The demand for tours to the Dominican Republic in 2018 will exceed the pre-crisis indicators

The flow of tourists to this Caribbean destination, which showed rapid growth in 2017, by the results of 2018 will not reach such high volumes, but will exceed pre-crisis volumes. In 2017, the flow of tourists from Russia to the Dominican Republic almost doubled, reaching 240 thousand people. According to Galina Lysenko, the Director of the Representative office of the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic in Russia, Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus, 170.3 thousand Russian tourists visited the Dominican Republic over the first ten months of 2018. This figure could increase up to 180–190 thousand. The volumes ​​are equal with the pre-crisis ones, which mean the restoration of stable demand on the destination after the crisis of 2014. However, according to estimates of Alphonse Nietto, the Director General of ANEX Tour Caribbean, the volume of the tour operator in the Dominican Republic for the entire winter season 2018 -19 could exceed last year's numbers. According to Galina Lysenko, the positive dynamics of demand in recent years is largely due to the activity of Russian tour operators, the extension of flight programs, as well as a lot of offers. “Together with tour operators, we try to offer Russian tourists an increasing variety of holiday options in the Dominican Republic”, said Galina Lysenko. So, from January 1, 2019 Moscow flights to the Dominican Republic are carried out in La Romana airport instead of the airport in Punta Cana. The flight program of the tour operator from Moscow to Punta Cana was performed daily from 06.09 to 30.12.2018. Also from November 5, ANEX Tour operator began to fly from Moscow to the region of Puerto Plata. The flight program on the wings of Nordwind Airlines will be carried out 2 times a week on Mondays and Thursdays. The flights will continue until May 13, 2019.