Nestled in the Atlantic Ocean, the Dominican Republic nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, it offers travelers a tropical oasis to experience some of the world’s best beaches, fabulous resorts, and numerous recreational and entertainment options.
However, visiting the Dominican Republic is sometimes not just about exploring a tropical paradise. If travelers are not careful, they could fall victim to a violent crime or island scam.
As of February 1, 2023, the United States Department of State lists the Dominican Republic as one Warning level 2where travelers should be extra careful because of violent crimes, such as armed robbery, assault or murder.
Suggested: Mexico Travel Advisory 2023
Which areas of the Dominican Republic are dangerous for tourists?
Over the years, professional tourist police, the establishment of a 911 system, and many resources available in resort areas have made it safer for tourists to visit most resort areas. Still, it’s vital to exercise caution when considering travel to urban areas.
High-crime areas in the capital of Santa Domingo includes Arroyo Hondo, Cristo Ray, Gazcue, Naco and Villa Argrola. These areas are best avoided due to the high rate of thefts, robberies and murders.
La Duarte, a street in Santa Domingo, is very busy and chaotic, making it one of the riskier streets to visit.
Important safety tips when traveling to the Dominican Republic
Here are a few tips to help travelers keep themselves safe while visiting the Dominican Republic:
- Read the State Department’s warning before planning a trip.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for alerts and to make it easier to locate a traveler in an emergency.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Don’t walk alone, especially at night.
- Do not leave bags unattended, especially on the beach.
- Do not leave drinks unattended.
- Hand over items if robbed; do not risk further injury.
- Avoid showing signs of wealth.
- Follow the advice of resort and tour guides.
- Stay at your resort unless you are traveling on a tour booked at your resort.
- Prepare a contingency plan in case of an emergency.
LATEST UPDATES / NEWS from the Dominican Republic:
August 17 – The President of the Dominican Republic is determined to reduce crime
In addition to express dissatisfaction with the existing state of civil security in the Dominican Republic, President Luis Abinader noted that efforts are being made to reduce crime indicators. He pointed out that crime, unemployment and the high cost of living have been citizens’ main concerns for the past 30 years.
According to Abinader, the number of thefts and robberies has decreased in recent years, partly due to the successful measures taken by the government. He emphasized that social discord or violence between acquaintances is responsible for a large proportion of murders rather than criminal activity.
Despite these obstacles, the president is determined to implement policies that increase the security of citizens and improve the standard of living of Dominicans in general.
June 6 – Dominican Republic sets new tourism milestones with unprecedented growth
According to current statistics from the Ministry of Tourism, the Dominican Republic’s already impressive tourism story will get even better in 2023.
A record in the history of Dominican tourism, the Dominican Republic recorded 621,575 visitors in May for a total of nearly 3.38 million visitors in the first five months of the year.
That was just the last popular number for the Caribbean’s most popular destination, up 11% from May 2022 and up 18% from May 2019, before the pandemic began.
June 8 – The United States Department of State updates travel advisory for the Dominican Republic
On Tuesday, the State Department issued a travel advice for Americans considering a visit to the Dominican Republic, a popular Caribbean destination, due to an increase in violent crime and incidents of sexual assault.
The advisory issued is at yellow flag level two and recommends travelers “exercise greater caution” if they plan to visit this Caribbean hot spot.
According to the ministry, there are concerns about violent crime, including armed robbery, murder and assault, throughout the Dominican Republic. The advisory points out that the wide availability of guns, the use and trafficking of illicit drugs, as well as a weak criminal justice system, contribute to the country’s overall high crime rate.
Most common tourist traps and scams in the Dominican Republic
Millions of tourists visit the Dominican Republic every year. Unfortunately, although the idea is to have a quiet beach holiday, many criminals are waiting for an unwitting tourist to fall victim to one of their many scams.
One of the most common scams is the airport taxi scam, where the taxi that takes travelers from the airport to their resort does not turn on the meter and, regardless of the distance, can charge exorbitant amounts for the short journey. It is best to book ground transportation through a travel agency, tour operator or resort.
City taxis operate similarly to airport taxis where they tend to overcharge for the trip and expect the unwitting traveler to pay the fee.
Similarly, the Uber scam is one where the driver claims the app is not working properly, and the passenger has to pay cash for the ride, and the fee is much higher than what the charges would have been through the app.
Finally, the camera scam is where a local hands a tourist his camera and asks him to take a picture. When the camera is then returned, they drop it, blame the traveler and insist he pay for the damage.
The best thing to do in this situation is not to assume anything that is handed to you, and if you get something in your hand, place it on the floor and walk on.
Frequently Asked Questions about safe travel to the Dominican Republic
Is Punta Cana safe to visit?
Punta Cana is one of the safest places to visit in the Dominican Republic and is one of the most visited areas, with many safe resorts.
In addition, the presence of the tourist police is relatively high in this part of the Dominican Republic.
Is it safe to stay at a resort in the Dominican Republic?
One of the safest places for tourists to stay when visiting the Dominican Republic is at their resorts. Most resorts use private security and the tourist police make regular visits to the resorts.
When staying at the resort, the risk of becoming a victim of criminal activity or assault is much lower than exploring public attractions, nearby neighborhoods, or city centers.
Archive updates:
April 21 – Dominican Republic breaks records for tourist arrivals in the first quarter
The Dominican Republic continued it good start to 2022, setting a new record for the first three months of the year.
The Caribbean hotspot attracted 2,076,171 visitors in the first quarter, a new record.
That was 11% more than the previous high for 2019, including a hot March with 740,324 aircraft arrivals, up 10% from 2019, according to David Collado, the Dominican Republic’s tourism minister.
The Dominican Republic also reported 280,247 cruise passengers in March.
The numbers are “never seen before,” Collado said.
March 17 – The PGA Tour Corales Puntacana Tournament confirms the Dominican Republic as a golf destination.
Grupo Puntacana has announced the 6th edition of the Corales Puntacana Championship PGA Tour event, which will take place at the Corales Golf Course from March 20 to 26, 2023.
The sporting event includes $3.8 million in prize money, amounting to 300 FedExCup points, the highest in Dominican sporting history, with 120 players from 20 countries and five continents participating.
“The Corales Puntacana Championship has become a flagship event for Puntacana Resort & Club. It fills us with joy and pride to continue the tradition of celebrating a unique sporting event in the country, which also globally promotes the Dominican Republic and Punta Cana as a leading golf destination in the Caribbean,” said Francesca Rainieri, Chief Financial Officer (CFO). ) of Grupo Puntacana.
February 20 – The return of the International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress is held in the Dominican Republic in November
The “VI International Congress of Health and Welfare Tourism”, which will take place on November 1 and 2 this year at the JW Marriott Hotel in Santo Domingo, was announced by Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso, president of the Dominican Association of Health Tourism (ADTS), and Amelia Reyes Mora, president of AF Strategic Communication.
“The activity includes major conferences and panels with renowned national and international speakers, targeting the industry’s top players such as health centers, dentistry, clinical and pharmaceutical laboratories, hotels, insurers, banks, investment funds, investments, airlines, medical facilitators, government, transportation, legal advisors, accreditors, among others,” said Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso.
“This international congress provides a platform for cross-sectoral integration, innovation, networking, business development and investment opportunities, and public-private synergies at the local and international levels,” said Amelia Reyes Mora.
