DATE 2026 strengthens the country's positioning in international markets

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. —The first vice president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores), Javier Tejada, emphasized that the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) 2026 is not just a celebration of the sector's growth, but a key platform for business generation and the strengthening of international alliances.

During the inauguration, he emphasized that each encounter between Dominican suppliers and international buyers translates into more flights, higher hotel occupancy, and new employment opportunities for thousands of families in the Dominican Republic. Tejada maintained that the dynamism of Dominican tourism is supported by concrete results, such as the 11.6 million visitors received in 2025 and the solid performance of the first quarter of 2026, but insisted that the true value of DATE lies in its ability to transform that growth into sustainable commercial agreements. He highlighted that the fair presents a high demand for participation, with all spaces occupied, the incorporation of innovations, and a greater presence of small and medium-sized enterprises, which demonstrates international confidence in the destination.

We recommend reading: DATE 2026 starts this Wednesday with more than 100 participating companies

Likewise, he indicated that the event strengthens the diversification of the tourism offer, promoting segments such as cultural, adventure, sports and MICE tourism, with a view to attracting new issuing markets. He added that this growth also drives the development of emerging destinations such as Samaná, Puerto Plata, Miches and Pedernales, expanding the economic impact of tourism nationwide. However, he warned that the sector faces the challenge of sustaining its expansion with planning and sustainability. In that sense, he advocated for strengthening land use planning, improving solid waste management, and continuing to consolidate the public-private partnership as the basis for the success of Dominican tourism. "The challenge is not only to grow more, but to grow better," he pointed out.