10 million annual visitors by the year 2023 – that is the target that the Dominican Republic has set for its tourism sector. Currently, this beautiful Island nation leads the Caribbean when it comes to visitor volumes. About 6 million people now visit the Caribbean paradise each year, and almost 3 million of these visitors are Americans. So, is it safe to travel to the Dominican Republic and if so, what do you need to know?
Is It Safe to Visit the Dominican Republic?
Currently, the Dominican Republic is ranked as the 76th safest country in the world to visit (the U.S.A is ranked 49th). Of course, as is the case with most countries, there are urban areas in this beautiful island nation where petty theft and crime thrives. Certain pockets of cities such as Santiago and Santa Domingo are rife with crime where tourists make for prime targets.
However, as a tourist, there is a good chance that you will not be spending most of your time in these areas anywhere. Most tourists spend their time in the hotels and resorts that are found on the East side of the Island and here the only major risk to your health is a sunburn if you are not careful.
For a country that so heavily relies on tourism, you would be right to assume that the government has put measures into place to ensure that this lucrative resource is not threatened by crime. In keeping with that, the Dominican people, in general, have been known to be quite friendly and welcoming to tourists. While there are excellent world-class offerings at the huge resorts and hotels, there are also plenty of attractions and amenities geared towards accommodating backpackers as well.
The country has plenty of sleepy, beach-side villages, wonderful trekking opportunities and amazing watersport options for anyone looking to partake. It truly is a small piece of paradise. So, why is there concern about its safety?
American Deaths in the Dominican Republic
It’s true that every destination, especially popular tourist destinations such as the Dominican Republic will have some level of tourist-centered crime associated with it. In many cases, these crimes fall under the “petty” umbrella. You can find things like thefts, muggings, and exorbitant prices.
There are, however, some major crimes that tend to occur. When you start hearing crimes such as murder and manslaughter associated with destinations, people start paying close attention to how safe that place really is to visit. Such is the case with the Dominican Republic.
Despite being ranked as the 76th safest destination in the world, there have recently been a number of American deaths under suspicious circumstances in this beautiful nation.
The most recent report from the State Department confirmed that a health American died in the Dominican Republic as recently as the 25th of June, 2019. That unfortunate death raised the number of U.S citizen deaths in the Dominican Republic to 11 in 2019.
This news has the American tourist community so shook that Delta Airlines announced that it would allow its passengers who had booked flights to Punta Cana to either reschedule or cancel their flights.
What are Some of the Causes of American Deaths in the Dominican Republic?
While it is logical to assume that these deaths may have happened in “unsafe” parts of the country as a result of muggings gone wrong, the truth is that most, if not all these deaths occurred in all-inclusive resorts. The one place you would think tourist are at their safest.
The State Department has confirmed that most of these deaths were due to heart attacks, pulmonary edemas, and apparent natural causes.
Three tourists died at the Bahia Principe Hotel in La Romana from respiratory failure. Many tourists have claimed that they were poisoned by drinks in this very resort chain leading investigators to suspect foul play. There has also been one report of a tourist being brutally attacked at a different hotel.
According to the State Department, there were 13 American deaths in the Dominican Republic in 2018:
- 4 cases of accidental drowning
- 4 cases of car-related accidents
- 2 homicides
- 1 suicide
- 1 undisclosed incident
The State Department went on to state that despite these deaths, there hasn’t been an uptick in the number of US citizen deaths in the island nation. Which means that this isn’t exactly a crime spree or dangerous trend of which visitors need to be wary.
Department of State Travel Advisory
In April, 2019, the State Department issued a Level 2 advisory for the Dominican Republic and advised U.S citizen to exercise increased caution when traveling to this gorgeous island nation due to crime.
However, the State Department hasn’t issued any travel advisory in view of the recent American deaths in the republic. Both the Dominican Republic’s local authorities and U.S authorities haven’t found any connection in these recent deaths but are closely monitoring the situation.
Americans, however, are opting to carry their own drinks when visiting the Dominican Republic due to recent reports of tourists being poisoned by drinks in some of the best all-inclusive resorts on the island.
Safety Tips for Visiting the Dominican Republic
As is the case with most popular destinations, the Dominican Republic has its share of criminals. As such, it’s best to observe some safety precautions whenever you are visiting the island nation or any other tourist destinations in general. Here are some safety tips for visiting the Dominican Republic:
- Do not walk alone at night
- Don’t flash your cash, jewelry or valuable possession, especially when touring the urban areas
- Only change your money at your Hotel’s official money exchange or at a bank.
- Keep your valuables such as your travel papers safe (preferably in your hotel safe or with the hotel manager if you must)
- Practice extra caution and care if you are going to be touring near or crossing the Haitian border
- Should you be unfortunate enough to get robbed or mugged, don’t resist. That only leads to aggressive behavior and unfortunate outcomes
- Only drink brand beer and beverages from trustworthy vendors
There is always going to be a risk associated with human interaction in any location. The Dominican Republic is safe to visit, but you still need to practice common sense and caution.