Mexico City, February 4 – As part of its initial major promotional efforts in Mexico for 2026, the Dominican Republic successfully organized the “Meet in Paradise” event on Tuesday at the Centro Banamex in Mexico City. The event drew hundreds of tourism professionals, including representatives from airlines, hotel executives, travel agents, tour operators, and specialized press, to highlight the dynamic growth and exciting prospects within the Caribbean nation’s tourism industry.
Dominican Republic’s Tourism Minister Highlights Record Growth
David Collado, the Minister of Tourism for the Dominican Republic, hosted the evening and expressed his gratitude to the attendees. “It is a great honor to be here tonight in Mexico City, with all of you, experts from the tourism industry from 23 cities and different regions of the Mexican Republic, to share the latest news we have in the Dominican Republic, as well as to thank you for the tireless work you have done to promote Mexican tourism in our destination,” Collado stated.
Minister Collado further emphasized the significant growth in Mexican visitors. “Last year, we closed with a record figure of 163,579 Mexican travelers, representing a growth of 39.3%, consolidating Mexico as our eighth largest source market, and we are aiming for more in 2026.”
Resilience and New Developments Drive Tourism Boom
During his presentation, Collado underscored the Dominican Republic’s resilience and determination, recalling that during the pandemic, when other traditionally popular tourist destinations like London or Paris closed their borders, the Dominican Republic remained open. This allowed hundreds of travelers to discover the cultural attractions of cities like Santo Domingo and the stunning natural landscapes of Punta Cana, located in the heart of the Caribbean. This approach captivated tourists from various regions, leading to a remarkable surge in the Dominican tourism industry, with excellent projections for the present day.
Referring to the new developments for this year in the Dominican Republic, the Minister of Tourism, visibly moved, mentioned that the destination is experiencing a significant hotel boom. This is reflected in the openings of prestigious brands such as W, Rosewood, and Palace in Punta Cana, as well as Hilton and Wyndham in the Miches area. Miches is a region to watch closely in the coming years, as it represents the new major bet for tourism professionals in the Dominican Republic.
Strategic Partnership with Mexico Strengthened
As reported by REPORTUR.mx, at the beginning of 2026, Collado announced that the Dominican Republic would strengthen its strategic relationship with the Mexican market and mark the beginning of a new phase in its international promotion strategy. This included the launch of its 2026 international roadshow in Mexico, a series of meetings designed to consolidate commercial alliances and outline the future of the Caribbean country’s tourism. (Dominican Republic begins its 2026 international promotion in Mexico).
The event underscores the Dominican Republic’s commitment to nurturing its relationship with key international markets and continuing its trajectory of impressive tourism growth. The strong turnout of Mexican tourism professionals at “Meet in Paradise” signals a promising future for collaboration and increased travel between the two nations.
