News

The Caribbean’s Largest Tourism Destination Is Off to a Strong Start in 2015

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - April 29, 2015 - 10:01 am

Above: Dominican Republic Vice Minister of Tourism Radhames Martinez Aponte (CJ Photo)

By Alexander Britell

PUNTA CANA — After a very strong year in 2014, the Caribbean’s largest tourism destination is continuing its growth so far in 2015.

The country saw a 7.4 percent increase in stayover visitor arrivals in the first quarter of 2015, according to Radhames Martinez Aponte, the Dominican Republic’s vice minister of tourism.

Last year, the country reported 5.141 million arrivals, a 9.6 percent growth rate over the previous year. That was the highest total of any tourism destination in the Caribbean.

While the vice minister cautioned on expecting a 10 percent growth rate again this year, he said the country’s start to 2015 meant it was on a similar growth trajectory.

“The first three months of this year have really placed us on the same path to where we can be optimistic that we can hit 10 percent,” he said at the 2015 DATE tourism conference in Punta Cana.

He also revealed that the Ministry had approved 33 new investment projects for tourism, including the construction of both new hotels and complementary offers.

That follows the debut of a number of new or rebranded hotels in the country in the last year, notably the Gansevoort Playa Imbert, the Sheraton Santo Domingo and the JW Marriott.

The latter properties are both in Santo Domingo, a corner of the country where the government is intent on expanding visitor arrivals.

That’s led to a major rehabilitation of the historic Colonial Zone in the capital, a project which he said was slated for completion in June.

Popular Posts antigua long bay

25 Perfect Caribbean Beaches to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

There’s nothing like a Caribbean beach in summer. The crowds thin out, the winds relax, and the islands start breathing in a different way. The beaches you thought you knew feel new again— stretches of sand once packed with winter […]


The 15 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, From Hidden Eco-Retreats to Luxury Towers

trinidad and tobago hotels where to stay

From Port of Spain to Tobago’s quiet coasts, these are the places to check in now No two Caribbean islands are quite like Trinidad and Tobago—and no two hotels here feel the same. This is a destination of contrast: Carnival […]


This Marriott All-Inclusive Resort Is Coming to Barbados —  And You Can Book It With Points

new brand for the caribbean

Barbados has long been a haven for adults in search of refinement — the kind of place where luxury and culture blend in quiet, confident harmony. Now, that ethos is becoming the foundation of a new resort concept that aims […]


Related Posts best caribbean islands 2021

6 Stunning Pink Sand Beaches to Visit in the Caribbean

Ranging in color from blinding ivory to exotic ebony, beaches are some of the Caribbean’s most valuable stock in trade, drawing sand-and-sea lovers from all over the world. But none are as enchanting as those pink-sand beaches, which practically beg […]


Avianca Just Relaunched Two Nonstop Flights to Cartagena, Colombia’s Caribbean Hotspot 

sofitel legend cartagena

The old city. The beaches. The art. The magic. Cartagena has been surging in popularity in recent years, with travelers drawn to its rare blend of colonial charm and modern cool. And if you’re heading to the hotspot on the […]


The Caribbean’s Best Sandwich Is Made on This Island — Here’s Where to Find It 

bokit sandwich

I remember the first time I visited Sainte Anne. The little beach town on the southern coast of Guadeloupe’s island of Grande Terre has some beautiful sand, but it’s really most famous for one thing: it’s food trucks. Head to […]