D.R. visitor stats up through May 2019; new resort projects underway

TORONTO — Some 6,200 new hotel rooms are currently under construction in the D.R., representing 8.7% of the country’s hotel supply.

The most recent D.R. visitor arrival details indicate 8% growth from North America, with 123,567 more visitors, including 2,285 more from Canada. Punta Cana airport got 67.2%, followed by Las Americas in Santo Domingo with 15.5% of the total, and Puerto Plata at 8.5%.

These latest visitor stats are for January to May 2019. Coverage of the recent U.S. tourist deaths in the D.R. began to ramp up in June 2019.

Here’s a look at some of the latest developments in Punta Cana and beyond…

PUNTA CANA

Earlier this summer Marriott International announced it plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in all-inclusive resorts. The initiative includes new management contracts with hotel developers who plan to build five new all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Latin America including a 650-room Autograph Collection resort Punta Cana, with an opening scheduled for 2022.
The first stone was laid for construction of the Pure Salt Orchidarium in the northern Uvero Alto area of greater Punta Cana. The Pure Salt Orchidarium is a US$85 million investment. The 269-room adults-only resort will feature pools, five-themed restaurants, four bars, a coffee shop, conference space for 350 people and a giant orchid garden as its centerpiece. This is the chain’s first resort outside of Spain.
AMResorts has a new project in Punta Cana, the company’s fifth D.R. property. Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana will have 500 rooms and suites, all with ocean views. The luxury resort will include a spa, six restaurants, seven bars, multiple pools and more.
Excellence Group has broken ground on an extensive all-inclusive property in Punta Cana. The group’s third D.R. resort, Finest Punta Cana, will have 450 suites with 60 suites dedicated to families. The resort will offer over 20 restaurants, six pools, in-room jacuzzis and plunge pools.
Eden Roc Cap Cana has unveiled its new $2 million, 30,000-square-foot spa, Solaya Spa and Wellness Center. The luxurious spa contains 12 treatment rooms with indoor and outdoor cabins, a 1,200-square foot anti-gravity yoga studio, aqua gardens and a freshwater pool.

PUERTO PLATA

In 2018 Puerto Plata welcomed 407,568 tourists by air and 518,121 by cruise. The opening of Amber Cove in 2015 was a boost to the destination. To date some 543 cruise ship stops, bringing 2,275,727 cruise passengers and crew, have arrived at Amber Cove. Puerto Plata is working to attract more maritime tourists with a second cruise ship terminal, Taino Bay, scheduled to open in 2020. The new port is under construction in the city of Puerto Plata.
Amhsa Marina has invested more than $25 million dollars in updates to facilities and technology for its luxury Casa Marina Beach & Reef hotel in Sosúa.

SAMANA
Using the new Samaná Whale Watcher mobile app visitors can interact with scientific researchers at the touch of a button to report whale sightings. Whale watching season runs from January to March in Samaná Bay.

SANTO DOMINGO

The US$90 million second phase of the tourism and urban development project for Santo Domingo’s Colonial City is getting underway. The Colonial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most visited tourism destinations in the D.R.
The first phase of Santo Domingo’s renovated Malecon is complete. The ‘Paseo Maítimo’ or ‘Seaside Walk’ offers 3.5 kilometres of recreation, entertainment and improvements to the area including better lighting, improved pedestrian walkways and spaces reserved for families, children and live music.