Tourism to Dominican Republic is on the increase this year, speaking at the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) in Punta Cana, DR Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia who said that tourism has increased every month since September last year.

Focussing on recent growth, Garcia said that tourism was up 3.2 percent in March (including a 12 percent increase in U.S. visitors), 2.14 percent in February and nearly six percent in January.

“Visits to the DR held steady throughout the global economic crisis and recent data shows a continued and increasing surge of arrivals since last fall. Our strong marketing outreach and continued investment in DR tourism infrastructure has built momentum from our key markets and is creating new markets,” he said.

The Dominican Republic property market has always been fuelled by the country’s potential for tourism growth in tandem with the low prices of property, which are the lowest in the Caribbean. Before the financial crisis deals offering 12% rental yields were not uncommon in the Dominican Republic, including several key-ready apartment-hotels.

The Ministry of Tourism used the event as a staging ground to underscore its commitment to developing the island’s infrastructure, including an announcement that $12 million is to be invested into 58 new projects, including the Atlantic Boulevard in Puerto Plata to connect the North Coast to the Samana Peninsula, refurbishments of major highways and roads, and improving accessibility into the 8 airports.

In today’s world — where buyers are doing their own extensive research — the government of an emerging market’s commitment to developing its infrastructure is an important part of people’s decision of whether or not the location is suitable for a property purchase.