Asonahores takes 191,681 UK arrivals to WTM London 2026

The Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores) has wrapped up its participation in WTM London 2026 with a clear goal: strengthening ties with the British market and promoting the next edition of DATE, to be held May 5-7, 2027 at the Barceló Bávaro Convention Center in Punta Cana. The delegation, led by Executive Vice President Aguie Lendor, held meetings with tour operators, hotel chains, airlines and specialized media during the London trade fair.

The figure justifying the trip is compelling: the United Kingdom provided 191,681 air arrivals to the Dominican Republic in 2025, according to Ministry of Tourism data. That volume positions the UK as one of the main European source markets, and Asonahores wants to expand it to diversify demand from the Old Continent. The association insists that strengthening this flow opens new opportunities for hotels and businesses across the tourism value chain, from Bávaro resorts to excursion operators in Samaná or Puerto Plata.

The takeaway for the sector is clear: the British market is not a trade fair whim, it is a real revenue lever. Every air arrival from London or Manchester translates into hotel nights, destination spending and, by extension, tax revenue for tourism provinces. Asonahores' strategy of attending WTM London and then closing the loop at DATE 2027 fits that logic of capturing international buyers and turning them into concrete bookings. Lendor himself noted that the fair connects the Dominican industry with international buyers and builds relationships that continue at DATE.

DATE, launched in 2000, has become the platform connecting international buyers with Dominican hotels, airlines and tourism service providers. The May 2027 event in Punta Cana will be the next test to convert London contacts into deals. Asonahores frames this participation within a public-private strategy to strengthen competitiveness, attract investment and promote sustainable growth.

What to watch: whether the British market sustains the 191,681 arrivals pace and whether DATE 2027 closes contracts that translate into occupancy for the 2027-2028 season. The opportunity is on the table, and the sector has the tools to seize it.