Around 14,900 new hotel rooms, with an investment of over US$3 billion, will be built in the next three years in the country, reflecting that Dominican tourism is experiencing an unprecedented moment in its history.
This information was provided by the board of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores), consisting of Juan Bancalari, president; Aguie Lendor, executive vice president; and Javier Tejada, first vice president, during their participation in the HOY Economic Meeting.
They specified that the construction of these rooms, which represents 18% of what currently exists, is the result of the legal stability guaranteed to investors. The average cost of one room is around US$200,000.
They highlighted that the infrastructure and quality of the Dominican tourism offer are far superior to those of the region, citing Casa de Campo, Cap Cana, and the Puerto Bahía marina in Samaná.
“In terms of quantity and quality, the Dominican Republic is far ahead of the entire region in its tourism offer,” Tejada stated.
He considered that investor enthusiasm to build hotels with huge amounts in the country is very high.
He emphasized that in Miches, one thousand luxury hotel rooms will open this year.
Meanwhile, Asonahores president Juan Bancalari highlighted, as part of the diversification of the Dominican tourism offer, the sports and health sectors.
He asserted that the country has a high-level tourism offer and that the world’s most luxurious hotel chains are establishing themselves in the Dominican destination.
They reported that in La Romana, Punta Cana, Cabrera, and Samaná, there are constructions of extremely high-level second homes by very wealthy individuals.
One problem in the tourism sector, according to Bancalari, is the shortage of personnel, although he highlighted the role of the National Institute of Technical Professional Training (Infotep) in this regard, but noted that more trained people are needed.
He proposed that training for tourism sector personnel should not only take place in the tourism hubs but also in the major cities.
At minimum, a hotel has two employees per room, but if it offers higher service levels, it can reach three or four, they indicated.
“The sector is aware of the importance of maintaining sustainability programs,” said the executive vice president.
The tourism sector generates around 427,000 direct jobs in aggregate, according to the Central Bank, but in addition, indirect and induced jobs are estimated between 300,000 and 400,000.
Tourism produced more than US$1.2 billion in direct foreign investment (FDI) in tourism in 2024, accumulating US$9.46 billion in the last decade. It also represents 30% of the country’s total FDI over the past five years.
Recent and ongoing projects include Punta Bergantín in Puerto Plata; Cabo Rojo in Pedernales; Miches in the El Seibo province; and the remodeling of Boca Chica.
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