Cruise has been the fastest growing segment of tourism in Dominican Republic in recent years. The country is included in the itineraries of no fewer than 16 cruise lines - including Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line, AIDA, Norwegian Cruise Line, CostaCruceros and Celebrity Cruises -receiving more than 400 calls to its ports annually. Alan Lam reports.

According to the Republic’s central bank figures, the segment enjoys the highest growth rate in recent years and among the best projections for the coming ones. The economic impact of cruise is all too apparent: it represents roughly about 10% of the four million annual tourists to the country.

The Republic is not just a point of transit for cruise tourists; about 95.9% of the passengers disembark at its ports in order to visit its sites and attractions. According to a research carried out by Business Research and Economic Advisors, there has been a significant increase in on-shore spending by these passengers.

“The cruise industry is very important for us because of its economic impacts to our country,” said MagalyToribio, Marketing Advisor of Ministry of Tourism. “The growth in maritime tourism demonstrates that our ports are well prepared to receive huge number of cruise tourists during high seasons.”

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas is scheduled to make a call at Bahía Samanásoon.

In Bahía de Maimón, a new passenger terminal is under construction, due to complete in 2015. It will be the most modern terminal in the Caribbean and it expects to welcome 250,000 cruise tourists during the first year of operation.

The first two cruise ships to call at the island in 2015 will bring in about 11,000 tourists. The Ministry of Tourism vowed to maintain its effort in attracting cruise ships to the Republic.