The number of non-resident tourists arriving to the DR by airplane continues to rise, especially this past month when 389,075 tourists landed in the DR, according to a press release from Tourism Minister Félix Jiménez.

Jiménez added that there has been objective impact in terms of money earned and jobs created with the arrival of the tourists to various areas in the country.

This significant number, pointed out Jiménez, represents an increase of 5.9 percent and an absolute number of 82,391 visitors, as compared to March, 2007.

“With each month, we are registering positive growth for the ninth consecutive month in terms of the arrival of non-resident foreigners. Given the growth that began non-stop in July 2007, the numbers are rising month after month,” said Jiménez, the head of SECTUR, at a press meeting in the ministry headquarters.

In the data from last March, especially counting visits from the two main tourist group to the DR, Canada and Europe, the increase has been registered at 9 percent and 7.4 percent respectively.

According to the most recent data from the Central Bank given to Jiménez, other important markets on the rise were England by 9.2 percent, Belgium by 5.1 percent and Spain with a 2.13 percent increase.

In addition, the growth from South America has been notable, mostly from Argentina which grew 57.4 percent, Colombia 9.5 percent and Chile 10.8 percent.

Other positive data is that emerging markets are continuing to consolidate, especially Russia which has nearly doubled the number of visitors to the DR. Also, on a regional note, Mexico, Ecuador and Peru have also increased by the following percentages respectively: 12.6 percent, 10.3 percent and 2.7 percent.

"Suffice it to say that during the first trimester of the year, we have received 1,114,313 international tourists as compared to 1, 031,922 during the same period last year in 2007. This is an increase in 82,391 tourists. That is to say, an 8 percent growth,” explained Jiménez.

He added that during these three months the arrivals have also grown in regional terms, in that visits from North and South America have increased by 10.9 and 36.6 percent respectively while European tourists came at a larger proportion of 1.24 percent more than the same time last year.

Jiménez added that there has been objective impact in terms of money earned and jobs created with the arrival of the tourists to various areas in the country. Among the factors that concur with these results, he added, has been the program of cleaning up and building infrastructures in tourism areas that is being developed by the current administration. This explains the positive numbers in addition to the efficient promotional campaign being carried out by SECTUE outside the country in which more than 28 million dollars were invested last year alone.

Tourism Minister, Félix Jiménez.