UNWTO congratulates the DR for breaking the record for tourist arrivals in July

The Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Zurab Pololikashvili congratulated the country for breaking the record with the arrival of tourists this summer, strengthening its solid leadership in tourism.

He also announced that the Dominican Republic will host the one hundred and eighteenth meeting of the UNWTO Executive Council in the first quarter of 2023.

“Congratulations to the Dominican Republic for showing that tourism can face great challenges and continue to grow. Its destinations welcomed a record number of arrivals in July. That means more revenue for development and opportunities,” the secretary said on his Twitter account.

Pololikashvili pointed out that with the return of international travel in many parts of the world, several of its member countries, such as the Dominican Republic, have begun to record good figures in both arrivals and tourist spending.

“All despite the fact that the sector continues to face various challenges, including the pandemic, rising interest rates and the cost of living, as well as increased economic and geopolitical uncertainty,” Pololikashvili.

The secretary said that the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, informed them about the record numbers of arrivals in April, May, June and July. In particular, arrivals in July grew by 24% compared to 2019.

“If this trend continues, the country would record its best year, including in terms of taxes collected from sales and income generation. The UNWTO has sent its congratulations to the minister for these data, in addition to praising the solid and continuous support for tourism from the Dominican Republic,” says Pololikashvili.

Likewise, the secretary of the UNWTO highlighted the contribution made by the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores).

“This growth occurs despite the fact that the destinations of the Dominican Republic continue to lose tourists from Russia and Ukraine, two historically strong source markets. In recognition of its status as a leading and resilient destination, the Dominican Republic was the protagonist of the first UNWTO Investment Guidelines, presented in early 2022”, said Pololikashvili.

He stated that this guide, developed together with the Ministry of Tourism and the National Center for Export and Investment (Prodominicana), provides key information for investors, with the aim of promoting foreign direct investment in the Caribbean destination.