The Dominican Republic is entering 2026 as one of the Caribbean’s most dynamic destinations, with record visitor numbers, new hotel concepts and major international events reshaping what a beach holiday in the country looks like. Against that backdrop, a new player referred to as Sunrise Dominicana is drawing attention among tour operators and travelers, symbolizing a wave of developments that lean into lifestyle, sustainability and experience-driven travel rather than traditional resort formulas.
A Record-Breaking Moment for Dominican Tourism
The scale of the tourism boom in the Dominican Republic is setting the context in which brands like Sunrise Dominicana are emerging. Authorities reported that 2025 closed with more than 11.6 million visitors, the highest figure ever achieved by the country and a milestone that positions the Dominican Republic as a regional powerhouse in leisure travel. December alone saw nearly 960,000 arrivals by air, a number unthinkable just a decade ago and one that underscores how quickly the country has expanded its tourism infrastructure.
Early 2026 data suggests that momentum has not slowed. In January, the country welcomed more than 1.2 million visitors by air and sea, with air arrivals surpassing 800,000 for the first time in any January. Tourism officials say the total was more than 14 percent higher than in 2024 and more than 60 percent above 2019 levels, the last full year before the pandemic. For hoteliers and developers, that sustained growth is a signal that the destination is not only resilient but also still underbuilt for the demand it attracts.
The World Travel and Tourism Council projects that by 2025 tourism will account for roughly 15 to 16 percent of the Dominican economy, contributing more than 21 billion dollars to gross domestic product and supporting close to 900,000 jobs. That economic weight is one reason the government continues to promote high-end projects in key zones like Punta Cana, Cap Cana, Miches and Pedernales. It is also why new resort concepts, including emerging names such as Sunrise Dominicana, are being framed not just as hotel openings but as part of a broader national development strategy.
At the same time, the rapid increase in arrivals is putting pressure on infrastructure. Air ticket prices remain a concern, especially for European markets, and hotel capacity is being pushed to keep pace with travelers. In 2025 alone, more than 18,000 new hotel rooms were delivered in 111 projects, well above initial commitments. That accelerated pipeline is creating a more competitive landscape in which brands feel compelled to differentiate themselves with stronger themes, more sophisticated design and robust experience programs.
From Sun and Sand to Sports, Culture and Lifestyle
For years, the Dominican Republic has been marketed primarily on its beaches and all inclusive offers. Now, the narrative is changing. At the 2026 edition of Spain’s major tourism fair, FITUR, Dominican authorities placed special emphasis on sports, culture and high-impact events as pillars of a more diversified tourism portfolio. The message was clear: the destination no longer wants to compete only as a place to lie on a lounger but as a country where visitors can attend international competitions, explore nature reserves or immerse themselves in local gastronomy.
A central element of that shift is the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled to take place in Santo Domingo from late July to early August 2026. More than 6,000 athletes from 37 countries are expected to participate in nearly 500 events across 40 sports. Tourism planners view the games as an opportunity to showcase the capital as a modern, event-ready city and to draw visitors beyond the established enclaves of Punta Cana and La Romana. New and existing hotels in the greater Santo Domingo area are already preparing for a surge in demand.
Elsewhere, coastal and rural regions are seeing investments tied to ecotourism and experiential travel. Miches on the eastern coast has been identified as a priority area for new resorts that combine beach access with nature excursions, while the remote southwest province of Pedernales is being developed as a model of sustainable tourism. Master plans in Pedernales call for carefully phased hotel construction, environmental protections and upgraded transport links, all designed to attract travelers seeking what officials describe as a “second Punta Cana” with a greener, more low-density profile.
In this diversification push, properties like Sunrise Dominicana are emblematic of how new projects are being positioned. Rather than selling only room counts and pool sizes, developers are talking in terms of wellness programs, sports academies, culinary residencies and curated cultural experiences. Industry analysts say that approach reflects changing traveler preferences, especially among North American and European guests who want more flexible stays and more meaningful engagement with the destination beyond the resort gates.
The New Face of All Inclusive: Lifestyle and Design Take Center Stage
One of the most striking shifts in Dominican hospitality is the reinvention of the all inclusive model. Traditionally associated with buffet lines and standardized entertainment, all inclusive is increasingly being recast as a lifestyle product that emphasizes design, gastronomy and personalization. Recent high-profile openings illustrate the direction in which the market is moving and help explain the space that newer brands such as Sunrise Dominicana are entering.
In March 2025, Spanish group Meliá and tennis champion Rafael Nadal launched ZEL Punta Cana, billed as the first lifestyle all inclusive hotel in the Caribbean. The property leans heavily on Mediterranean design and a concept of indoor-outdoor living, with suites focused on terraces, natural light and greenery. Its programming revolves around active wellness, from yoga and tennis to cold plunges and open-air training sessions, signaling that guests are willing to pay for a more curated, health-oriented stay even in a package context.
Another landmark came in late 2025 with the inauguration of W Punta Cana, an adults-only, all inclusive resort created through a partnership between Marriott International, Grupo Puntacana and Mac Hotels. With more than 340 rooms, 12 restaurants, a large spa and a slate of music and mixology experiences, the property aims to define a new level of contemporary luxury for the region. Its backers describe it as a project built around architecture, creativity and sustainability, from the use of local materials to energy-efficient systems.
These openings are part of a broader trend in which developers seek to merge the price certainty of all inclusive packages with the aesthetics and service standards associated with high-end urban hotels. For travelers, the result is more variety: a stay that includes meals and activities in the rate, but with à la carte quality restaurants, specialized bars and spaces that feel more akin to a design hotel than a traditional mega-resort. Sunrise Dominicana is understood to be positioning itself along this line, focusing on atmosphere, culinary identity and tailored activities as central selling points.
Infrastructure, Air Connectivity and the Push for New Hubs
Behind the surge in visitor numbers is a quiet transformation in air and cruise infrastructure that has made the Dominican Republic easier to reach and more efficient to move around. The country handled nearly 19.5 million air passengers in 2025 when departures are included, a level that aviation authorities say now places the Dominican Republic among the most important airline hubs in the Caribbean. For hotel operators and investors, that kind of throughput provides confidence to back long-term projects, including new-build resorts and branded residential developments.
Punta Cana International Airport remains the main gateway for leisure travelers, particularly from the United States and Canada, which together represent well over half of arrivals. New routes from secondary US cities and expanded frequencies from Canadian hubs have helped dilute the risk of overdependence on a small number of feeder markets, although the United States continues to dominate inbound tourism flows. At the same time, there has been modest growth in connectivity from Europe and Latin America, supporting more diverse demand patterns across seasons.
Cruise tourism is another pillar of this expansion. Nearly three million cruise passengers visited the Dominican Republic in 2025, an increase on the previous year and a sign that new ports and upgraded terminals are paying off. Destinations like Amber Cove and Taino Bay on the north coast have become regular fixtures on Caribbean itineraries, bringing day-trippers into contact with local tours and attractions. Coastal projects that combine resort stays with nearby cruise traffic are emerging as attractive propositions for developers, including those behind lifestyle concepts and mixed-use properties under banners like Sunrise Dominicana.
However, the country’s aviation and transport network faces constraints. Industry executives warn that high ticket prices risk limiting growth from Europe, while road infrastructure in emerging tourism zones is still catching up with hotel development. Efforts are under way to improve highways and regional airports serving areas such as Pedernales and Miches, but these are multi-year undertakings. How quickly those upgrades progress will be critical in determining whether new resorts can achieve the year-round occupancy levels their financial models require.
Experiential Travel and Sustainability Shape New Projects
Beyond bricks and mortar, experience design and sustainability have become central talking points for Dominican tourism. Resorts are under pressure to deliver more than sun, sea and familiar international menus. Visitors increasingly look for activities that connect them with local culture, landscapes and communities, and the newest projects are responding with curated programs that range from farm visits and cacao tours to art workshops and live music series.
High-end properties such as Eden Roc Cap Cana, often cited as a benchmark for luxury in the destination, showcase the kind of experiences that are now in demand: sound healing sessions, Dominican cooking classes, cigar-rolling demonstrations and golf on designer courses. The rise of such offerings has helped shift traveler perceptions about what a Dominican holiday can include, especially for repeat visitors who may have already experienced the classic all inclusive package and now seek something more bespoke.
Sustainability is another differentiator. In new master-planned areas like Pedernales, environmental safeguards are positioned as a central feature rather than an afterthought, with limits on building density, conservation of coastal ecosystems and strategies to manage water consumption. Resorts that emphasize eco-friendly design, local sourcing and community impact are finding receptive audiences among travelers who want assurances that their stay benefits rather than harms the host region.
Sunrise Dominicana sits within this context as part of a new wave of projects that promise lower-impact, higher-experience stays. While each brand interprets sustainability differently, common threads include the use of native vegetation in landscaping, partnerships with nearby producers for food and furnishings, and programming that introduces guests to the culture and nature of the Dominican Republic through guided excursions and on-site events. For tour operators, those attributes are becoming selling points in brochures and online descriptions, not just optional extras.
Major International Events Put the Spotlight on the Country
The calendar of upcoming events is another factor elevating the Dominican Republic’s profile over the next two years. In addition to the Central American and Caribbean Games, the country is slated to host the Tenth Summit of the Americas, an important regional gathering of heads of state and government that has been postponed to 2026. The summit is expected to take place in Punta Cana, bringing global attention to the area and creating a temporary surge in demand for high-end accommodation and meeting facilities.
Tourism officials view these events as opportunities to showcase infrastructure improvements, security measures and the professionalism of local hospitality teams. For resorts across the eastern corridor, including new or rebranded properties like Sunrise Dominicana, the summit and the games offer a chance to attract delegations, media and business travelers who may not have previously considered the Dominican Republic for conferences or incentive trips. Many hotels are already updating meeting spaces, connectivity and executive services to cater to this segment.
Sports tourism is another growing niche. Hosting a multi-sport event requires significant investment in venues, training facilities and accommodation, much of which remains available for use after the closing ceremony. That legacy can support future tournaments, training camps and sports-themed holiday packages that combine beach time with access to world-class arenas and coaching. Projects that integrate tennis academies, golf courses or wellness centers into their offerings are well positioned to benefit from that trend.
The expectation among analysts is that these high-profile gatherings will have a halo effect on leisure tourism, reinforcing perceptions of the Dominican Republic as a safe, well-managed and connected destination. If visitor experiences during those events are positive, officials hope that participants will return as holidaymakers or recommend the country within their networks. For the new generation of resorts, that makes 2026 not just another year of growth but a window to define how the Dominican Republic will be perceived for the rest of the decade.
Opportunities and Risks for Travelers Considering Sunrise Dominicana
For travelers, the evolution of Dominican tourism presents both opportunities and considerations. On the positive side, the range of accommodation options has never been broader, from boutique eco-lodges and branded residences to large lifestyle resorts that combine all inclusive convenience with design-driven spaces. Names like Sunrise Dominicana encapsulate a market that is increasingly focused on differentiation, promising more curated stays, upgraded amenities and a stronger sense of place than older, standardized properties.
At the same time, the rapid pace of development means that certain areas are effectively under construction. Prospective visitors are advised to pay attention to the stage of completion of new projects, check recent guest feedback where available and confirm which facilities are fully operational. With infrastructure catching up in some emerging regions, travel times from airports and the state of local roads can also influence where it makes sense to stay, particularly for shorter trips.
Pricing is another factor. While the Dominican Republic still competes aggressively on value compared to some rival Caribbean destinations, rising airfares and the premium positioning of many new resorts are nudging average holiday costs higher. Travelers willing to visit in shoulder seasons or explore less saturated regions may find better deals, especially as new properties compete for visibility and occupancy in their first years of operation.
For those planning a trip in 2026 or 2027, the broader message is that the Dominican Republic is in the midst of a structural shift in how it welcomes visitors. Record-breaking arrival numbers, infrastructure upgrades, a calendar of major events and the emergence of lifestyle-focused resorts such as Sunrise Dominicana are collectively changing the game. The classic formula of beach, buffet and nightly shows is giving way to a more layered tourism offering that combines relaxation with sport, culture, wellness and sustainability, reshaping what travelers can expect when they touch down in the country’s airports or walk into its newest lobbies.