Tourism in the Dominican Republic
Country/Territory 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
United States 2,073,963 2,085,186 2,001,909 1,784,486 1,587,404
Canada 827,721 768,486 745,860 706,394 684,071
Germany 265,709 259,133 247,613 230,733 214,151
Russia 245,346 136,249 71,572 180,821 188,110
France 221,492 232,024 227,483 229,678 232,754
Argentina 182,170 137,642 133,888 112,489 107,305
Spain 177,993 169,760 172,245 150,859 142,207
United Kingdom 177,534 165,111 142,083 126,563 108,236
Puerto Rico 111,095 121,131 115,084 103,891 74,580
Venezuela 109,734 170,713 167,176 112,854 75,173
Colombia 103,444 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total 5,354,017 5,178,050 4,872,319 4,511,062 4,117,493
Visitor statistics
Most visitors arriving to Dominican Republic were from the following areas of residence or countries of nationality : [ 11 ]
Tourism is an important sector in the Dominican Republic's economy. With more than 6 million tourist arrivals each year it is the most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean region and ranks top 5 overall in the Americas. The industry accounts for 11.6% of the nation's GDP and is an important source of revenue in the country, particularly in coastal areas. The nation's tropical climate, white sand beaches, diverse mountainous landscape and colonial history attracts visitors from around the world. As one of the most geographically diverse nations in the region, the Dominican Republic is home to the Caribbean's tallest mountain peak, Pico Duarte, as well as the largest lake and lowest elevation, Lake Enriquillo. The country is also the site of the first cathedral, castle, monastery and fortress built in all of the Americas, located in Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone, an area declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.