By Byron Vargas | 2024-11-13

SANTO DOMINGO -- The anticipated surge in Chinese tourism to the Dominican Republic's beaches has yet to arrive -- and some in the tourism sector say it may never materialize.

The tourism sector is still awaiting the 400,000 annual Chinese tourists promised when the Dominican Republic broke ties with Taiwan to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing.

Establishing diplomatic relations would bring more than 400,000 Chinese tourists to the country annually, then-Dominican Tourism Minister Francisco García and Fu Xinrong, chargé d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Santo Domingo, projected in 2018.

That year, Beijing designated the Dominican Republic as a recommended tourist destination for Chinese citizens, effective June 7. However, the anticipated influx of tourists has yet to meet these expectations.

In five years, a total of 65,357 Chinese tourists have visited, with 2023 seeing the highest influx at just 26,548 visitors.

Incompatibility with Chinese tastes

Chinese tourism remains limited by the absence of nonstop flights, insufficient promotion for such a distant market and a weak commitment from both countries, Henry Garcés, owner of the TravelPlus agency and analyst of the Dominican tourism market, told Entorno.

Although the number of Chinese tourists in the Dominican Republic doubled in the first year --from 5,631 in 2018 to 11,800 in 2019 -- and continued to grow in following years, the numbers remain well below the promised levels.

The lack of nonstop flights between China and the Dominican Republic is the biggest obstacle to increasing Chinese tourism, said Garcés.

This hardship deters many travelers, especially older adults, who are less inclined to endure lengthy, multi-leg journeys.

Tourism in the Dominican Republic, known for its beaches and nightlife, also lacks a broader range of cultural experiences, such as diverse museums and shopping centers that "better align with the preferences of Chinese tourists," Garcés added.

Frank Rainieri, president of the Puntacana Group, a sustainable-tourism company, has since the beginning cautioned about the challenges of attracting Chinese tourists to the Dominican Republic.

"These are tourists interested in visiting historically significant destinations, like Europe...," Rainieri said in a July 2018 interview with El Tiempo, a Dominican newspaper.

"And when they seek beach destinations, such as for honeymoons, they tend to choose places closer to home, like Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand," he added.