The Caribbean country received 468,367 non-national arrivals in June, 19.6% lower than in the same month of 2019, but still a 20 percent jump from the 390,554 tourists who visited the country back in May.
These positive figures mean the Dominican Republic brought back 80% of the tourists it used to welcome before the outset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Authorities foresee an increase in tourism levels similar to what the country received in the summer of 2019, said Ministry of Tourism, David Collado.
Attracting a larger number of tourists will be a decisive factor for a steady recovery in the country over the months to come. To achieve this aim, the Dominican Republic no longer requires travelers to submit proof of a negative PCR test or quarantine on arrival.
As of today, American travelers are the ones leading the stats through this recovery success. “International reservations for the Punta Cana-Bavaro area are already 37% higher than last year’s figures,” said Samuel Pereyra, general manager of state bank Banreservas.
Collado also explained that direct and indirect profits of tourism account for 22% of the Dominican Republic’s GDP. “For us, tourism is not a luxury, it spearheads our economy. It is good news that for July reservations are already at record levels, especially from the United States market,” he said.
The country is determined to “over” protect its population so they can continue to be widely opened for tourists from all over the world. According to Reuters, health authorities have started to give front-line workers a third shot of the vaccine to keep them safe from the new Delta variant.
“The potential benefit far outweighs the possible collateral effects of a booster dose,” said Health Minister Daniel Rivera in a news conference on June 30.
So far, the nation has fully vaccinated 26 percent of its population. The highest vaccination rate in the Caribbean.
With 59,476 active COVID-19 cases, the country has been ranked at level-3 risk according to the CDC.