Ministry of Economy reports tourism increased 13.3% in March 2024

The tourism sector registered a positive performance last March, according to the most recent “Sectoral Panorama” report corresponding to the month of March 2024 of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development.

The document prepared by the Direction of Sectorial Economic Analysis, indicates that the arrival of non-resident foreigners (ENR) stood at 725,997 tourists at the end of March 2024, for an inter-annual increase of 13.3%, equivalent to 85.4 thousand additional tourists.

It highlights that so far this year, tourist arrivals reached 2.0 million, which is equivalent to an accumulated inter-annual variation of 14.2%.

It also notes that in the referred period, 42.7% of the ENRs visiting the country were US nationals, followed by Canadians (19.7%), Colombians (3.5%), Argentines (2.7%), French (2.3%), Germans (2.3%), Puerto Ricans (2.1), among others.

The report also states that according to data from the Tourism Intelligence System (SITUR), the open hotel occupancy rate increased by 3.4% with respect to March 2023. This is due to the increase registered in Boca Chica – Juan Dolio (13.6%), in Puerto Plata (7.2%), in Romana – Bayahibe (3.8%), in Sosua – Cabarete (3.4%) and in Bavaro – Punta Cana (3.1%).

The document highlights that the real balance owed by the productive sectors, that is to say, the value of the balance owed after subtracting inflation, amounted to RD$786.1 billion, equivalent to an inter-annual increase of 18.8%.

It explains that such inter-annual behavior was mainly due to the growth of real loans channeled to the commerce (20.7%), construction (33.7%), other activities (20.1%), electricity and water (41.7%), manufacturing (11.0%), hotels, bars and restaurants (13.2%), among others. The agricultural sector maintained a positive variation (4.2%) for the third consecutive month.