# Dominican tourism's signature warmth is losing ground

Canonical-URL: https://turismo.news/en/digest/dominican-tourism-staff-warmth-decline
Text-Version: https://turismo.news/en/digest/dominican-tourism-staff-warmth-decline.txt
Markdown-Version: https://turismo.news/en/digest/dominican-tourism-staff-warmth-decline.md
Language: en
Published: 2026-09-23T14:45:54.834Z
Modified: 2026-09-23T14:45:54.834Z
Author: Joan Sanz
Topics: Hotels
Summary: A sector voice warns that the country's hallmark friendly service is fading. The opportunity lies in training.

## Article

The friendly service that has long set Dominican tourism apart is losing ground. According to Arecoa, the sector has raised an alert about the **decline in warmth among tourism staff**, a quality the country sold for years as part of its pitch in Punta Cana, Bávaro, Samaná, Puerto Plata, La Romana and Santo Domingo. Hoteliers feel it, tour operators talk about it, and travelers spell it out in reviews.

The issue is not attitude. High-season turnover, fast onboarding of new hires and pressure to run more rooms with the same team explain much of the wear. Staff face long shifts and, in many cases, express training. That is where the work lies for the coming seasons.

The opportunity is concrete: **investing in training and internal career paths** pays back directly in tips, reviews and repeat guests. A hotel with well-trained, well-treated staff stands out in any Caribbean comparison. The country has the raw material. The industry just needs to give service the strategic weight it deserves in the budget.

## Sources

- Arecoa: https://www.arecoa.com/destinos/2026/09/23/alerta-en-el-paraiso-calidez-del-personal-turistico-ha-bajado/

## Citation

Dominican tourism's signature warmth is losing ground. Turismo News. 2026-09-23. https://turismo.news/en/digest/dominican-tourism-staff-warmth-decline