WTTC praises Dominican tourism and calls for higher visitor spending

The WTTC once again holds up the Dominican Republic as an example of tourism recovery in the Caribbean. It does so in a report where the organization's president, Gloria Guevara, acknowledges the country's work in attracting visitors, but sends a direct message to the government: the next step is for those visitors to spend more.

The diagnosis is clear. More tourists than ever are arriving, but average spending per visitor has remained flat over the past decade. Guevara suggests expanding the offer of experiences beyond the all-inclusive model, with cultural, gastronomic and nature activities that raise the average ticket. As reported by Listín Diario, the message is aimed at ensuring the country does not settle for being a leader in arrivals and aims to lead in revenue as well.

The reading for the hotel sector is twofold. On one hand, it confirms that the Dominican product works and that source markets respond. On the other, it opens a real opportunity for tour operators, boutique hotels and experience projects looking to capture that extra spending. The challenge of diversifying the offer is manageable, and there are already examples in Samaná, Puerto Plata and La Romana showing the way.