Gastronomic growth: Opening of new restaurants outpaces closures in the Dominican Republic
The tourism and gastronomic sector of the Dominican Republic is going through a moment of notable expansion. Juan Bancalari, president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores), revealed that the opening of new food establishments exceeds the rate of closures in the country by 2.5 times, consolidating gastronomy as a fundamental pillar of the national tourism offer.
During the inauguration of the XXXVIII Asonahores 2026 Trade Fair, Bancalari detailed that the sector is recording a 14.9% growth in the opening of new restaurants, while the rate of business closures remains at 5.8%. This dynamism is especially visible in Santo Domingo, where 68 new openings were recorded in the last year.
We have 2.5 times more new restaurant openings, which reflects an extremely favorable behavior and sustained development closely linked to the boom of tourism in our nation.
Juan Bancalari, president of Asonahores
Tourism: Engine of the Dominican economy
Beyond the hotel industry, tourism functions as an engine that energizes the entire productive chain of the country. According to the figures presented by Asonahores, the tourism industry demands local goods and services worth more than 200 billion pesos annually. This economic flow directly benefits strategic sectors such as:
- Food and beverages.
- Insurance sector.
- Manufacturing and furniture.
- Specialized services.
Bancalari emphasized that this business ecosystem allows suppliers, hoteliers, and various economic actors to establish strategic alliances. The XXXVIII Asonahores Trade Fair 2026, held from September 2 to 4 at BlueMall Punta Cana, serves as the main stage for this commercial exchange, bringing together more than 300 stands with the goal of fostering the industry’s continuous growth.
This event is consolidated as a key platform to demonstrate how tourism transcends its traditional borders to become the main axis of the Dominican economy.
