East and South Coast Investment Guide: Punta Cana, La Romana, Samaná, Cap Cana and Pedernales

<p>The east and south coast is where most of the Dominican Republic's resort tourism is concentrated, and where the government is also building a new destination from scratch in the south-west. This guide summarises what official sources say about demand, airports, infrastructure and announced projects, and where the main risks sit. It is background for private investors, not investment, tax or legal advice.</p> <h2>At a glance</h2> <table><thead><tr><th>Item</th><th>Data point</th><th>Source (year)</th></tr></thead><tbody> <tr><td>Total visitors</td><td>11,192,047 (8,535,742 air tourists plus 2,656,305 cruise passengers)</td><td><a href="https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/noticias/turismo-cierra-el-2024-como-el-mejor-ano-de-la-historia-y-proyecta-un-2025-aun-superior/">MITUR via Presidencia (2025, for calendar 2024)</a></td></tr> <tr><td>Share of tourists by airport</td><td>Punta Cana 59%, Las Américas 24%, Cibao 11%, Puerto Plata 5%, La Romana 1%</td><td><a href="https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/noticias/turismo-cierra-el-2024-como-el-mejor-ano-de-la-historia-y-proyecta-un-2025-aun-superior/">MITUR via Presidencia (2025, for 2024)</a></td></tr> <tr><td>Top source markets</td><td>United States 46%, Canada 17%, Colombia 5%, Argentina 4%, Puerto Rico 3%</td><td><a href="https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/noticias/turismo-cierra-el-2024-como-el-mejor-ano-de-la-historia-y-proyecta-un-2025-aun-superior/">MITUR via Presidencia (2025)</a></td></tr> <tr><td>Cabo Rojo (Pedernales) target</td><td>About 2,000 rooms and 15,000 jobs by the end of the current administration</td><td><a>Presidencia (2025)</a></td></tr> <tr><td>Natural hazard cost</td><td>About 0.4% of GDP lost per year to extreme natural hazards</td><td><a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/06/06/banco-mundial-apoyara-crecimiento-sostenible-resiliente-republica-dominicana">World Bank (2024)</a></td></tr> </tbody></table> <h2>Tourism concentration</h2> <p>According to the Ministry of Tourism, the country received 8,535,742 air tourists and 2,656,305 cruise passengers in 2024, for 11,192,047 visitors in total <a href="https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/noticias/turismo-cierra-el-2024-como-el-mejor-ano-de-la-historia-y-proyecta-un-2025-aun-superior/">(MITUR, 2025)</a>. The Central Bank reports a very similar air-arrival figure, 8,535,701 non-resident passengers, which includes non-resident Dominicans <a href="https://cdn.bancentral.gov.do/documents/publicaciones-economicas/informe-del-flujo-turistico/documents/informe_turistico2024-12.pdf">(Banco Central, 2024 report)</a>. Small differences between agencies come from definitions and preliminary data.</p> <p>The concentration is the key point for an investor. Punta Cana airport handled 59% of tourist arrivals in 2024 according to the same MITUR release, far ahead of any other gateway. The east (La Altagracia, including Bávaro and Cap Cana) is therefore the deepest and most liquid resort market, but also the one most exposed to a single airport, a single weather system and a small set of source countries (the United States and Canada together were 63% of tourists in 2024).</p> <p>MITUR's SITUR platform publishes destination reports for <a href="https://situr.mitur.gob.do/informes/destinos/">La Altagracia, La Romana and Samaná (2025 editions)</a>, with occupancy and arrival data. We recommend reading the current edition for any destination before underwriting a project.</p> <h2>Destination by destination</h2> <h3>Punta Cana and Bávaro</h3> <p>The most mature all-inclusive market, served by the country's busiest tourist airport. New supply here is typically branded hotels, residential components and amenities rather than first-generation resorts. Land is scarce in the best beachfront sections, so diligence on title and coastal setbacks matters (see our due diligence checklist).</p> <h3>Cap Cana</h3> <p>A master-planned community at the southern end of the Punta Cana beach area. The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort and Residences opened in May 2025 with 200 rooms and 70 residences according to <a href="https://dr1.com/news/2025/05/13/president-abinader-inaugurates-st-regis-cap-cana-resort-residences/">DR1 (2025)</a>. Reported investment differs by source: DR1 cites US$220 million, while the securities regulator speaks of a total investment above US$300 million, of which about US$132.8 million was raised through the securities market <a href="https://simv.gob.do/mercado-de-valores-viabiliza-inversion-historica-en-el-nuevo-hotel-st-regis-cap-cana/">(SIMV, 2025)</a>. We treat both as indicative only.</p> <h3>La Romana</h3> <p>La Romana has a small airport share (1% of tourists in 2024) but is a resort and residential destination around Casa de Campo and the Bayahibe area, and is reached largely by road from Punta Cana and Santo Domingo airports. SITUR publishes a dedicated <a href="https://situr.mitur.gob.do/informes/destinos/">La Romana destination report (2024 and 2025)</a>.</p> <h3>Samaná</h3> <p>Samaná is served by El Catey airport and is known for whale watching in the bay. The Ministry of Environment issues a dedicated thematic authorization for whale-watching boats in the Banco de La Plata and Navidad sanctuary and Samaná Bay <a href="https://ambiente.gob.do/catalogo-servicios/">(Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, service catalogue)</a>, a reminder that tourism here operates inside protected-area rules.</p> <h3>Pedernales and Cabo Rojo (south-west)</h3> <p>This is the government-led destination. The Cabo Rojo cruise port opened in January 2024 and had received more than 19,600 cruise passengers by January 2025 <a href="https://www.presidencia.gob.do/seccion/proyecto-de-desarrollo-turistico-de-pedernales">(Presidencia, 2025)</a>. In July 2025 the director of the Pro-Pedernales trust said the first three hotels would open gradually in 2026 and that the destination would reach about 2,000 rooms by the end of the administration <a>(Presidencia, 2025)</a>. A wastewater treatment plant, with a stated investment of RD$1,304 million, was inaugurated in August 2025 <a href="https://www.presidencia.gob.do/noticias/presidente-abinader-inaugura-innovadora-planta-de-tratamiento-en-cabo-rojo-para-seguir">(Presidencia, 2025)</a>.</p> <p>On the airport, a May 2026 official statement describes the Cabo Rojo International Airport as in construction, with runway paving under way and operations planned for February of the following year, and hotel openings expected during 2027 <a>(Presidencia, 2026)</a>. Note that these timelines have moved between official statements, which is normal for infrastructure and a reason to build slippage into any model.</p> <h2>Publicly announced pipeline</h2> <p>At Fitur 2024 the Ministry of Tourism announced 19 new hotel projects over three years, about 9,135 rooms and an estimated US$3,500 million of investment across several tourism poles <a href="https://www.presidencia.gob.do/noticias/republica-dominicana-cierra-en-fitur-con-nuevas-inversiones-por-mas-de-3000-millones-de">(Presidencia, 2024)</a>. These are announcements and targets, not completed investments. Always ask a promoter for the permit status, financing and construction progress of the specific project.</p> <h2>Risks to underwrite</h2> <table><thead><tr><th>Risk</th><th>What to check</th></tr></thead><tbody> <tr><td>Hurricanes and storms</td><td>The World Bank states the country loses about 0.4% of GDP a year to extreme natural hazards and expects more intense tropical storms <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/06/06/banco-mundial-apoyara-crecimiento-sostenible-resiliente-republica-dominicana">(2024)</a>. Check building codes, wind and flood design, and insurance terms including deductibles.</td></tr> <tr><td>Climate and tourism demand</td><td>The World Bank climate report flags tourism, coasts and infrastructure as exposed by 2050 <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/lac-green-growth-leading-the-change-we-need/dominican-republic">(Country Climate and Development Report, 2023)</a>.</td></tr> <tr><td>Water and wastewater</td><td>Confirm potable water supply and wastewater treatment for the project. Cabo Rojo built a treatment plant before opening hotels, which is the standard to ask for elsewhere.</td></tr> <tr><td>Environmental permits</td><td>Projects need an environmental authorization under Law 64-00, in categories A to D <a href="https://ambiente.gob.do/autorizaciones-ambientales-4/">(Ministerio de Medio Ambiente)</a>. Verify the resolution and its conditions.</td></tr> <tr><td>Single-airport dependence</td><td>Over half of tourists use Punta Cana airport. Disruption there affects the whole east coast.</td></tr> <tr><td>Title and coastal land</td><td>Obtain a Registro de Títulos certification of legal status (<a href="https://ri.gob.do/wp-content/uploads/Tramites/DNRT/CERTIFICACION_DEL_ESTADO_JURIDICO_DEL_INMUEBLE.pdf">RD$1,000 fee, 45 business days stated, 2024 form</a>).</td></tr> </tbody></table> <h2>Practical next steps</h2> <ol><li>Pick the destination thesis (mature east coast, residential Cap Cana, or early-stage south-west) and its time horizon.</li> <li>Read the latest SITUR destination report and MITUR monthly statistics.</li> <li>Request the project's permits, title certification and financing structure, and review them with local counsel.</li> <li>Stress-test the model for a storm season, construction delays and a softer US market.</li> <li>Speak to us: project owners can start at <a href="https://dominicaninvesting.com/for-projects">dominicaninvesting.com/for-projects</a>, and investors at <a href="https://dominicaninvesting.com/for-investors">dominicaninvesting.com/for-investors</a>.</li></ol> <blockquote><p>This guide is general information based on public sources. It is not investment, tax or legal advice and does not promise any return. Consult qualified Dominican counsel before committing capital.</p></blockquote> <h2>Sources</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/noticias/turismo-cierra-el-2024-como-el-mejor-ano-de-la-historia-y-proyecta-un-2025-aun-superior/">Ministerio de Turismo: Turismo cierra el 2024 como el mejor año de la historia (January 2025)</a></li> <li><a href="https://cdn.bancentral.gov.do/documents/publicaciones-economicas/informe-del-flujo-turistico/documents/informe_turistico2024-12.pdf">Banco Central RD: Informe del flujo turístico, December 2024 (2025)</a></li> <li><a href="https://situr.mitur.gob.do/informes/destinos/">SITUR MITUR: Informes de destino (2024 and 2025)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.presidencia.gob.do/seccion/proyecto-de-desarrollo-turistico-de-pedernales">Presidencia: Proyecto de Desarrollo Turístico de Pedernales (2025)</a></li> <li><a>Presidencia: Ministro Freund, Cabo Rojo (July 2025)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.presidencia.gob.do/noticias/presidente-abinader-inaugura-innovadora-planta-de-tratamiento-en-cabo-rojo-para-seguir">Presidencia: planta de tratamiento en Cabo Rojo (August 2025)</a></li> <li><a>Presidencia: Aeropuerto Internacional Cabo Rojo (May 2026)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.presidencia.gob.do/noticias/republica-dominicana-cierra-en-fitur-con-nuevas-inversiones-por-mas-de-3000-millones-de">Presidencia: Fitur 2024 results (2024)</a></li> <li><a href="https://simv.gob.do/mercado-de-valores-viabiliza-inversion-historica-en-el-nuevo-hotel-st-regis-cap-cana/">Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores: St. Regis Cap Cana (2025)</a></li> <li><a href="https://dr1.com/news/2025/05/13/president-abinader-inaugurates-st-regis-cap-cana-resort-residences/">DR1: St. Regis Cap Cana inauguration (2025), news report</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/06/06/banco-mundial-apoyara-crecimiento-sostenible-resiliente-republica-dominicana">World Bank: Sustainable and Resilient Growth project (2024)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/lac-green-growth-leading-the-change-we-need/dominican-republic">World Bank: Dominican Republic Climate and Development Report (2023)</a></li> <li><a href="https://ambiente.gob.do/autorizaciones-ambientales-4/">Ministerio de Medio Ambiente: Autorizaciones ambientales</a></li> <li><a href="https://ambiente.gob.do/catalogo-servicios/">Ministerio de Medio Ambiente: Catálogo de servicios (2023)</a></li> <li><a href="https://ri.gob.do/wp-content/uploads/Tramites/DNRT/CERTIFICACION_DEL_ESTADO_JURIDICO_DEL_INMUEBLE.pdf">Registro Inmobiliario: Certificación del estado jurídico del inmueble</a></li> </ul>