Tourism Awards Buzz: The Dominican Republic is competing for top Caribbean destination honor at the Wave Awards 2026, with multiple DR hotel brands earning nominations ahead of the June 4 Los Angeles gala. Big-Source Market Push: DR has been named Special Guest Country at FIT 2026 in Buenos Aires (Sept 26–29), aiming to spotlight not just beach tourism but also luxury, golf, gastronomy, wellness, MICE, adventure and real estate—plus new air links to South America. Cruise Momentum: APORDOM reports record cruise growth, rising from about 1.2M passengers in 2022 to 2.7M in 2025, and expects 32 ship arrivals in June (up 23.1% year-on-year). Infrastructure for Travel: President Abinader inaugurated a new 13.5-km highway in Barahona to improve access across the southwest, with broader road and airport upgrades in the pipeline. Aviation Connectivity: Arajet received its 16th aircraft, “Pico Diego de Ocampo,” and says it plans to start Santiago operations in 2027. Trade & Tourism Diplomacy: Suriname and DR elevated ties with visa-free tourism entry for Dominican passport holders who already have valid U.S. or Schengen visas, alongside cooperation agreements. On-the-Ground Industry: ASUTIL Conference 2026 is underway in Punta Cana (June 2–5), marking its 25th edition and focusing on where the travel retail industry is headed.