SANTO DOMINGO – U.S. Acting Consul General to the Dominican Republic, Yomaris McDonald, stressed that the country stands out as an extremely safe tourist destination and said the recent surge in American tourists is due to the country’s safety record.
Secretary McDonald underscored the strong partnership between the Dominican Republic and the United States and highlighted collaborative efforts to enhance security in tourist destinations. He said the U.S. worked with the Tourist Police (Politur) and the Prosecutor’s Office to conduct a series of training sessions in areas including Punta Cana, Santiago and Las Terrenas to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens visiting the Dominican Republic.
In February, an agreement was signed between the U.S. Consulate, Politur and the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores) to strengthen relations and establish protocols for managing incidents involving U.S. nationals, as well as to facilitate the rapid exchange of information regarding U.S. tourists to the country.
McDonald stressed the importance of such measures, especially as more Americans leave their hotels and explore the country independently, often encountering problems like medical emergencies, petty theft and scams through dating apps.
To help, offices have been set up in Puerto Plata and Punta Cana to assist Americans, but they do not offer consular services, only emergency assistance.
Of note, the United States is the largest supplier of tourists to the Dominican Republic, with over 4 million American tourists visiting each year. In 2023, Americans accounted for 47% of non-resident tourists, a 22% growth. In March 2024 alone, the United States accounted for 49% of tourists.
