TORONTO — The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Tourism is basking in the glow of its successful DR Tourism Roadshow events in Toronto and Montreal.
Toronto kicked off the roadshow, which aimed to reconnect, revitalize and reposition the D.R. with the trade, and Montreal closed out the series. In total the two events drew 500+ tour operators and travel advisors from across Canada, plus Canada’s Minister of Tourism, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, attended the Montreal event.
Dominican Republic Tourism Minister David Collado
Dominican Republic Tourism Minister David Collado said: “The Dominican Republic’s Roadshow transcends being just an event; it is a joyous celebration of the enduring friendship between our nations. Our visitation from Canada this year is tracking at record levels with over one million Canadians expected to visit our shores by the end of the year. We eagerly anticipate strengthening our ties and continuing to create unforgettable moments for Canadians who choose to explore the wonders of the Dominican Republic.”
Inaugurated in 2021 by the Ministry of Tourism, the DR Tourism Roadshows (DR TOURS), led by Minister Collado, are already a fixture on the travel industry calendar.
During his presentation Minister Collado noted that nearly half of all Canadian travellers visiting the Dominican Republic are from Ontario, with over 350,000 Ontarians visiting this year alone. Quebec contributes significantly to D.R. tourism as well, with nearly 30% of Canadian tourists coming from Quebec, representing more than 288,000 visitors.
Minister Collado also highlighted new projects key to the future of tourism in the D.R. They include the largest and most advanced water theme park in the Caribbean, El Dorado, and one of D.R.’s most ambitious projects, Punta Bergantín.
Dominican Republic’s new DO Travel Rewards program, also highlighted at the roadshows, is an exclusive loyalty initiative designed specifically for travel advisors. This program allows travel agents to earn rewards while promoting the Dominican Republic. The site also provides access to valuable information, destination training, and news updates.
A long list of the Dominican Republic’s prime destinations, such as Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Samaná, Miches, La Romana, and Santo Domingo, were in the spotlight for the roadshow events. Minister Collado and his team also took part in strategic meetings with major airlines, including Air Transat, Air Canada and Sunwing. And agreements to introduce new routes were signed with Arajet and Flair Airlines.
