Signifying the importance of the Canadian market, which consistently rates the Dominican Republic amongst its top three sun destinations (along with Mexico and Cuba), the country’s tourism minister called in Toronto last week – his second visit in the past six months – to meet with tour operators, airlines, agents, and partners.

His message was clear: Canada is a key market for the DR and its government is proactively working to support local partners. In addition, he presented statistics that tell a story of remarkable recovery and growth for the Caribbean country as the pandemic passes.

“The Dominican Republic is a favourite sun destination for Canadians. We had nearly 1,700 flights from Canada the first 10 months of the year,” David Collado recounted. “A large source of traffic comes out of Ontario with a 97% increase this year over 2021. Canadian customer satisfaction remains very high with nine out of 10 exit polls showing guests would return in future. Hotels and excellent beaches were the elements most often cited in customer satisfaction surveys.”

According to the minister, Punta Cana remains the favourite destination with current reservations up 20% over pre pandemic bookings. “We have just confirmed 500 additional flights into Punta Cana this winter. It is one of the most popular sun destinations out of Canada and we want to ensure that agents have inventory to sell,” he added.

Collado acknowledged that while inflation has increased the cost of travel, only 7% of Canadians said they would cancel travel plans. They will, however, be seeking economical options.

To that end, the minister assured, “We are well positioned to cater to a price sensitive market because our packages offer excellent value. We have a high level of service, competitive pricing, and a reputation for safety and service. This all combines to make us highly competitive heading into the winter season.”

Given the importance of Canadian tourists, the Dominican Republic puts emphasis on proactively promoting the destination and working closely with airlines, tour operators, and agents to ensure they have the tools needed to promote the country.

“Canadians have always had a special affinity for our country, and we are delighted to see such a robust response for this winter.” Collado concluded. “We are grateful for your support and look forward to welcoming you to the sun soon.”