More Than 2.5 Million Tourists Visit Between January and August 2008

During the first 8 months of this year, 2,567,050 foreign visitors have arrived at the various airports around the country.

This significant figure is equivalent to an increase of 4.5% with respect to the same time last year between August and January 2007…

This significant figure is equivalent to an increase of 4.5% with respect to the same time last year between August and January 2007 when 2, 455,932 non-resident tourists came to the Dominican Republic, according to the most recent statistics report from the Marketing Department of the Ministry of Tourism.

More than half (54.7%) of the arrivals took place at the Punta Cana Internacional Airport, with the remainder distributed between Las Americas-AILA (19.3%), Puerto Plata Airport (15.8%), Romana (5.5%), Cibao, Isabela and El Catey.

Growth of Emerging Markets and North America

Between January and August 2008, there was notable arrival growth registered among tourists from our main emerging markets, with relation to the same time period last year, particularly from Russia where arrivals up 83% from last year, Poland up 92.5%, Peru 38%, Brazil up 32.5%, Ecuador 37.9%, Mexico up 15.5% and the Ukraine is up 11%.

By the same token, arrivals from the United States are up 2.9%, Canada 11.9% and France 4%. From important medium-sized markets such as Chile, visits are up 44.8%, Argentina 38.1%, Colombia 30.1% and Switzerland 12.5%, among others.