Dominican Republic Expands Tourism with New Punta Cana Routes and Samaná Port
Dominican Republic · Tourism
Key Facts
—New Air Links Low-cost carrier Arajet has applied to serve Guatemala from Punta Cana, part of a planned 19-route expansion that would make Punta Cana a key secondary hub for the Americas.
—Samaná Cruise Terminal Opens Vice President Raquel Peña inaugurated the US$22 million Samaná Bayport, allowing massive cruise ships to dock directly at Santa Bárbara de Samaná instead of ferrying passengers.
—Business Expo Returns Asonahores’ 38th Tourism Trade Show will bring more than 300 exhibitors to BlueMall Punta Cana in September 2026, connecting local producers with the country’s fastest-growing industry.
—Seawalk Technology Samaná Bayport is only the second destination in the Caribbean to use a Seawalk floating pier, enabling it to handle a single ship of up to 5,000 passengers directly alongside.
—Airline Growth Signals Demand Arajet transported over 1.5 million passengers in 2025, with connecting traffic surpassing 200,000, demonstrating strong demand for hub-and-spoke travel through Dominican airports.
The Dominican Republic tourism infrastructure push is accelerating with Arajet’s proposed Guatemala-Punta Cana route and the inauguration of Samaná Bayport’s first phase.
Arajet’s Guatemala-Punta Cana Plans Signal a New Hub
Low-cost carrier Arajet is preparing to expand its presence far beyond its current Santo Domingo hub. The airline has applied to the Dominican Republic’s civil aviation authority, the Junta de Aviación Civil (JAC), for the rights to fly 19 international routes from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). That application list includes Guatemala among destinations such as Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Lima, and São Paulo.
Samaná Bayport Welcomes Cruise Ships Directly to Town
The Samaná Peninsula’s long wait for a modern docking facility ended on Saturday, 11 April 2026. Vice President Raquel Peña, alongside Tourism Minister David Collado and Port Authority executive director Jean Luis Rodríguez, cut the ribbon on the first phase of Samaná Bayport. The US$22 million private investment, developed by the Consorcio Temarsam led by businessman Alexander Schad, now allows cruise ships to tie up directly at the waterfront in Santa Bárbara de Samaná.
Major Business Expo to Showcase Tourism Momentum
The country’s main tourism business event is returning to the east. The Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores) will host its 38th annual Tourism Trade Show from 2 to 4 September 2026 at BlueMall Punta Cana. The event gathers more than 300 exhibitors, from food and beverage companies to financial institutions and energy solutions firms, making it a barometer of investment confidence.
Why This Matters for Investors and Residents
These parallel developments—air connectivity, port infrastructure, and business networking—represent a deliberate strategy to extend the geographic and economic reach of tourism. For a foreign investor or expat resident, the push means better physical infrastructure and easier travel. Arajet’s low-cost model directly challenges legacy carriers on price, while its Punta Cana base can connect to major South and North American cities.
A Coordinated Push Across Air and Sea
This tourism infrastructure effort is not isolated to one building or one airline. The Dominican Port Authority is simultaneously overseeing the development of Port Samaná at Arroyo Barril, set to open on 24 November 2026. That project, led by Mexico’s ITM Group, aims for 1 million passengers annually by 2030 and has already confirmed a visit by the Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, in May 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the Arajet Guatemala-Punta Cana route been officially launched?
Not yet. Arajet has applied to the Junta de Aviación Civil for rights to serve 19 international destinations from Punta Cana, and Guatemala is on that proposed list. The airline plans to open a base at Punta Cana International Airport in November to support these routes.
What is the investment size of the Samaná Bayport cruise terminal?
The total private investment for the Samaná Bayport project is US$22 million. Local television reports indicate the recently inaugurated first phase alone represents roughly 10 million dollars of that total.
When and where is the next major Asonahores business event in Punta Cana?
The 38th Asonahores Tourism Trade Show will take place from 2 to 4 September 2026 at BlueMall Punta Cana. It will host more than 300 exhibitors covering technology, food services, and financial solutions for the hospitality industry.
Sources: Vice President Raquel Peña inaugurates first phase of Samaná Bayport, Asonahores announces 2026 Tourism Trade Show in Punta Cana, Arajet seeks to add nearly 20 international routes from Punta Cana, Arajet consolidates the Dominican Republic as the new air hub of the Americas, This is what Samaná Bayport, the modern cruise terminal, will look like, Port Samaná to open 24 November 2026
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