Dominican Republic Reconnects With Canada
The Dominican Republic reconnected with the Canada as part of its Tourism Roadshow that featured stops in Toronto and Montreal.
Toronto played host to the inaugural leg of the roadshow, which aims to reconnect, revitalize, and reposition the Dominican Republic as the ultimate tourist haven for Canadians with Montreal closing out the roadshow.
The events were attended by over 500 tour operators and travel agencies from across Canada, with the Canada’s Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada attending the Montreal show.
Dominican Republic Tourism Minister David Collado said that: “The Dominican Republic’s Roadshow transcends being just an event; it is a joyous celebration of the enduring friendship between our nations.”
Minister Collado pointed out that: “Our visitation from Canada this year is tracking at record levels with over one million Canadians expected to visit our shores by the end of the year. We eagerly anticipate strengthening our ties and continuing to create unforgettable moments for Canadians who choose to explore the wonders of the Dominican Republic.”
Nearly half of all Canadian tourists visiting the Dominican Republic hail from Ontario, with over 350,000 Ontarians visiting this year alone. Quebec contributes significantly to Dominican Republic tourism, with nearly 30% of Canadian tourists hailing from the province, representing over 288,000 visitors this year alone.
In addition to presenting these insights, the Ministry also shed light on the upcoming projects that are poised to shape the future of tourism in the Dominican Republic. Among these are the largest and most advanced water theme park in the Caribbean, El Dorado, and one of DR’s most ambitious projects, Punta Bergantín.
Dominican Republic also introduced the DO Travel Rewards program, an exclusive loyalty initiative designed specifically for travel agencies. This program allows travel agents to earn rewards while promoting the Dominican Republic, providing them with access to valuable information, destination training, and exciting news updates.
The Roadshow successfully showcased the Dominican Republic’s prime destinations, such as Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Samaná, Miches, La Romana, and Santo Domingo. In an effort to streamline and facilitate travel, strategic meetings were convened with major airlines, including Air Transat, Air Canada, and Sunwing.
A significant agreement to introduce new routes has been successfully signed with Arajet and Flair Airlines, further enhancing connectivity, choice and convenience for Canadian travellers to the Dominican Republic.
The Ministry also provided valuable insights on the significant impact Canadian tourists have on the tourism industry.
In the first eight months of 2023, the Dominican Republic welcomed seven million tourists. This included 5.5 million who arrived by air and 1.5 million via cruise ships. Canada played a substantial role in contributing to these numbers as the Dominican Republic’s second-largest market.
In the photo
Dominican Republic Tourism Minister David Collado (Right) with Canada’s Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Left) in Montreal
