Dominican Republic’s Tourism Sector to Contribute Over $21 Billion to Economy by 2025

The Dominican Republic’s tourism sector is projected to contribute over $21 billion to the national economy by 2025, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has projected that the tourism sector in the Dominican Republic will contribute more than $21 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the end of 2025. This figure would represent 15.8% of the national economy. The projected annual growth rate for the sector is 3.3%, indicating a steady increase in tourism-related economic activity.

The WTTC’s Economic Impact Research, conducted in collaboration with Oxford Economics, estimates that the tourism sector will employ nearly 893,000 workers in 2025. This employment figure would account for 17.9% of the national workforce.

Tourism Spending Projections

International tourism spending in the Dominican Republic is expected to reach $11.4 billion by the end of 2025. Domestic tourism spending is projected to be $4.1 billion. These figures highlight the importance of both international and domestic tourism markets in the country’s economic landscape.

Review of 2024 Performance

In 2024, the tourism sector contributed $20.5 billion to the Dominican Republic’s GDP, accounting for 16.1% of the country’s national economy. The sector generated over 876,000 jobs, approximately 17.6% of total national employment. International tourism spending in 2024 amounted to $11.2 billion, while domestic tourism spending reached $3.9 billion. These figures represented increases of 17.6% and 12.3%, respectively, compared to 2019.

Travel Trends and Market Insights

In 2024, leisure travel accounted for 93.7% of total travel activity, while business travel made up 6.3%. The primary source markets for tourists were the United States (39%), Canada (14%), and Colombia (4%).

Long-term Projections

Looking ahead to 2035, the WTTC projects that the tourism sector could contribute over $29 billion to the Dominican Republic’s GDP, with an annual growth rate of 3.3%. Employment in the sector is expected to reach approximately 980,000, indicating the creation of over 87,000 new jobs over the next decade.

Regional Context

In 2024, the Caribbean’s travel and tourism sector contributed $81.4 billion to the regional GDP, accounting for 17.6% of the regional economy. This contribution surpassed 2019 levels by more than 28%. For 2025, the sector’s contribution is projected to reach $86 billion, representing 18.2% of the regional GDP. Employment in the sector is expected to exceed 3 million jobs, or 16.1% of the total regional workforce.