The Dominican Republic is closing out the year with historic momentum, as December shapes up to be the strongest month the country’s tourism industry has ever seen.

According to Tourism Minister David Collado, the country welcomed 390,000 air arrivals in just the first 17 days of December, marking an 11% increase over last year and a massive 60% jump compared to pre-pandemic December 2019. If the pace continues, December is expected to surpass 900,000 air arrivals for the first time ever.

Cruise tourism is adding even more fuel to the surge. More than 400,000 cruise passengers are projected to arrive this month alone, setting another monthly record. Growth at ports like La Romana, especially in destinations such as Bayahíbe, has been key — highlighted by the opening of a new visitor parking facility designed to support rising traffic and improve safety at one of the country’s busiest beaches.

This December boom caps off what has already been a record-breaking year. The Dominican Republic opened 2025 with its strongest January ever, passed 8 million visitors by August, and crossed 10.2 million arrivals by November. Officials now expect total annual tourism numbers to exceed 11 million, the highest in the nation’s history.

With continued investment in infrastructure, cruise ports, and destination development, the Dominican Republic isn’t just rebounding — it’s solidifying its place as a global tourism powerhouse.