Asonahores: Dominican tourism should be measured by its economic impact

JSBy Joan SanzCurated by Joan Sanz. · September 3, 2026 · Follow on LinkedIn

Voice reading · ~2 min

The Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores) has hit the nail on the head: the country's tourism should not be valued only by visitor numbers, but by its capacity to transform the real economy. They said it while reviewing a 2025 that, according to Arecoa, consolidated the industry as an income engine for the state.

Here I see a necessary shift. For years we celebrated arrival records, but the uncomfortable question is whether that tourist wave translates into better wages, more formal jobs, and foreign currency that stays in the provinces. Asonahores is not asking to stop marketing, they ask to raise the bar: every new hotel project in Punta Cana or Samaná must prove how it energizes its surroundings.

Fiscal impact: more occupied rooms, more taxes collected without raising rates.
Local spillover: purchases from local producers, hiring, and services that strengthen local commerce.
Sustainability: growth only counts if it does not compromise the destination.

The useful takeaway is opportunity. If the sector can measure those benefits, hotel investment will have stronger arguments with government and banks, and tourism will stop being a slogan and become the backbone of the DR economy. That is the path, and to echo Asonahores, what matters now is to prove it with data.

Quick questions

What does Asonahores propose for Dominican tourism?

To stop measuring tourism only by arrival numbers, and instead assess its ability to transform the economy, creating jobs, foreign currency, and state revenue.

Why does Asonahores want to change the tourism metric?

Because visitor figures do not reflect the real impact on provinces, such as formal job creation or benefits to local businesses.

What does 'transforming the economy' mean in DR tourism?

It means tourism drives sectors like construction, agriculture, and services, creating a ripple effect that improves the quality of life in communities.

Why is measuring tourism's economic impact beneficial?

It helps justify hotel investment, negotiate supportive public policy, and prove that tourism is a driver of sustainable development.

What role do hoteliers play in Asonahores' approach?

They are key, as they must share real data on employment and local purchases, and commit to business models that engage communities.

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