Dominican Republic Launches First Tourism Fair in Toronto to Boost Canadian Visits

República Dominicana has launched its first dedicated tourism fair in Canada, aiming to surpass the current benchmark of 1.3 million annual visitors from that market. The "Meet Paradise Canadá 2026" event, held at Toronto’s Enercare Centre, gathered over 480 travel agents and industry representatives to strengthen commercial ties and promote diverse Dominican destinations.

Strategic Expansion

Minister of Tourism David Collado emphasized that Canada remains the country’s second-largest tourist source market. He highlighted a monthly growth rate of approximately 30% for Canadian arrivals this year, signaling strong momentum. The government is leveraging geopolitical shifts, noting that difficulties in Cuba are creating opportunities to attract Canadian travelers to alternative Caribbean destinations like the Dominican Republic. Collado stated, "This is something historic... Never had a country held a fair exclusively for the Dominican Republic in Canada."

Diversified Offerings

The promotion moves beyond traditional beach tourism. Presentations showcased Punta Cana, Cap Cana, Puerto Plata, and the Colonial Zone, alongside gastronomy, sports, religious, and luxury tourism options. Aguie Lendor, Executive Vice President of Asonahores, noted that Canadian tourists increasingly seek experiences in the Colonial Zone driven by food and sports. Thirty companies supported the initiative, which aims to become an annual fixture.

Air Connectivity

Arajet CEO Víctor Pacheco underscored the airline’s role in facilitating this growth. Arajet operates four weekly flights each to Montreal and Toronto, having seen a 50% passenger increase in Canada last month. The carrier plans to expand frequencies from four to six weekly flights soon, while also positioning itself as a connector between Canada and South American hubs such as Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Peru.

• Event Scale: Over 480 travel agents attended the inaugural fair in Toronto Source: El Día.
• Growth Metrics: Canadian arrivals show ~30% monthly growth; Arajet saw 50% passenger rise Source: Hoy.
• Market Position: Canada is the Dominican Republic’s second-largest tourist source Source: Listín Diario.
• Future Plans: Arajet intends to increase weekly flights to Canada from four to six Source: Hoy.