TORONTO — Canadian arrivals to the Dominican Republic are up 13% in 2026, and Tourism Minister David Collado is looking to build on that growth with new developments, more diverse experiences and a renewed focus on repeat visitors.
That was the message at the D.R.’s ‘Meet in Paradise’ Canada 2026, a full-day event that brought more than 1,150 tourism industry professionals and partners to Toronto’s Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place yesterday for business meetings, destination training and networking – and even a bit of merengue dancing led by none other than Minister Collado himself.
Year to date, from January through September 2026, the D.R. has welcomed 933,715 Canadians, an increase of 107,627 visitors year over year. And with 92% of Canadian visitors saying they intend to return, the D.R. sees plenty of opportunity for travel advisors to introduce clients to more of the country.
SECOND-LARGEST SOURCE MARKET
Collado, who led yesterday’s event delegation, says Canada remains the country’s second-largest source market, with a relationship built on more than visitor numbers.
“There are families who return year after year, travellers who fall in love with our people and our cuisine, travel advisors who confidently recommend our destination, airlines that bring us closer together and commercial partners who believe in our country,” said Collado.
For the minister, the next chapter of Dominican tourism is about giving those returning visitors something new to discover.
The Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, David Collado, gets ready to merengue as attendees join destination reps on stage for some high-energy revelry
CANADIANS KEEP COMING BACK
Canada sent 1,157,113 air passengers to the Dominican Republic in 2025, representing 13% of total arrivals. Ontario and Quebec continue to lead the Canadian market, accounting for 47% and 39% of visitors respectively.
The latest visitor profile paints a useful picture for Canadian advisors.
Some 91% of Canadian visitors stayed in hotels, while travellers aged 50 and older accounted for 40% of arrivals. Family travel represented 36% of the market, and the average Canadian stay was eight days.
La Altagracia province, home to Punta Cana, accounted for 65% of Canadian stays. Overall visitor satisfaction was 4.3 out of five.
The most telling number is that 92% of Canadians surveyed expressed an intention to return.
Juan Bancalari, President of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (ASONAHORES), sees that loyalty as an opportunity for advisors.
“You don’t have to convince your clients to fall in love with the Dominican Republic. Many of them already have,” said Bancalari.
His message is to look beyond the familiar combination of beaches, resorts and sunshine. The destination’s mountains, golf courses, gastronomy, culture and outdoor adventures offer different reasons for clients to book another trip.
“A traveller who has visited us five times can find five completely different reasons to return,” he said.
A ‘QUIET REVOLUTION’ IN PUERTO PLATA
Collado made sure to make note of tourism investments and redevelopments beyond Punta Cana.
In Puerto Plata, where the D.R.’s tourism industry first took root, he described a “quiet revolution” in the destination’s recovery.
The master-planned tourism mega-project Punta Bergantin is a major part of that effort, said Collado. Punta Bergantin will bring thousands of hotel rooms with big brands – confirmed so far are Melia, Westin and Dreams – to a 10 million square metre beachfront site that will also include broader tourism and real estate investment.
Collado said the redevelopment is helping Puerto Plata regain its position among the country’s leading tourism destinations, supported by its beaches, mountains and natural landscapes.
La Romana and Bayahibe are also high on the minister’s list of destinations for Canadian travellers.
In La Romana, Casa de Campo offers an upscale resort experience with golf courses, polo facilities and beaches. Nearby Bayahibe brings a different character, with Blue Flag beaches and a culinary scene influenced in part by Italian visitors who settled in the area.
Punta Cana, meanwhile, remains the country’s tourism powerhouse, especially from Canada. Collado highlighted its extensive restaurant and resort offerings, beaches and golf facilities, as well as an airport that he says receives more than five million tourists annually.
But the minister wants visitors to look farther afield, too.
Samana offers tropical landscapes, waterfalls and the annual arrival of whales early in the year. Golf is an increasingly important part of the sports tourism strategy. According to Collado, more than 400,000 visitors travel to the D.R. specifically to play golf.
Tourism growth also comes with a responsibility to protect the destination’s natural and cultural assets, he added. That includes preserving mangroves and historic heritage as new hotels and tourism projects move forward.
MORE CONNECTIONS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES
Getting Canadians to the D.R.’s top destinations is another priority.
Julio Peña, President of the Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Board, said the country is working with the Ministry of Tourism, airlines and tour operators to facilitate additional routes and more competitive air travel options.
“There is little point in generating interest in a destination if getting there is complicated,” said Peña.
Tony Yapol, Executive Director of the Dominican Association of Airports, said airport operators are working to improve facilities and passenger processing to make arrivals more convenient for Canadian travellers.
BRINGING THE D.R. TO THE TRADE
Yesterday’s gathering in Toronto gave advisors an opportunity to connect directly with D.R. hotels, DMCs, airlines and other suppliers.
Participating suppliers included ACV, Transat, Sunwing/WestJet Vacations, Porter and travelbrands.
Alongside one-on-one business meetings, the program featured training on luxury travel, romance, sports tourism, adventure, nature, cruises and cultural experiences.
Advisors were also introduced to DO Travel Rewards and social media marketing strategies designed to support destination sales.
There was plenty of Dominican culture on display, too, with live music, doll-making workshops, casabe tastings and more. The evening’s Dominican Republic Roadshow gave attendees a closer look at the country’s destinations and tourism offerings.
For Collado, the country’s tourism success is ultimately measured by more than arrivals.
“The Dominican Republic is something you feel. And when you feel something, you remember it forever,” he said.
Bancalari left Canadian advisors with a message that gets to the heart of the country’s next tourism push.
“Don’t just sell the Dominican Republic your clients already know. Show them the Dominican Republic they have yet to meet.”
Incentives for travel advisors include DO Travel Rewards, offering agents the chance to earn cash back for eligible D.R. bookings. More details can be found here. For the latest on D.R. travel click here.
Lead image caption: David Collado, Minister of Tourism for the Dominican Republic led the delegation for the D.R.’s ‘Meet in Paradise’ Canada 2026 at Toronto’s Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place (all photos courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic and Michelle Zimmer)
