AGP Executive Report

Private Aviation & Luxury: Casa de Campo Resort & Villas named Magellan Jets its preferred private aviation partner, aiming to make La Romana arrivals feel seamless for villa owners and guests. Air Connectivity Push: Southwest announced new summer 2027 routes from Austin, including weekend service to Punta Cana (PUJ) plus Nassau (NAS) and Liberia, signaling continued demand for direct DR access. Tourism Infrastructure Growth: The DR is rolling out Punta Bergantin, a major new master-planned beach destination on the northern coast in Puerto Plata, built to attract more visitors beyond the mega-resort circuit. Cruise Tourism Momentum: Four ships brought 16,287 cruise travelers to the DR in one day, with heavy arrivals in Puerto Plata (Amber Cove/Taíno Bay) and a boost for Cabo Rojo in Pedernales. Environment & Coastal Planning: At an EU-Caribbean sargassum conference, the DR outlined a shift toward proactive monitoring using satellite and geospatial tools. Travel Safety/Operations: COE placed seven provinces and the National District under green alert as rainfall and thunderstorms are expected, with warnings about urban and flash flooding. Sports Tourism Disruption: The DR banned Haiti’s national football team from using Dominican sports facilities after crowd trouble tied to a Nations League match in Santo Domingo.

Sargassum Response: Environment Minister Paíno Henríquez urged a stronger regional, coordinated approach at the EU-Caribbean Global Gateway Conference, saying the Dominican Republic is moving from just collecting seaweed to more proactive monitoring using satellite and geospatial tools. Cruise Growth: The Dominican Republic welcomed 16,287 cruise passengers across four ships, with major arrivals at Puerto Plata (Amber Cove and Taíno Bay) and Cabo Rojo in Pedernales, underscoring continued port expansion and tourism diversification. New Beach Destination: Punta Bergantin is being developed as a major master-planned golden-sand hub on the northern coast near Puerto Plata, pitched as a fresh alternative to the country’s best-known resort areas with nonstop access. Consular Access: The DR resumed consular services in Caracas on Oct. 1, restoring help for passports, travel documents, and assistance for Dominicans and foreign nationals. Tourism Event: FESTUR Sánchez Ramírez 2026 runs Nov. 5–9 at the Hatillo Dam, featuring ecotourism routes, a 6K race, fishing tournament, food fair, and business opportunities. Air Connectivity: Casa de Campo Resort partnered with Magellan Jets as its preferred private aviation partner, aiming to make private flights and resort stays feel like one seamless journey.

Air Connectivity Boost: Caribbean Airlines will resume Trinidad–Caracas flights on Oct. 31 and launch a weekly Tobago–Toronto nonstop on Oct. 25, with seasonal Trinidad–Panama charters starting Dec. 1—good news for leisure and business travel into the region. Consular Access for Travelers: The Dominican Republic restored consular services in Caracas on Oct. 1, bringing back passport, travel documents, and citizen assistance for Dominicans and foreign nationals. Tourism Push in the Interior: FESTUR Sánchez Ramírez 2026 runs Nov. 5–9 at the Hatillo Dam, featuring tourism routes, horseback riding, a 6K, fishing, food fairs, and business spaces to spotlight the province. Cruise Growth: Four ships brought 16,287 passengers to the DR in one day, with major arrivals at Puerto Plata (Amber Cove and Taíno Bay) and Cabo Rojo in Pedernales. Weather Watch: COE placed seven provinces plus the National District under green alert for unsettled conditions and possible urban/flash flooding over the rainy weekend. Luxury Aviation Link: Casa de Campo Resort named Magellan Jets its preferred private aviation partner, aiming to make the flight-to-resort journey feel seamless.

Cruise Growth: The Dominican Republic welcomed 16,287 cruise passengers across four ships in one day, with three vessels docking at Puerto Plata (Amber Cove and Taíno Bay) and another stop at Cabo Rojo, Pedernales—highlighting continued expansion of cruise tourism and port connectivity. Luxury Aviation Link: Casa de Campo Resort & Villas named Magellan Jets its preferred private aviation partner, aiming to bundle private flight access with a seamless resort arrival experience near La Romana. Tourism-Adjacent Travel Demand: New travel data from Amadeus and CHTA shows Caribbean arrivals vary by group type; while the report isn’t DR-specific, it signals how couples, families, and solo travelers are shaping demand across the region. Maritime Strategy Push: The Dominican Republic Shipping Association urged a long-term national maritime vision to support expected growth in trade and tourism, calling for coordinated infrastructure, logistics, and sustainability planning. Border/Travel Safety Watch: A U.S. court ruling says officers can manually search travelers’ phones at the airport “border,” a reminder for anyone flying through the region with personal devices.

Cruise Growth: Four ships brought 16,287 travelers to the Dominican Republic, with 12,206 landing in Puerto Plata (Amber Cove/Taíno Bay) and 4,081 arriving at Cabo Rojo, Pedernales—a boost tied to the country’s push to diversify cruise ports. Luxury Travel & Access: Casa de Campo Resort & Villas named Magellan Jets its preferred private aviation partner, aiming to make the flight-to-resort journey feel seamless for high-end visitors. Air Connectivity (Regional): IMF appoints Michael Perks as mission chief for the DR, while broader aviation deals continue in the region, including air services agreements that can support future travel demand. Local Mobility for Tourists: Santo Domingo launched a 100% electric bus loop linking Plaza de la Cultura (Gazcue) to Ciudad Colonial, easing access for visitors. Tourism Demand Signals: New travel data highlights how couples, families, and solo travelers shape Caribbean arrivals—useful context as the DR competes for different traveler profiles.

Electric Mobility Corridor: President Abinader and EU representatives inaugurated a 100% electric minibus loop linking Plaza de la Cultura (Gazcue) to the Ciudad Colonial, easing one of the biggest pain points for visitors: getting in and out of the Colonial Zone. Tourism Promotion: The government rolled out a new campaign, “Feel DR,” spotlighting the Dominican Republic’s cultural and natural attractions beyond the resort bubble. Tourism & Economy Watch: The Central Bank met an IMF delegation and highlighted tourism as a key driver of growth and exchange-rate stability, projecting around 4.5% growth in 2026. Air Connectivity: The DR and Argentina signed an agreement to expand air connectivity, a potential boost for inbound demand. Maritime Strategy: The Dominican Republic Shipping Association urged a long-term national maritime vision to support trade and tourism growth through better coordination, infrastructure, and sustainability. Public Safety at Borders: Abinader said the DR denies entry to about 20 foreigners weekly after criminal-record checks, reinforcing the “tourists, not criminals” message.

Electric Mobility Corridor: President Luis Abinader and Tourism Minister David Collado inaugurated a 100% electric minibus loop linking Plaza de la Cultura (Gazcue) to the Ciudad Colonial, easing one of the biggest pain points for visitors: getting in and out of the Colonial Zone. Maritime Strategy: The Dominican Republic Shipping Association (ANRD) urged a long-term national maritime vision to match expected growth by 2036, calling for coordinated planning across ports, logistics, human capital, connectivity and sustainability. Tourism Policy & Safety: Abinader said the DR denies entry to about 20 foreigners weekly after criminal-record checks, stressing the goal is to keep out potential public-safety risks while welcoming legitimate tourists. Consular Access for Travelers: MIREX is preparing to restore services at the Dominican consulate in Caracas to reduce the need for Dominicans in Venezuela to travel abroad for paperwork. Air Connectivity & Visitor Demand: The DR’s tourism momentum also got a boost in regional travel coverage, including reporting that Argentina is now a key source market and that air agreements are helping expand arrivals. Cultural Pull: The Colonial Zone hosted Saint Michael’s Day celebrations, with devotees filling the San Miguel Church—another reminder that faith tourism remains a strong draw alongside beach travel.

Tourism Promotion: The Dominican Republic launched its new international campaign “Siente RD” (“Feel Dominican Republic”) in Miami, with Tourism Minister David Collado pitching the country’s people-first “feeling” message to US travel trade and media. Cultural Heritage: Santo Domingo’s Diego Colón Viceregal Palace (Alcázar de Colón) reopened after major restoration, with President Luis Abinader and Tourism Minister David Collado highlighting heritage authenticity and a modern museographic overhaul. Air Connectivity & Markets: The DR and Argentina signed a comprehensive Air Services Agreement to expand routes and boost tourism and investment, with Argentina now the third-largest DR tourist source; separately, ITA Airways announced a new Rome–Santo Domingo seasonal route starting Nov. 30, 2026. MICE & Business Travel: SDQ MICE 2026 is set to bring 50 international buyers to explore Dominican tourism, supporting higher-spend event travel. Travel Safety/Access: Abinader said the DR denies entry to about 20 foreigners each week due to criminal records, framing it as keeping out threats while welcoming tourists. Regional Travel Context: Marriott’s CALA study found 90% of travelers in the region view vacations as essential for mental health, reinforcing demand for well-being-focused trips.

Air Connectivity & Tourism Demand: The Dominican Republic and Argentina signed a comprehensive Air Services Agreement in New York to expand routes and boost tourism, with Argentina now the DR’s third-largest source market; the deal is expected to support new frequencies and easier cross-border travel. Tourism Promotion: The Ministry of Tourism launched “Siente RD” (“Feel Dominican Republic”) in Miami, pitching the country’s people and emotional connection as the core of its next international push. Cultural Heritage for Visitors: Santo Domingo’s Diego Colón (Alcázar de Colón) Viceregal Palace reopened after major restoration, with the government highlighting heritage authenticity and a modern museographic overhaul. MICE & Business Travel: The DR’s SDQ MICE 2026 event is set to bring 50 international buyers to explore Dominican tourism opportunities. Consular Access: MIREX said it’s preparing to restore Dominican consular services in Caracas, with a reopening date to be announced, aiming to reduce travel for Dominicans in Venezuela. Safety & Travel Risk: A deadly boat capsized near Mona Island west of Puerto Rico after a machete fight; at least 40 people were rescued and two died, underscoring ongoing dangers in regional sea crossings.

Colonial City upgrades: President Luis Abinader inaugurated the restored Alcázar de Colón Museum and launched a new Colonial City Electromobility Route, adding electric buses, charging infrastructure, and a 12.4-kilometer corridor with 31 stops to improve access for residents and visitors. Tourism delivery timeline: Tourism Minister David Collado says the broader Colonial City recovery project will be delivered in full in December, including streets, sidewalks, curbs, roofs, and undergrounding of cables—work that requires archaeological pauses in the historic zone. Air connectivity push: The Dominican Republic and Argentina signed an Air Services Agreement to expand air connectivity, letting airlines add scheduled and charter routes and codeshare options—aimed at boosting tourism and investment. MICE momentum: SDQ MICE 2026 is set to bring 50 international buyers to explore Dominican tourism and business events. Climate risk for tourism: A new outlook flags El Niño as a moderate but persistent risk for the Dominican Republic, with drought and water stress potentially affecting prices and logistics—an issue that matters for coastal tourism. Travel demand context: A winter-sun value report ranks Punta Cana among the best-value destinations for 2026, reinforcing continued interest in DR for budget-conscious travelers. Regional safety backdrop: A deadly migrant boat capsized near Mona Island west of Puerto Rico, with survivors reporting a fight aboard—another reminder of broader Caribbean travel and maritime risks that can affect regional perceptions.

Colonial City upgrades: President Luis Abinader inaugurated the restored Alcázar de Colón Museum and launched the Colonial City Electromobility Route, a 12.4-kilometer pilot with five electric buses and 31 stops, supported by the IDB and EU. Local delivery timeline: Tourism Minister David Collado says the broader Colonial City recovery—streets, sidewalks, curbs, roofs and undergrounding cables—will be fully delivered in December. Air connectivity push: The Dominican Republic and Argentina signed an Air Services Agreement to expand scheduled and charter routes, with designated airlines able to connect points in both countries. Tourism service concern: Hotel and tourism representatives in the east say staff “warmth” has decreased since the pandemic, citing service quality and facility maintenance as key challenges. Climate risk for travel: A new outlook warns the DR faces moderate but persistent risk from El Niño, with drought and water stress potentially affecting prices and logistics. Budget travel buzz: A winter-sun cost report ranks Punta Cana among the best-value destinations for 2026.

Canadian Travel Demand: Statistics Canada says Canadians made 14.3M overseas trips in 2025, with the Dominican Republic ranking #2 for Canadians—984,000 visits after Mexico. Business Tourism Push: The Dominican Republic is weighing a dedicated convention center to land bigger international conferences, with SDQ MICE 2026 highlighting growth in meetings tourism. Climate & Coasts: President Abinader urged faster climate financing to tackle sargassum impacts on tourism, while DR officials also called for stronger regional action on sea-level rise and coastal displacement. Tourism Service Concern: Hotel and tourism operators in the east say staff “warmth” has declined since the pandemic, alongside ongoing service-quality and facility-maintenance challenges. Air Connectivity & Travel Safety: Air Canada plans 31 new international routes from October, and a Jet2 flight was evacuated in Tenerife after a bomb threat before landing in London. Regional Context: MIREX warned Dominicans about alleged online job offers to travel to Russia that may be linked to the Ukraine conflict.

El Niño Outlook: A new study warns the Dominican Republic faces a moderate but persistent risk from El Niño, with drought, water stress, and heat more concerning than rainfall alone—potentially hitting prices and logistics. Tourism Service Quality: Asoleste says the “warmth” of tourism staff has faded since the pandemic, pointing to training gaps and maintenance issues that can hurt guest care. Sargassum & Climate Finance: President Abinader urged faster climate financing at the UN, noting the DR helped push the first global sargassum resolution—framing seaweed as a tourism-impacting global challenge. Business Travel Push: SDQ MICE 2026 highlighted momentum in meetings tourism, with calls for a dedicated convention center to attract larger international conferences. International Promotion: The DR will be Guest of Honor at FIT Latin America 2026 in Argentina, with a pavilion and a focus on air connectivity and tourism deals. Air Connectivity: Air Canada plans 31 new international routes from October, including new links involving the Dominican Republic’s broader Caribbean travel market. Safety & Travel Alerts: Dominicans were warned by MIREX about fraudulent job offers to travel to Russia, urging strict checks before signing or booking.

Sargassum & climate push: President Luis Abinader told the UN that sargassum is now a global challenge and urged faster climate financing for the Caribbean, tying the issue directly to coastal impacts and tourism. Tourism service concerns: Asoleste says the “warmth” tourists expect has faded since the pandemic, pointing to gaps in customer care and facility maintenance as competition rises. Air connectivity boost: Air Canada plans 31 new international routes from October, including long-haul additions that reach destinations like Tenerife South and Quito. MICE momentum: The Dominican Republic is pitching a dedicated convention center to attract bigger international conferences, with SDQ MICE 2026 highlighting growth in meetings tourism. Tourism growth numbers: The country logged 8.56M visitors in Jan–Aug 2026 (+6.9% vs 2025), with Punta Cana still the main gateway. Safety & travel compliance: A U.S. lawsuit alleges Expedia/VRBO negligently listed Dominican rentals without smoke detectors after a deadly fire. Diaspora spotlight: Abinader met Dominican community leaders in Brooklyn and backed consular digitization and new scholarship support for young Dominicans in New York.

Sargassum & climate push: President Abinader told the UN that the Dominican Republic helped secure the first global UN resolution on sargassum, urging faster climate financing for Caribbean coasts where the seaweed hits tourism. Hospitality service concerns: East-region hotel leaders say the “warmth” of tourist service has faded since the pandemic, pointing to training gaps and aging facilities as competition rises. MICE momentum: A proposed dedicated convention center is back on the table after SDQ MICE 2026 discussions, with organizers arguing it could help land larger international conferences (3,000–4,000 attendees) and strengthen business tourism. Argentina trade spotlight: The DR will be Guest of Honor at FIT Latin America 2026 in Buenos Aires, with a pavilion featuring tourism experiences and a focus on air connectivity and deals. Tourism growth stats: The country reported 8.56M visitors in Jan–Aug 2026, up 6.9% year-on-year, with Punta Cana still the main gateway. Safety & travel disruption: A Jet2 flight was evacuated in Tenerife after a bomb threat claim, causing delays before landing in London. Visa/entry watch: Dominican authorities also warned citizens about suspicious job offers to travel to Russia, urging extra verification.

Air Safety & Travel Disruption: Jet2 flight LS1536 from Tenerife South to London Stansted was evacuated after a passenger bomb threat; the plane was cleared, reboarded after checks, and landed in London with a 2+ hour delay. Tourism Business & Events: Asonahores says MICE visitors can spend up to 3x more than typical tourists, with SDQ MICE 2026 highlighting convention growth and the need for bigger venues. Infrastructure for Conferences: IAPCO urged a dedicated Dominican convention center (aiming at 3,000–4,000 capacity) to attract larger international congresses. Climate Resilience for Coastal Tourism: Dominican officials called for stronger regional cooperation and adaptation financing to protect coastal communities as sea-level rise threatens beaches and tourism-linked livelihoods. International Mobility for Travelers: The DR and Azerbaijan agreed visa-free travel for holders of valid ordinary passports (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). Visitor Growth: DR reported 8.56M visitors Jan–Aug 2026 (+6.9% vs 2025), with Punta Cana still the main gateway. Travel Risk Warning: MIREX cautioned Dominicans about alleged job offers to travel to Russia that may be linked to the Ukraine conflict.