowns in the Dominican Republic, incorporating new terminals, with it the arrival of hundreds of ships and thousands of passengers by sea, thus promoting the development and revitalization of the economy in various parts of the country”, he emphasized.

Of the 85,912 foreigners who arrived on the Dominican coast, 80,448 descended from their respective boats to the mainland, where they could enjoy the tourist, cultural and natural attractions that the Dominican Republic offers; Therefore, based on the statistics that establish that each cruise passenger who sets foot on Dominican soil spends, per capita, approximately 100 dollars, the cruise industry for this month of October meant an injection of around 8,044,800 US dollars into the local economy. .

The head of APORDOM explained that: “Currently we are receiving cruise passengers at two anchorages and four cruise terminals, which are Sans Souci, Amber Cove, Romana and Taíno Bay, the latter two being expanded. In addition, we have two more terminals underway, Port Cabo Rojo and Samaná Bayport; In addition to those that are in operation, a process with the General Directorate of Public-Private Alliances for Arroyo Barril and in analysis of the design of a last one, in Barahona”.

According to statistics, the terminals that have received the most vessels are Amber Cover and Taíno Bay, both in Puerto Plata; followed by La Romana.

APORDOM, in its objective of converting the Dominican Republic into a Regional and Caribbean Cruise Hub, has joined forces with other Port entities such as those of Puerto Rico and Curacao, in order to share experiences and create a joint itinerary package plan that It will be offered to cruise lines, in order to continue to increase the number of plays in Dominican territory.