Where 2024 Dominican Republic Tourists Came From, And How Many Prefer to Pre-Book Transfers.

The Dominican Republic closed 2024 with record tourism: 11.19 million total visitors (8.54M by air + 2.66M cruise). Among air arrivals, 7.13 million were foreign (non-resident) tourists and 1.41 million were Dominican non-residents.

By Continent: Who Actually Flew In (2024)

According to the Central Bank’s year-end report, the residence of foreign (non-resident) tourists arriving by air in 2024 was:

• North America: 64.8% (primarily the U.S. and Canada)

• South America: 15.7%

• Europe: 13.1%

• Central America & the Caribbean: 5.9%

• Asia & Rest of World: 0.4%
  (Base: 7,125,362 foreign tourists by air; figures rounded)

Punta Cana remained the main gateway, concentrating roughly two-thirds (≈68.6%) of foreign tourist arrivals by air in 2024—important context for transfer demand.

Approximate volume by continent (rounded)

• North America: ~4.62M

• South America: ~1.12M

• Europe: ~0.94M

• Central America & Caribbean: ~0.42M

• Asia & Rest: ~0.03M

Do These Visitors Prefer to Pre-Book Transfers?

There’s no single government statistic that says “X% of DR arrivals pre-book transfers.” However, global traveler research provides strong signals:

• Travelers increasingly complete trip logistics before arrival. IATA’s 2024 Global Passenger Survey shows a strong preference for digital/online processes before reaching the airport, underscoring a broad pre-trip planning mindset.

• A majority plan and book in-destination services in advance. Tripadvisor’s 2024 insights indicate ~56% of travelers research and book activities ahead of the trip. Transfers are part of that “experiences/activities” ecosystem and tend to be decided even earlier because they’re needed the moment the plane lands.

• The dedicated pre-book transfer category is growing fast, reflecting rising traveler comfort with reserving ground transport online. (Industry reports point to double-digit CAGR for the pre-book airport transfer market.)

Reasonable estimate for the DR (method explained)

Blending those global signals with the DR’s visitor mix (heavily North American/European, where online pre-booking is highest), a conservative, evidence-based range is:

• North America: ~45–60% likely to pre-book or arrange a transfer/pickup pre-arrival

• Europe: ~40–55%

• South America: ~35–50%

• Central America & Caribbean: ~30–45%

• Asia & Rest: ~40–55%

Applied to 2024 volumes, that implies ~3.0 to 4.0 million foreign visitors to the DR who prefer to have their airport transfer pre-arranged (hotel, tour operator, or direct transfer provider). These are prudent estimates guided by the sources above; they’re not an official MITUR/BCRD statistic.

Why Pre-Booked Transfers Win in a Resort Destination

1. Certainty at arrival: Families and groups landing in Punta Cana or Santiago value knowing price, vehicle type, and meeting point in advance. (Punta Cana alone handles ~69% of foreign arrivals.)

2. Package behavior: All-inclusive stays often bundle transfers or prompt guests to secure them ahead of time.

3. Digital expectations: With most travelers comfortable booking online—often on mobile—airport pickups fit naturally into the pre-trip checklist.

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