The Dominican Republic saw a 9.42% increase in international tourist arrivals in January to July 2006, and a 17.75% jump in arrivals from the UK.
According to a Central Bank report, 21,710 more UK tourists arrived this year than for the same period in 2005.
The Central Bank attributes the sustained growth in arrivals to the increase in investment in hotels and promotion of the country by both the private and public sectors.
This has resulted in an increase in flights from the main source countries.
The Ministry of Tourism has forecast there will be four million international arrivals this year.
Members of ABTA anticipated this rise in August 2005 having cited the Dominican Republic as being ‘Hot for 2005’ and reported a 9% growth in bookings for the island this year.
By Bev Fearis
