Visitors by Country
Latin American Tourists to the Dominican Republic
Updated: 2026-06-01
Executive summary
Latin America is the fastest-growing region for DR tourism — ~900k-1M arrivals in 2024 combined. Argentina is the largest market (~240k), followed by Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru. Most route via the Copa hub in Panama (PTY) with one short connection to PUJ.
Key statistics
0.9-1.0M
LATAM 2024
240 k
Argentina #1
150 k
Brazil #2
+15 %
YoY growth
Latin America → Punta Cana
South Americans visit during their summer (Dec-Feb) and the July school break. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico all enjoy visa-free entry to the DR. Copa Airlines operates the Panama hub (PTY) that connects almost every Latin American capital to PUJ with one stop.
Latin American source markets to the DR — 2024
| Country | Arrivals | Peak season | Main carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | ≈ 240 k | Jul, Dec-Jan | Aerolíneas Argentinas, Copa via PTY |
| Brazil | ≈ 150 k | Jul, Dec-Jan | Gol, LATAM, Copa via PTY |
| Colombia | ≈ 130 k | Year-round | Avianca, Wingo via BOG |
| Chile | ≈ 90 k | Jan-Feb, Jul | LATAM, Copa via PTY |
| Mexico | ≈ 80 k | Year-round | Aeroméxico, Viva, Volaris |
| Peru | ≈ 55 k | Jul, Dec | LATAM, Copa via PTY |
| Venezuela | ≈ 50 k | Year-round | Conviasa, Avior |
| Ecuador | ≈ 35 k | Jul, Dec | Avianca, LATAM via BOG / LIM |
| Panama (transit hub) | Major connector | Copa hub PTY | 2-3 h to PUJ |
| Total Latin America 2024 | ≈ 0.9 – 1.0 M | 13 %+ share | Strongest growth segment |
Sources: MITUR/SITUR, Banco Central RD, ONE, Copa Airlines, Avianca, LATAM, Aerolíneas Argentinas.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do Latin American travelers need a visa for the DR?+
Are there direct flights from South America to Punta Cana?+
Sources & methodology
- DMK Abogados — Dominican tourism grew by 9% in 2024 — Source market breakdown, length of stay, daily spend
- Presidencia RD — RD cierra 2024 con récord histórico de más de 11 millones de turistas — Official 2024 arrival totals (Jan 2025)
- MITUR — República Dominicana marca hito histórico: 11.6 millones de visitantes en 2025 — Official 2025 full-year recap, December 2025
- ONE — Oficina Nacional de Estadística (DR) — Llegadas de turistas por nacionalidad — Official arrivals breakdown by nationality
- Arecoa — Principales mercados emisores RD — Source-market analysis by trade press
- FlightConnections — PUJ direct flights map — Live direct-flight network
More research from the Data Center
- Dominican Republic — Visitors by Country of Origin
- US Tourists to the Dominican Republic & Punta Cana
- European Tourists to the Dominican Republic
- Spanish & Italian Tourists to the Dominican Republic
- Cost of a Trip to Punta Cana — Full Budget Breakdown 2026
- Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort Prices 2026
- Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) — Statistics 2025
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