The Ministry of Tourism reported yesterday that the recent September was “the best September” ever, with tourist arrivals higher than in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
David Colllado, Minister of Tourism, stated that that month registered the entry of 365,544 non-residents, which represents a recovery of 14% of the influx received before the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically in September 2019 and, in turn, 25% with respect to the figures for September 2020, which represented the generation of some US$412 million to the country.
“This is an achievement that reaffirms that the recovery of the tourism sector is a fact and with it the rehabilitation of jobs for our people,” Collado expressed.
He further indicated that tourist arrivals are to date higher than the 3.3 million air travel by non-residents in the Dominican Republic during 2021, surpassing 2019 for the eleventh month.
He noted that the recovery has been most noticeable in non-resident foreign tourists who tend to stay in the country for an average of seven days.
Non-residents arriving in 2021 were tourists of foreign origin in 79 % and the remaining 21 % of Dominican origin, he added.
According to the report offered by the Tourism Cabinet, the high tourist activity represented an increase in formal jobs to 162,254 people, distributed in more than 7 thousand companies for August, varying from 6,648 additional employees with respect to July and 51 additional companies for the same date.
This growth was registered mainly in lodging establishments, in more than 4,311, and in food and beverage establishments, in more than 1,800.
Meanwhile, hotel activity reached its highest point after the pandemic in terms of rooms in operation. Eighty-seven percent of these remained in operation, and 54% were occupied during the week and 61% on weekends.
The Technical Vice-Minister of Tourism, Jacqueline Mora, assured that the relaxation of travel restrictions has allowed the recovery of historical issuing countries such as Russia, which moved up in the list and occupied the number two position, behind the United States. The accompanying countries in the top four are Spain and Colombia.
Source:
Diario Libre
