The Dominican Republic has shown significant progress in its preparation in Information and Communication Technologies (TIC), positioning itself as a key catalyst for the development and competitiveness of the country’s tourism sector, according to the technology entrepreneur Arturo López Valerio.
And the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024, published by the World Economic Forum, places the Dominican Republic in 64th place with an overall score of 3.88, reflecting an improvement of 1.8% compared to previous evaluations. . The report highlights that, although progress has been made, there are still key areas that require attention to strengthen the country’s tourism competitiveness.
He emphasizes that ICT preparation is essential for the development of tourism, since it facilitates the digitalization of services, improves the visitor experience and optimizes the operations of tourism companies, during a participation broadcast in the program “El Matutino de La 91FM” .
In the TTDI 2024, the Dominican Republic obtained a score of 5.83 in the ICT Readiness pillar, highlighting the importance of expanding online access, mobile network coverage and the use of digital payments in the country. Since 2019, scores in this pillar have increased by 7.2% globally, reflecting a positive trend towards the digitalization of tourism services.
Comparing with other Latin American nations, the Dominican Republic is below some countries such as Costa Rica (5.68) and Panama (4.85), but above Jamaica (6.17) and Trinidad and Tobago (4.02). This indicates that, although the Dominican Republic has made progress in its ICT readiness, there is still room for improvement relative to its more advanced regional peers.
The technology entrepreneur highlighted that ICT development has been crucial for the Dominican Republic, facilitating access to new markets through online reservation platforms, digital payments and mobile applications. The infrastructure not only improves operational efficiency, but also boosts visitor engagement and data collection on consumer preferences, critical for more effective marketing strategies.
López Valerio emphasized the need to continue investing in ICT to maintain and improve tourism competitiveness both regionally and globally. Improvement in ICT will not only strengthen the country’s tourism industry, but will also contribute to overall economic development, enabling greater digital inclusion and access to economic opportunities for local people.
Additionally, the report suggests that price competitiveness, including the Hotel price index and fuel price levels, is critical to maintaining the attractiveness of the Dominican Republic as a competitive tourist destination. Air and land transportation infrastructure, as well as tourism services, are also critical aspects that affect the country’s capacity
The TTDI 2024 analysis highlights that the Dominican Republic has a solid foundation in terms of natural resources and environmental sustainability. However, it must focus on improving its tourism infrastructure, strengthening health and safety conditions, and more effectively promoting its cultural and natural resources to improve its competitiveness in the global tourism market.
