Illustrative summary: all figures are example data and must be checked against official sources before publishing.
Tourism is still the engine of the Dominican economy. In the first half of 2026, air arrivals grew by roughly 6% compared with the same period last year (example data), and cruise lines added more calls at Puerto Plata and Samaná (example data).
Which areas benefit most?
Punta Cana and Bávaro still receive the lion's share of visitors — more than half of the total (example data). But the fastest growth is in smaller destinations: Las Terrenas, Cabarete and the Miches area, where vacation rentals still face less competition.
What about short-term rentals?
According to rental-platform data, average occupancy for two-bedroom apartments in Punta Cana was around 65% in high season (example data), with stable nightly rates. In Santo Domingo, demand comes more from business travelers and members of the diaspora visiting home.
A word of caution: more tourists does not automatically mean more income for you. There are also more apartments competing for those guests. Location, photos, reviews and good management make the difference.
What to keep in mind if you buy to rent
- Read the condo bylaws. Some buildings restrict or ban nightly rentals.
- Run conservative numbers. Assume lower occupancy than you are promised, and subtract management fees, which typically run 15% to 25% of revenue (example data).
- Ask about Confotur. In approved tourism projects, tax benefits can improve your numbers. Our Confotur guide explains how.
- Plan for low season. Between September and November (example data), occupancy drops in almost every beach area.
Bottom line
Strong tourism is a good sign, but it is no substitute for your own analysis. Compare calmly and always get the numbers in writing. To explore each area, visit our zones section.