dominican republic tourist accident

11 U.S. Tourists Have Died in the Dominican Republic in 2019. Should You Cancel Your Trip?

T he State Department confirmed to TIME that 46-year-old Denver resident, Khalid Adkins, died in the Dominican Republic on June 25, raising the number of U.S. tourist deaths in the Caribbean country in 2019 to 11.

Amid the headlines about tourist deaths, Delta Airlines announced it would allow passengers with tickets to Punta Cana, where at least three U.S. tourists have died––to cancel or reschedule their flights “due to recent events.”

Delta passengers who purchased tickets to Punta Cana airport before June 21 have until Aug. 15 to reschedule their flights to any date on or before Nov. 20, without being charged a change fee.

Passengers who choose to cancel their flights entirely have a year from the booking date to use the credits.

Last week, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino announced it would be removing liquor dispensers from all guest rooms at the Punta Cana location, along with other safety measures. In a statement, the hotel clarified that it was doing this based on “guest feedback” and to “enhance safety moving forward,” not due to reports that some U.S. tourist deaths may have been caused by tainted alcohol. Neither U.S. nor Dominican officials have confirmed reports that authorities were investigating tainted alcohol.

According to Hard Rock, in addition to removing the liquor dispensers, all alcohol on the property will be brand-name and sourced from the U.S. except speciality drinks from the Dominican Republic, including Presidente beer.

Additionally, Hard Rock’s Punta Cana location will hire a U.S.-based healthcare facility and will contract a U.S.-based 3rd party testing lab to inspect and test all food and beverages.

The headlines about American tourists dying and have fueled speculation among travelers that the Caribbean country is an unsafe destination for travelers.

Safety concerns began to arise in May, when three seemingly healthy American tourists suddenly died in the same resort within the same week. The FBI has confirmed that it is assisting Dominican police with the investigations. The State Department said there has been no evidence of foul play and no sign that the deaths are connected.

Despite the tragic headlines, safety experts are cautioning travelers not to rush to conclusions. The connections, they say, are not immediately apparent and safety experts in particular say that the country is no more dangerous than it was before. “It’s not an overly dangerous place,” Matthew Bradley, a former CIA agent and current Regional Security Director of International SOS, a travel security company, tells TIME. “I would still consider the Dominican Republic a safe place to go.”

According to the State Department, last year 13 U.S. citizens died while traveling to the Dominican Republic. The number was 17 in 2017. More than 2.7 million U.S. tourists visited the island in 2017, making the island the fourth most popular travel destination for Americans.

In a statement, a State Department spokesperson tells TIME that there has not been an increase in the reported deaths of American tourist in the Dominican Republic.

“We have not seen an uptick in the number of U.S. citizen deaths reported to the Department,” the statement said.

But for those millions of travelers with trips booked, police and resort officials are asking the public to wait for conclusions from investigations before making assumptions — and denying there is anything nefarious at play.

11 American tourists have died in the Dominican Republic this year

This year there have been multiple high-profile cases involving American tourists dying while staying in the Dominican Republic. Seven deaths have been attributed to tourists becoming ill and dying of health related issues.

Khalid Adkins

According to the GoFundMe page started by his sister-in-law, Marla Strick, Adkins traveled to the Dominican Republic with his daughter last week when he suddenly became sick. During his flight back to Colorado on Sunday, Adkins became ill on the plane, vomiting, and was forced to go to a hospital in Santo Domingo.

Strick confirmed Adkins died on Tuesday and his family is raising funds to cover cost for him to return home. As of Thursday, the fundraiser has raised $21,903 out of it’s $20,000 goal.

“We need to get his body home anything helps please!!,” Strick posted. “We really want to know what happened! We just want to get his body home to hopefully get some answers.”

Jerry Curan

Curran, 78, died on Jan . 26 just days after traveling to the DR with his wife, according to NBC affiliate WKYC .

The family is suspicious about the death after Curran threw up and was unresponsive shortly after he and his wife had dinner the night they arrived, WKYC reports.

He was staying at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana.

“We want to find out what happened and why did he die,” Kellie Brown told WKYC.

Jerry Curran’s death certificate says he died Saturday January 26, but his family isn’t sure. https://t.co/qSYajovW0m — First Coast News (@FCN2go) June 14, 2019

Orlando Moore and Portia Ravenelle

In April, the bodies of New York City couple Orlando Moore, 40, and Portia Ravenelle, 52, were found after being reported missing for weeks. Dominican authorities confirmed that the couple died in a car accident in Santo Domingo.

Orlando Moore and his girlfriend, Portia Ravenelle, were supposed to return from the Dominican Republic on March 27. Police confirmed the couple checked out of their hotel, but family members say neither made it on the flight back home. https://t.co/S4UTw47xsw — NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) April 9, 2019

Robert Wallace

Relatives of Wallace, 67, told Fox News that he had died after visiting the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Resort in Punta Cana. His niece Chloe Arnold told Fox that on April 11, Wallace fell ill after having a Scotch from his hotel room’s mini bar. After being checked by a hotel doctor on April 13, Wallace was sent to the hospital where he died on April 14.

Arnold described her uncle as an avid traveler in good health. His obituary says he passed “unexpectedly while vacationing in the Dominican Republic.”

Arnold told Fox that Dominican authorities have not yet confirmed her uncle’s cause of death.

“We have so many questions,” she said. “We don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”

Robert Wallace died three days after falling ill at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in April. https://t.co/zA1s0azGZw — Gage Goulding - KPRC 2 (@GageGoulding) June 11, 2019

Miranda Schaup-Werner

Schaup-Werner, 41, was found unresponsive by hotel staff in her Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville resort hotel room on May 25. According to the hotel, which is located in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican authorities concluded she had suffered a heart attack. In a statement, Bahia Principe said her husband, who Schaup-Werner was traveling with, confirmed she had a history of heart conditions.

Miranda Schaup-Werner, the first of three American tourists to die mysteriously within a week at a Dominican Republic resort, succumbed to a heart attack, the Caribbean island's attorney general said.​ https://t.co/zQa1Knttnl — WTVR CBS 6 Richmond (@CBS6) June 11, 2019

Cynthia Day and Nathaniel Holmes

Five days after the death of Schaup-Werner, Day, 49, and Holmes, 63, a couple from Maryland were found in their hotel rooms, unresponsive. They were staying at the Grand Bahia Principe La Romana, which is less than a mile away from sister resort Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville where Schaup-Werner was staying. The case is still under investigation and there were no signs of violence in the case, according to the resort.

In response to the information that has been circulating in different media outlets regarding the two unfortunate events in the Dominican Republic, Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts would like to clarify the following: pic.twitter.com/Pg8QFmaq1L — BahiaPrincipeHotels (@BahiaPrincipe) June 5, 2019

Leyla Cox, 53, was found dead in her hotel room on June 11 while staying at the Excellence Resort in Punta Cana.

“I am overwhelmed and confused and in shock,” William Cox, 25, Leyla’s son told the Staten Island Advance . “Her birthday was June 9 and she passed away on June 10.”

Leyla Cox, 53, died Tuesday, and another family has reported that their loved one died in the Dominican Republic in January. https://t.co/x7jxoGRtMp — NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) June 14, 2019

Joseph Allen

Allen, a New Jersey native, died while vacationing in the Dominican Republic, a State Department spokesperson confirms to TIME. Allen was found dead in his hotel room at Terra Linda Sosua on June 13, according to WABC in New York .

Jamie Reed, his sister, told WABC that her brother was celebrating a friend’s birthday and regularly visited the area.

“We didn’t think anything of it, because he does this all the time,” she told WABC.

It was really heartbreaking speaking to the family of Joseph Allen just a day after he was found dead. The 8th confirmed American tourist death in the Dominican Republic in the last year. Here's what Joseph's sister Jamie had to say: https://t.co/X5irvKaFzB — Stephanie Wash (@WashNews) June 17, 2019

Vittorio Caruso

Caruso, 56, died on June 17 after staying at the Boca Chica Resort in Santo Domingo.

His family told Fox News that he had been traveling by himself and he was in good health.

His sister-in-law, Lisa Maria Caruso, said Caruso was taken to a hospital in respiratory distress after “drinking something.”

The family is still awaiting autopsy reports but said they have been told “conflicting stories from different people” about the circumstances surrounding Caruso’s death.

Dominican Republic Tourist Deaths: Long Island Community Shocked Over Loss Of Former Pizzeria Owner https://t.co/QG4Zh1B7RB — CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) June 24, 2019

Other high-profile incidents

David Ortiz , the former Red Sox slugger, was ambushed on June 9 while sitting outside a lounge bar in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic’s capital and largest city. Surveillance footage of the attack shows a motorist approaching Ortiz and opening fire, striking the retired baseball star and others in his group.

Dominican authorities on June 17 identified the man they believe paid hit men to try and kill Ortiz, adding that they were closing in on the mastermind and motive behind the shooting, the Associated Press reported. Authorities have 10 people in custody related to the shooting and are looking for at least two others.

Dozens of members of the Central Oklahoma Parrothead Association , a group for fans of Jimmy Buffet and trop rock, say they fell “seriously ill” days into their stay at the Hotel Riu Palace Macao in Punta Cana in April.

Dana Flowers, a member and the travel agent, tells TIME that 47 of the 114 members traveling with the group got sick almost immediately, including him.

“It was as bad as it gets,” he says.”Three days in we started noticing people did not make it to concerts and events, it was then we realized they were all sick. It all happened pretty quickly and in pretty good numbers, it was obvious that something is not right. We all thought it was food poisoning and so we went with that, you know this kind of thing happens occasionally, but then the numbers grew and we knew it was a serious issue.”

Flowers says a few members of the group visited the resort’s doctor who gave patients medication for parasites.

RIU Hotels & Resorts, where the group, stayed tells TIME that doctors at the hotel treated three patients for gastroenteritis and were not able to determine the source of their stomach flu.

How safe is the Dominican Republic?

State Department issued a level two (out of four) safety warning for the Dominican Republic in April 2019. The warning advises travelers exercise increased caution due to violent crime in the country, which include armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault. The State Department says that resort areas tend to be better policed and safer that urban areas for travelers.

Bradley, the International SOS analyst, says there is likely a reasonable explanation for the spate of tourist deaths.

“It’s the mystery around the deaths that is driving the speculation,” he tells TIME. “American tourists pass away frequently around the world, several in a day, it’s not unusual. But it is unusual hearing about Americans passing away abroad without it being something like a terrorist attack. We usually don’t hear about tourists dying of heart attacks or in their sleep, but that happens everyday with tourist traveling abroad, it is nothing unique to the Dominican Republic.”

He says prospective travelers who are concerned about the recent deaths, should make sure they have a plan for what to do if they get ill. Bradley suggests travelers should have the phone number for the best nearby hospitals and should check with their insurance providers to make sure they will be covered while traveling. He says travelers can ask hotels whether they offer on-site medical assistance. Travelers can also make arrangements to get immediate medical care back home if they have to leave unexpectedly.

“I don’t think people should distrust Dominican officials,” he adds. “They’re working with what they have. Like they said, 2 million Americans visit DR (Dominican Republic) every year and only a handful have died.”

Bradley says he would advise anyone worried about traveling to the Dominican Republic to take the same precautions they would when going anywhere else.

“These incidents, while recent, in my mind don’t indicate Dominican Republic is any less safe than it was before,” Bradley says. “I would tell people to continue with trips.”

Considering the level two safety ranking from the State Department, Bradley advises travelers not to go anywhere alone, especially at night. And if you do wander on your own, Bradley says , let a companion know when you plan on returning so they can be aware something is amiss if you do not return. “Travel has risk,” Bradley says. “People should be aware before they travel where they are going and plan accordingly, if they do, they usually travel safely.”

Dr. Robert Quigley, Senior Vice President and Regional Medical Director of International SOS says travelers should take extra precaution with their health when away from home.

He advises travelers to visit a doctor prior to embarking on their trip, especially if they might have a chronic medical condition or cardiovascular disease. Quigley says sleep deprivation and stress can “exacerbate underlying, and sometimes asymptomatic, serious cardiovascular diseases.”

He also advised travelers to pack extra medication in case their trip home is delayed.

Will tourism in the Dominican Republic be affected?

As the stories continue to emerge, some travelers have taken to social media to voice concerns about traveling to the Caribbean country. While officials at the Dominican Ministry of Tourism told TIME they were not able to elaborate on the situation because of the ongoing investigation, Francisco Javier García, the Minister of Tourism for Dominican Republic said that the investigations are not affecting the number of tourist visiting the country.

“These cases are very regrettable, but isolated.” he said at a press conference in June. “Investigation into them is a top priority for us and for the National Police. We are asking them to deploy all resources to help provide answers as quickly as possible.”

He called the Dominican Republic a “tranquil, peaceful destination and the safest in the region,” and said tourists can “be assured that the authorities are working hard to clarify these incidents.”

Despite the reassurance, some travelers are saying the incidents have cast doubt on the safety of the country and are refusing to take a chance.

Until the Dominican Republic can pinpoint what is happening to tourist in their country, please stay out of the DR. If you have a hotel, cancel it. We cannot support a country that is not handling this with the utmost confidence that they will find the person/persons. RT — Macrö (@hayxteci) June 18, 2019

Been contemplating canceling my vacation to the Dominican Republic, but David Ortiz getting shot is the last straw. — Hank Mardukas (@HankMardukas93) June 10, 2019

Correction June 27

The original version of this story misstated the Dominican Republic’s largest city. It is Santo Domingo, not Punta Cana

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Tourist deaths in Dominican Republic were due to natural causes: FBI

The FBI's findings were consistent with what local authorities said.

Toxicology tests done by the FBI have confirmed that three American tourists found dead this spring in the Dominican Republic died of natural causes, the U.S. State Department said.

The results were consistent with the findings of local authorities, according to a statement from the State Department on Friday.

Miranda Schaupp-Werner, 41, from Pennsylvania, was found dead at the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville hotel on May 25.

(MORE: FBI involved in probe of deaths of US citizens at Dominican Republic luxury resorts)

Edward Nathaniel Holmes, 63, and Cynthia Ann Day, 49, a couple from Maryland, were found dead in their hotel room at the Grand Bahia Principe La Romana Resort in San Pedro de Macoris on May 30.

Steven Bullock, a family spokesperson for the Day and Holmes families, said the families have yet to hear any updates from authorities regarding their loved one's deaths.

"The Day and Holmes families have not been provided with any information from the FBI or the Dominican Republic Authorities regarding the deaths," Bullock said in a statement to ABC News. "The only information that has been received by the families is what is being reported in the media. Our investigation is continuing, and we will not have any further comment until we receive the results of our investigation. Thank you."

The FBI was assisting in the probe at the neighboring resorts in the Caribbean nation.

Their deaths were among the first of at least 11 Americans to die in the country in recent months, setting off a flurry of panic as to whether it was safe to visit the Dominican Republic.

(MORE: 11th American to die in Dominican Republic died of 'natural causes,' government says)

The U.S. State Department said back in June that, despite the deaths, it had not seen an "uptick" in fatal incidents.

The spokesperson said that more than 2.7 million U.S. citizens visit the Dominican Republic each year and, as in most countries, "the overwhelming majority travel without incident."

Schaup-Werner died of respiratory failure and pulmonary edema, according to the hotel. An autopsy performed on Holmes and Day determined that they died of the same causes, according to the Dominican Republic National Police.

The families of the three Americans have been informed of the FBI toxicology reports.

ABC News' Stephanie Wash contributed to this report.

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Experts say a wall that collapsed and killed 9 in the Dominican Republic capital was poorly built

Rescue teams work at the place where a wall collapsed at the entrance of a tunnel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. According to Civil Defense at least 9 people were killed when the wall fell down due to heavy rains. ( AP Photo/Eddy Vittini)

Rescue teams carry a deceased person from the place where a wall collapsed at the entrance of a tunnel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. According to Civil Defense at least 9 people were killed when the wall fell down due to heavy rains. (AP Photo/Eddy Vittini)

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SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — A concrete wall along an avenue in the Dominican Republic’s capital that collapsed over the weekend and killed nine people during heavy rains was poorly designed, experts said Monday.

The government of the Caribbean country has come under scrutiny, with experts saying they had warned more than 20 years ago about the wall’s failures and lack of effort to fix them.

“It has weaknesses in the design,” civil engineer Cristian Rojas told The Associated Press. “No anchors were placed, and that is why the wall collapsed.”

Rojas, former president of the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors, said the force of the water in a flooded adjacent avenue, combined with the type of wall that was built, led to the collapse.

Dominican geologist Osiris de Léon recalled that the first warnings about the wall were made more than two decades ago. He posted a story from December 1999 on X, formerly known as Twitter, in which El Siglo newspaper quoted the college recommending that the wall be rebuilt because it was cracked and “it can fall and cause a tragic accident.”

The collapse occurred Saturday in Santo Domingo when a portion of the wall that runs along the heavily transited 27 of February Avenue fell in one piece, crushing cars and their occupants, authorities said.

Among the victims was Puerto Rico prosecutor Michael Orozco, his wife, María Nereida Martínez, and his in-laws, according to Javier Rivera, president of the island’s Association of Prosecutors. Martínez was pregnant.

“Comrade Orozco was living a wonderful personal moment with his family, and as a young, committed lawyer, a promising future awaited him,” Rivera said.

Also killed was Dominican Police Gen. Eduardo Cabrera Castillo, authorities said.

Andrés Matos, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works, rejected accusations that the government did not properly maintain the wall and nearby infrastructure.

“These tunnels and overpasses are given permanent maintenance,” Matos told the AP. He attributed the collapse to other causes but declined to provide details.

“The ministry is ordering a deep, structuralist investigation, which implies that we should not get ahead of the causes,” he said.

The collapse occurred as a tropical disturbance moved through the western Caribbean , battering the Dominican Republic with heavy rains over the weekend. Authorities said at least 24 people died, including those crushed by the wall.

The storm tore tin roofs off hundreds of homes and cut off access to nearly a dozen communities, authorities said.

Officials in neighboring Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, said four people died and another two are missing. Dozens of people remained in shelters after the storm flooded hundreds of homes and cut off several communities, they said.

Associated Press reporter Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed.

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Crisis Hits Dominican Republic Over Deaths of U.S. Tourists

By Simon Romero and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs

• June 23, 2019

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The tourism minister grimaced as he read aloud the causes of death in autopsy reports of the growing number of Americans who have died recently while vacationing in the Dominican Republic: Heart attack. Septic shock. Pneumonia.

More accustomed to ribbon-cutting ceremonies than to grappling with the uproar over Americans turning up dead in their hotel rooms, the minister, Francisco Javier García, insisted that the authorities had nothing to hide.

“There is no mystery whatsoever regarding any of these deaths,” said Mr. García, even as he acknowledged that the F.B.I. was investigating what had happened to a Maryland couple found dead in their room at an all-inclusive resort in La Romana on May 30.

That puzzling episode helped ignite the crisis now encircling the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry, a pillar of the Caribbean country’s economy that employs more than 300,000 people. At least 10 American tourists have died in the country over the past year, and separate reports are emerging of Americans being assaulted at Dominican resorts. Together, the trends cast a harsh light on safety procedures and blundering responses to some incidents involving tourists, even in cases where the victims seem to have died from natural causes.

Hitting back at the alarms raised by relatives of the dead Americans, Dominican officials assert that the number of deaths in recent months is no greater than would be expected statistically in a country visited by more than 2 million Americans each year.

The United States government, which holds remarkable sway in the Dominican Republic compared with some other parts of the Caribbean and Latin America, appears to support the Dominican government’s contention that the alarm over the deaths may be exaggerated.

“We have not seen an uptick in the number of U.S. citizen deaths reported to the Department,” said an official with the State Department, who was not authorized to give their name.

Of the 10 Americans who have died in the Dominican Republic over the last year, six have reportedly died of heart-related conditions, including one whose family said they do not view the death as suspicious. (Cardiovascular problems account for nearly half of all American tourist deaths abroad, according to the Centers for Disease Control.)

Three others, including the Maryland couple, were reported to have had respiratory issues, and one man’s family said he fell ill and died after drinking whisky from a hotel minibar, although Dominican authorities say his death was caused by septic shock, multiple organ failure and pneumonia.

With the latest reports, the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry, and its wager on luring vacationers to colossal all-inclusive resorts, are coming under international glare. These palatial complexes often combine ostentation, minimal contact with local communities and abundant opportunities for overindulgence.

At one resort where two Americans have died, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana, a suite for two goes for about $500 a night. For that price, guests eat all they want, drink all they want, gamble all they want, play golf or water polo or laser tag, even engage in the fantasy of being a guitar-shredding rock star — without ever leaving the resort’s confines.

Despite the concerns over the recent deaths, the Hard Rock was hardly depleted of guests last week. Families from Brazil chatted in Portuguese as they gorged on sirloin in the all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant; Russian-speaking gamblers tested their luck at casino tables near a sequin-adorned stretch limousine that Madonna once used.

Dominicans working at the hotel greeted guests in English while Creole-speaking groundskeepers from Haiti cared for the manicured gardens outside. Several Americans and Canadians guzzled cups of Presidente beer around breakfast time at a beachfront cabana.

“If there’s one thing I know, it’s don’t be guided by fear,” said Marc Purcell, 46, a financial associate from Toronto who was at the Hard Rock with his wife to attend a wedding. They said it was their fourth trip to the Dominican Republic.

“We’re having an amazing time and plan to return,” he said.

Paola Rainieri, president of the Dominican Hotels Association, told reporters this month that the deaths are “isolated cases” and contended that the country is a “safe destination” for all visitors.

Still, the sense of public alarm persisting over the Americans being found dead by hotel employees at not just the Hard Rock, but at various resorts in different parts of the Dominican Republic, has grown to such levels that the F.B.I. has sent in a small team to the country to assist local investigators with toxicological tests.

The F.B.I. investigators are specifically examining the case of the Maryland couple, Nathaniel E. Holmes and Cynthia A. Day, who were found dead in their hotel room at the Grand Bahia Principe hotel in La Romana on May 30. Another American, Miranda Schaup-Werner, 41, of Allentown, Pa., died at the same resort complex on May 25.

Autopsies showed that the deaths of the Maryland couple were a result of respiratory failure brought on by pulmonary edema — fluid in the lungs. But attempts to explain how that happened quickly became confusing. Several bottles of medication were found in their room. The spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, Carlos Suero, told Fox News that Mr. Holmes died first, and Ms. Day died afterward, “probably from the shock of seeing the person beside her dead.”

With questions continuing to swirl, Mr. García, the tourism minister, said in an interview that the authorities were carefully reviewing the deaths in La Romana and that it could take 30 to 40 days for comprehensive toxicology reviews to be completed.

In the meantime, researchers who study human exposure to pesticides and other chemicals said the circumstances of the Maryland couple’s death — in the same room on the same night — increase the likelihood that they died of poisoning or another environmental factor.

“Some of the earlier cases did seem to be consistent with organophosphate poisoning,” said Dana B. Barr, a professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.

Dr. Barr pointed to a case in the United States Virgin Islands in 2015, when a Delaware family of four was seriously injured after being exposed to a pesticide when the apartment below them was fumigated.

In poisoning cases, Dr. Barr said, the problem often stems from the pesticide not being properly contained. The chemicals could seep into a vent that is not adequately sealed, or be sucked inside by a hotel air conditioner.

Before the Maryland couple’s death came to light, the Dominican tourism industry started drawing greater scrutiny in late May when a Delaware woman, Tammy Lawrence-Daley, said she had been attacked in January at the Majestic Elegance resort in Punta Cana by a man in a hotel uniform, who severely beat her and left her for dead.

Tensions ratcheted higher over security in the country when David Ortiz, the former Boston Red Sox slugger, was shot in the back this month in a popular bar in Santo Domingo.

Dominican investigators say that Mr. Ortiz was not the gunman’s intended target, and was mistakenly shot because he was dressed similarly and was seated next to the man the gunman was after.

Amid all the confusion about safety, people around the United States have begun canceling plans to vacation in the Dominican Republic. Lauren Duffy, a professor at Clemson University who has studied the country’s tourism industry, said that whether the recent deaths are connected may not even matter to people who are planning their summer breaks or family getaways.

“The perception of safety has already been attacked,” said Dr. Duffy. “You can see how vulnerable tourism-dependent countries are to a crisis like this, and I’m calling it a crisis because they’re starting to roll out the media campaign and the crisis response.”

Dominican leaders have also grown more defensive, asserting repeatedly that the country is safe while sometimes hinting at possible conspiracies aimed at the Dominican Republic’s lucrative hotel industry, including attempts to undermine the president’s ruling party. Mr. García, the tourism minister, declined to discount such theories.

“I don’t know who’s behind this campaign, but if there’s someone behind it, they’ll become known,” Mr. García said.

Some relatives of Americans who died in the country are relating harrowing tales of pleading with hotel employees for ambulances, long waits to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones and callous responses from Dominican officials.

Dawn McCoy, whose husband, David Harrison, died while on vacation in July 2018 at the Hard Rock Hotel, said that she wasn’t suspicious about his passing until she learned of the recent spate of deaths. The couple’s trip last year was their 19th visit to the Dominican Republic.

“I like to say, we were lucky 18 times,” she said.

Feeling ill with what he initially thought was food poisoning, Mr. Harrison had left his wife and son at the pool and returned to their room, where he slept for more than six hours, she said. The couple then went to the casino until about 2:30 a.m., and returned to the room after Mr. Harrison again felt ill.

“If we were at home, I would tell you to take me to the hospital,” Ms. McCoy recalled him saying.

Just after 5 a.m., Ms. McCoy woke up to find her husband soaked in sweat and grunting. Her son, just 12 at the time, pressed on Mr. Harrison’s chest, trying to perform CPR. “He was just doing what he had seen on TV,” Ms. McCoy said.

She scrambled to the phone and called the front desk. She asked an employee to call an ambulance, but was apologetically told that the policy was to send a hotel doctor first.

“They’re being so pleasant, but they’re saying, ‘I’m sorry, that’s the policy,’” Ms. McCoy recalled. She said she called the front desk twice more, begging for an ambulance, until the hotel doctor arrived exactly 22 minutes after her first call. The ambulance came another half-hour after that. Mr. Harrison died later that day — July 14, 2018.

When she checked out with her son on July 15, a hotel employee asked her to step aside for a moment. Then, she said, they handed her a bill of more than $2,000 for the hotel doctor’s services, which she had not ever requested. That was on top of the ambulance and hospital bills.

An autopsy and toxicology report for Mr. Harrison, shared by Ms. McCoy, said his death was a result of clogged arteries. Tests for common recreational drugs were negative. Ms. McCoy said he took medicine for high blood pressure.

Gregory G. Davis, a professor of forensic pathology and the chief coroner and medical examiner in Jefferson County, Ala., reviewed the autopsy for The New York Times and said it appeared to be a thorough examination that did not raise any red flags.

“I have no doubt that his death came as a great surprise to his family, but it seems fairly straightforward,” Dr. Davis said. He said the report indicated that the man’s heart was heavy and showed signs of clogged arteries.

But Bruce Goldberger, a professor of forensic toxicology at the University of Florida College of Medicine, said he thought Mr. Harrison should have been tested for more than just cocaine, marijuana, opioids, and amphetamines, all of which were negative.

Given the attention around the tourist deaths, Dr. Goldberger said the authorities should also be conducting comprehensive tests for carbon monoxide, pesticides, and anything else that could have been present in the hotel room.

“It’s not a complete investigation,” he said of the toxicological report on Mr. Harrison.

Another American, Robert Wallace, 67, of California, also died after staying at the Hard Rock in April, where he reportedly drank whisky from the room’s minibar. (Unlike minibars in American hotels that generally feature miniature bottles of liquor, the minibars at the Hard Rock dispense drinks from large bottles of vodka, rum, tequila and whisky that hang upside down in a cabinet.)

The tourism minister, Mr. García, said that Mr. Wallace died of multiple organ failure and pneumonia that did not appear to be related to any toxic exposure. Even so, the Hard Rock hotel in Punta Cana announced changes on Friday in response to concerns over the deaths of its guests, saying it would remove the liquor dispensers from its rooms.

Representatives of the hotel did not respond to specific questions about the delay in calling an ambulance for Mr. Harrison or the policy of involving an in-house doctor and billing Ms. McCoy.

However, the hotel said in a statement that, “as an added measure, a U.S.-based health care facility will be contracted to ensure the on-site health clinic is complying with all international and U.S. standards of care.”

An earlier version of this article and an accompanying picture caption misstated the given name of the tourism minister of the Dominican Republic. It is Francisco Javier García, not Fernando.

How we handle corrections

Simon Romero reported from Santo Domingo and Punta Cana, and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs from New York. Hogla Enecia Pérez contributed reporting from Santo Domingo, and Elisabeth Malkin from Mexico City.

There's been a spate of seemingly suspicious tourist deaths in the Dominican Republic, but vacation deaths happen more than you think. Here's how to stay safe.

• Tourist deaths in the Dominican Republic have been widely publicized this month, but officials say the number of American deaths there is nothing new.
• Traffic accidents and drowning are among the most common causes of international travelers' deaths, but taking certain precautions can go a long way in preventing them. 
• Of the 93 million Americans who travel internationally in the average year, only about 800 die as a result of traffic, violence, drowning or other incidents.
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

Vacationers may be reconsidering their trips to the Dominican Republic after recent reports put a spotlight on a string of suspicious tourist deaths on the Caribbean island.

But o fficials said the number of American deaths abroad is "not unusual," and other reports suggest travelers are better off preparing for more likely — though still unlikely — health risks, like drownings and traffic accidents, than canceling plans for fear of foul play.

Here are the most common ways tourists die on vacations, and how you can lower your risk of falling victim. 

Read more: Here's what travelers can do to stay safe in the Dominican Republic

Traffic is the most common cause of tourist death abroad in most countries 

About a third of tourism deaths reported internationally are traffic-related, and include car, bus, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents.

Traffic can be riskier abroad than at home for a lot of reasons. Crumbling roads and unlicensed drivers are a few dangers mentioned by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . Traveling can be exhausting, which can also make traffic more dangerous. Unfamiliar roads, potential obstacles like animals, and confusing local laws are also tied to some accidents.

Many safety precautions, however, are the same no matter where you are. Always fasten your seatbelt in cars (and buses, if they have them). Wear a helmet on bikes and motorcycles. Avoid traveling at night or in bad weather when possible, and learn the local laws before you travel. And of course, don't drink and drive.

Homicide, while definitely a concern for travelers, is only one of the three major causes of death for U.S. tourists

Violent crimes like robbery and even homicide can be one of the scariest risks to face while traveling. Most tourist-involved crimes, though, are petty thefts and never escalate to murder, according to the CDC.

Still, violent crimes happen, so stay aware of your surroundings — translation: keep your head up and iPhone away , especially when you're off the beaten path. Keep your showy jewelry, expensive watches, wads of cash, or anything else that might attract would-be thieves in a hotel safe or, better yet, back home. 

If local resort employees or tour guides give you advice, listen. Stay in your resort area, where security tends to be more thorough, and don't go off alone or after dark. Be wary of strangers and don't take gifts, especially food or drinks , from people you don't know.

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Take a look at the U.S. Overseas Security Advisory Council website, too, which issues country-specific safety and travel tips. Be aware of the particular risks you might encounter — like civil unrest, high crime rates, or military activity — and prepare accordingly.

Drowning is almost as deadly as murder when it comes to the number of tourist deaths per year on average

The CDC and U.S. State Department cite drowning as the third most common cause of death for Americans abroad. Stay safe by swimming with a buddy and never alone. Bring enough life vests or similar flotation devices along for activities like boating, and lay off the booze. As for scuba diving, don't do it — unless you're an experienced diver or have a qualified, reliable instructor. 

No matter how tempting, avoid jumping or diving into the water. You never know what's below the surface, and shallow water or obstacles can cause head and spinal cord injuries that can easily lead to drowning. 

Know the health risks before you travel

In many countries, including the Dominican Republic, tap water can carry diseases like hepatitis A and typhoid, according to the CDC and U.S. Department of State. Stick to bottled and purified water in such places, and remember: If it's not safe to drink, it's not safe to brush your teeth with either. Watch out for ice made from tap water, which can carry the same contagions. Raw fruits and vegetables are also suspect, unless they've been thoroughly washed (in clean water) or you've peeled them yourself. 

Animals abroad are another beast. Rabies can be a risk — bites from rabid dogs or cats can be fatal if not treated quickly, so resist the urge to touch, feed, or otherwise befriend strange animals while traveling. Bats and other mammals can also carry rabies. If you do get bitten, wash the wound immediately and thoroughly with soap and water. Then, find a doctor. 

Mosquito bites can be dangerous too, since the insects can carry all kinds of diseases. If you're spending a lot of time outdoors, especially sleeping, consider getting a prescription for a preventative medicine before you depart. Use bug spray and wear long sleeves and pants in mosquito-prone areas.

Malaria , one of the most common mosquito-spread illnesses, is one of the biggest health threats to travelers, according to research . If you have a fever or flu-like symptoms, even after you've returned from vacation, see a doctor right away and tell them your travel history.   

 Finally, stay up to date on all recommended vaccinations (a helpful list can be found on the CDC website) .

Overall tourism deaths, including in the Dominican Republic, don't seem to be on the rise

There were an average of 15 reported deaths per year in the Domincan Republic from June 2010 to June 2018, according to U.S. Department of State data. This doesn't include deaths by natural causes like illnesses, so the number is likely much higher.

Deaths in the Dominican Republic are just a small percentage of the total deaths of all Americans traveling abroad, which are just a fraction of a percent of the American tourism industry as a whole. Internationally, 827 American tourist deaths were reported from June 2017 to June 2018.

More than 93 million Americans traveled abroad in that same period, meaning the vast majority of travelers returned safety.

• A travel analyst explains the risks of visiting the Dominican Republic, and what to watch out for if you d o
• The mysterious deaths in the Dominican Republic reportedly may be linked to illicit alcohol, and it wouldn't be the first time
• Put your phone down: Two-thirds of Americans make the mistake of checking their work email while on vacation

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Watch: Puerto Rico was named the No. 1 place to travel this year. Here are 9 of the best ways to see the island

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Dominican Republic Authorities Clamp Down On Transport Providers After Tourist Bus Crash

By: Author Connor Disbrow

Posted on Published: October 22, 2022

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Last Updated 1 year ago

The Dominican Republic Institute of Traffic and Terrestrial Transport (known as Intrant) has announced new safety measures in the wake of a tourist bus crash in Bávaro, near Punta Cana, on October 6th. The fatal accident left three tourists dead – Karla Rodriguez Dionisio, a 33-year-old Peruvian, and two Argentinians, Valeria Paola Medina, 44 years old, and Valeria Victoria Brolvelli, 41 years old. Along with these tragic deaths, 40 more tourists were injured when the bus overturned after veering off the road trying to avoid a street obstacle on its way to Saona Island. The bus driver has since been arrested and is under investigation, as it was reported that the bus was traveling at high speed.

As the Dominican Republic continues to gain popularity as a travel destination, new resorts are being built, and airlines are commencing flights to several airports in the country. This means more tourists will bring more demand for tour buses which are integral to visiting the many coastal attractions such as beaches, parks, and viewpoints that the Dominican Republic has to offer. 

Hugo Beras, executive director of Intrant held the first in a series of meetings with Martina Pepén, Governor of the province of La Altagracia, and Manolo Ramírez, director of the Tourism Police, among others, to discuss multiple necessary measures to ensure the safety of tourists visiting the country. Hugo noted that “this is a work meeting of interest to us as a government and to you as the main players in the tourism sector so that we can work with transparency and be able to have the necessary controls for the regulation and operation of companies.”

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Out of the first meeting, it was announced that all tourist transport operators will be required to request and apply for new operational licenses. Beras announced, “As a State, starting tomorrow, we will start the Recertification operation so that all companies can get up to date and in order with their documentation, that is why we at Intrant are giving a period of 60 days so that we can all get in order”. 

Although many bus operators see this new certification as a positive that will help legitimate companies gain trust among tourists, the 60-day deadline is expected to have many entities scrambling to ensure they can continue operations as normal with proper certification. The new certification includes more robust requirements such as GPS in all vehicles, seat belts, vehicle inspections, and a liability policy. 

Taxi company certification is also getting a facelift, with new applications required to be submitted with items such as certificates of good conduct, a list of vehicles, a mercantile registry, and identity cards of drug testing done by each driver.

Along with these measures, Beras announced a new structure for requesting permits for new tourist transportation licenses in hopes that increased checks and balances will ensure that only qualified drivers and companies are able to conduct business in tourist hotspots. All registered vehicles will be required to clearly and uniformly present their certifications on their vehicles so tourists can feel confident they are taking safe transportation and authorities can pursue vehicles unlawfully transporting tourists.  

As a final note, Hugo Beras assured tourists that immediate actions are being taken to ensure that this type of accident does not happen again in the short term. Intrant has immediately reduced speed at the site of the crash and is using the site as a comparative tool to reduce speed at similar intersections. New technology previously used on cargo transporters is being implemented to monitor recklessness, speed, and other measures. “We want to be very clear that, in a very short time, due to the actions we are taking, this type of situation will not happen again.”

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Dominican Republic

Travel Advisory June 6, 2023

Dominican republic - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with updates to health information.

Exercise increased caution in the Dominican Republic due to crime.

Country Summary:  Violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault is a concern throughout the Dominican Republic. The development of a professional tourist police corps, institution of a 911 system in many parts of the country, and a concentration of resources in resort areas means these tend to be better policed than urban areas like Santo Domingo. The wide availability of weapons, the use and trade of illicit drugs, and a weak criminal justice system contribute to the high level of criminality on the broader scale.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to the Dominican Republic.

If you decide to travel to the Dominican Republic:

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
• Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
• Follow the advice of resort and tour operators regarding local safety and security concerns.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Review the Country Security Report for the Dominican Republic.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.  Review the Traveler’s Checklist .
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

Embassy Messages

View Alerts and Messages Archive

Quick Facts

Passports must be valid for the period of stay in the Dominican Republic.

1 page required for entry stamp

Not required for visits shorter than 30 days

None required if arriving from the United States

$10,000 and over or its equivalent must be declared

Embassies and Consulates

U.s. embassy santo domingo.

Av. República de Colombia #57 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Telephone: +(809) 567-7775 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(809) 567-7775, dial zero (0) ask for Duty Officer Email:   [email protected] Hours: Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM except U.S. and Dominican holidays 

Consular Agencies

U.S. Consular Agent - Puerto Plata Plaza el Doral, carretera Luperón KM 3 1/2 Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Telephone:  +(809) 586-4204, +(809) 586-8023 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  (809) 567-7775, dial zero (0) ask for Duty Officer Email:  [email protected] Hours:  Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM except U.S. and Dominican holidays

U.S. Consular Agent - Bavaro/Punta Cana Palma Real Shopping Center Business Center 2nd Floor Bavaro, La Altagracia, Dominican Republic Telephone:  (809) 552-8990 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +(809) 567-7775, dial zero (0) ask for Duty Officer Email:  [email protected] Hours:  Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM except U.S. and Dominican holidays

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

Visas are not required for visits shorter than 30 days. Visit the  Embassy of the Dominican Republic  website for current visa information.

All visitors to the Dominican Republic are charged a $10 tourist card fee that is incorporated into airline charges. Cruise passengers must obtain a tourist card if they are disembarking for longer than 24 hours. Once used, the card allows for stays up to 30 days but can be extended at the General Directorate of Migration in Santo Domingo.

Contact the  Migration Department  in Santo Domingo for visa extension requests. Failure to request an extension will result in a fine at the airport upon departure. The fines range from approximately $55 USD for one month to as high as $1,555 USD for overstays of 10 years or more.

All passengers are required to fill out an  E-Ticket  or paper form when entering or exiting the Dominican Republic. If using E-Ticket, a new form is required for each entry and exit and the code generated upon form completion can be presented at the airport on a digital device.

Visitors must have a ticket entering and leaving the country, the financial means to pay for their stay, and an address in the Dominican Republic where they will be staying.

Exit Requirements for Children:  Minors (children under 18) who are citizens (including dual citizens) or legal residents of the Dominican Republic, if not accompanied by both parents or legal guardian(s), are required to present official proof of parental consent to travel. Please see the Dominican  Migration Department's  website for detailed instructions on the required documents.

HIV/AIDS Restrictions:  Some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors to and foreign residents of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has restrictions on granting residency to people with HIV/AIDS. Please verify information with the Dominican Republic’s  Migration Department  before you travel.

Yellow Fever Vaccine:  Proof of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers entering the Dominican Republic from Brazil. Similar requirements may apply to those traveling from other  countries with yellow fever risk .

Find information on  dual nationality ,  prevention of international child abduction ,  and  customs regulations  on our websites.

Safety and Security

Crime:  Crime is a threat throughout the Dominican Republic. Tourist destinations are generally more policed than metropolitan areas.

• If robbed, hand over your personal belongings without resisting.
• Do not carry or wear valuable items that will attract attention.
• Be wary of strangers.
• Travel with a partner or group if possible.

International Financial Scams:  See the  Department of State  and the  FBI   pages for information.

Dating App Robberies:  Several U.S. citizen travelers in the Dominican Republic have reported that they were robbed by people they met through popular online dating applications. If meeting with strangers, you should strongly consider meeting only in public places and avoiding isolated locations where crimes are most likely to occur.

Demonstrations:  Avoid areas of demonstrations and exercise caution if you are in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.

Victims of Crime:  Report crimes to the local tourist police (POLITUR) at 809-222-2026 or  911  and contact the U.S. Embassy at 809-567-7775. 911 is operational throughout the country apart from some areas located near the Haitian border. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime.

See our webpage on  help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

• Help you find appropriate medical care.
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police.
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent.
• Provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion.
• Provide a list of local attorneys.
• Provide our information on  victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution.
• Replace a stolen or lost passport.

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact POLITUR (809-222-2026), the  National Police ( 809-682-2151), and the U.S. Embassy for assistance.

Sexual Assault:  Rape and sexual assault has been reported throughout the Dominican Republic, including at major resorts and hotels.

Notes for your safety:

• U.S. citizens have been targeted with date rape drugs.
• Sexual assault victims in the Dominican Republic should not expect the totality of assistance offered in the United States. Rape kits are often not available until the following morning and must be administered by Dominican authorities.
• Victims often have to request medication to avoid transmission of STDs and reduce the chances of pregnancy.
• Prosecution of a rape case moves forward very slowly. Dominican law may require the victim to return to the Dominican Republic at some stages of the judicial process.
• Security outside of the resort area, including beach areas, is unpredictable, especially at night.

Best Practices:

• Contact the police/hotel management if resort staff demonstrate unwanted attention.
• Victims of sexual/other assault should contact the police and the Embassy. Insist that hotel management take immediate action by contacting the police.
• In a resort, avoid secluded places. Always be accompanied by someone you know, even going to the restroom.
• Do not consume alcoholic beverages alone or with new acquaintances. Do not leave drinks unattended.  Know your limits and help your friends/travelling companions to remain safe.
• Shout for help immediately if threatened or made uncomfortable.
• Report suspicious activity, including excessive friendliness by hotel employees, to hotel management, the U.S. Embassy, and local police.
• Do not swim alone due to life-threatening undertows.

Tourism:  The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities may not commonly occur in all parts of the country. Hazardous areas and activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in or near major cities or major tourist zones. First responders may be unable to access areas outside of major cities or major tourist zones. The ability to provide urgent medical treatment may be limited. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more  information on insurance providers for overseas coverage . 

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities, prior to practicing or operating a business. 

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on  crimes against minors abroad  and the  Department of Justice  website. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in the Dominican Republic are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage and  general information on legal assistance  for further information.

Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Although counterfeit and pirated goods are prevalent in many countries, their possession they may still be illegal according to local laws. You may also pay fines or have to give them up if you bring them back to the United States. See the U.S. Department of Justice website for more information.

Faith-Based Travelers:  See the following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
• Human Rights Report – see country reports
• Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTI Travelers:  There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in the Dominican Republic.

See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.

Travelers with Disabilities:  The law in the Dominican Republic prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual or mental disabilities, but the law is not enforced consistently. Social acceptance of persons with disabilities in public is not as prevalent as in the United States. Accessible facilities, information, communication/access to services and ease of movement is limited in most parts of the country. Large resorts and Santo Domingo may have some generally accessible infrastructure, but travelers should not expect the level available in the United States.

Students:  See our  Students Abroad  page and  FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers:  See our travel tips for  Women Travelers .

Disaster Preparedness:  Register with the Embassy on or before your arrival through our  travel registration website . In the event of a natural disaster or emergency, this will keep you informed. Additional information on  natural disasters and disaster preparedness  can be found on our website. Real Estate:  Property rights are irregularly enforced, and investors often encounter problems in receiving clear title to land. Consult a reputable attorney before signing documents or closing on any real estate transactions. Real estate investments by U.S. citizens have been subject to legal and physical takeover attempts. Absentee landlords and absentee owners of undeveloped land are particularly vulnerable. Consider purchasing title insurance. Scams:  Scammers often target elderly people by pretending to be a law enforcement official, an attorney, or a U.S. Embassy official, claiming that a loved one has been arrested overseas. The caller instructs the victim to wire money. Scammers sometimes impersonate family members, such as a scared grandchild. Contact the U.S. Embassy before wiring money to the Dominican Republic. When in doubt, try to contact your loved one directly.

For emergency services in the Dominican Republic, dial 911 or 809-202-2026 .

Ambulance services:

• The training and availability of emergency responders may be below U.S. standards.
• Ambulances are not present or reliable in most areas of the country. They are more reliable and available in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana, and Puerto Plata.

We do not pay medical bills.  Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas.  Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance.

Medical Insurance:  Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See  our webpage  for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage. Visit the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas.

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. Check with the  Ministry for Public Health  to ensure the medication is legal in the Dominican Republic.

Vaccinations:  Be up-to-date on all  vaccinations  recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC)

Air Quality:  Visit  AirNow Department of State  for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

The U.S. Embassy maintains a  list of doctors and hospitals . We do not endorse or recommend any specific medical provider or clinic.

Health facilities in general:

• Public medical clinics lack basic resources and supplies.
• Hospitals and doctors require payment “up front” prior to service or admission.
• Private hospitals usually require advance payment or proof of adequate insurance before admitting a patient.
• Be aware that some hotels, resorts, etc. have exclusive agreements with medical providers, which have costs associated and may limit your choices in seeking emergency medical attention.
• Medical staff may speak little or no English.
• Generally, in public hospitals only minimal staff is available overnight in non-emergency wards. Consider hiring a private nurse or having family spend the night with the patient, especially a minor child.
• Patients bear all costs for transfer to or between hospitals.
• Psychological and psychiatric services are limited, even in the larger cities, with hospital-based care only available through government institutions

Medical Tourism and Elective Surgery

U.S. citizens have suffered serious complications or died during or after having cosmetic or other elective surgery. 

If you are considering travel to the Dominican Republic for cosmetic surgery, be mindful of the following:

• Have a medical evaluation from a U.S. doctor to determine if you are a good candidate for surgery.
• Before travel, carefully research the doctor (e.g. qualifications, experience performing the surgery, complication rate) and credentials of the recovery facility you plan to use.
• Share all health information (e.g. medical conditions, medications, allergies) with your doctor before your surgery.
• Obtain international travel insurance that covers medical evacuation back to the United States and repatriation of remains. For more information, see:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/insurance . 
• See a travel medicine professional in the United States at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to discuss healthy travel and to learn about specific risks related to your surgery and travel. For more information on the risks of medical tourism, see:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/medical-tourism .
• Your legal options in case of malpractice are very limited in the Dominican Republic. 

Tap Water:  Tap water is unsafe to drink. Bottled water and beverages are considered safe. Please note that many restaurants use tap water for ice.

Adventure Travel

• Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about  Adventure Travel .

General Health

The following diseases are prevalent:

• Tuberculosis
• Chikungunya

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about  Resources for Travelers  regarding specific issues in the  Dominican Republic .

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:  Driving conditions vary across the country. Drive defensively and with extreme caution.

Consider hiring a professional driver instead of driving yourself. You can hire licensed drivers who are familiar with local roads through local car rental agencies. In case of accidents, normally only the driver will be taken into custody. In 2019 six people died per day due to traffic accidents in the Dominican Republic.

Frequent hazards include:

• other drivers not using headlights and/or taillights after dark
• animals in the road
• missing manhole covers and large potholes
• uneven road surfaces
• scooters and motorcycles driving erratically and splitting lanes
• driving on sidewalks or against traffic
• intersections without stop signs
• unregulated and congested traffic patterns
• speeding or the running of stoplights
• heavy urban traffic

Traffic Laws:  Traffic laws are not enforced consistently. After an accident causing serious injury or death, authorities will often take the driver into custody, even if the driver is insured and appears to have not been at fault. Detentions frequently last until a judicial decision has been reached or until a waiver has been signed by the injured party.

Seat belts, and helmets for motorcyclists, are required by law. Violators may be fined. There are no child car seat laws. Police stop drivers using cell phones without a hands-free device.

Public Transportation:  Public transportation includes a metro and public bus system as well as shared bus or van taxis known as “guaguas” (converted vans or microbuses, often without doors). Guaguas run regular routes within urban areas and between towns in the countryside. Public buses and guaguas operating in the capital do not meet U.S. safety standards. Avoid unregulated taxis, which also often lack basic safety features. Use a reputable taxi service, either one recommended by your hotel or a well-known, vetted company. Rideshare services such as Uber are available in many parts of the country. Private bus lines travel between large cities and to popular tourist destinations. 

See our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Tourism and INTRANT (Instituto Nacional de Transito y Transporte Terrestre) the national authority responsible for road safety.

Aviation Safety Oversight:  The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of the Dominican Republic’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the  FAA’s website.   FAA’s safety assessment page .

Maritime Travel:  The U.S. Coast Guard has concerns about the security practices in the ports of the Dominican Republic. Until those concerns can be addressed, the Coast Guard advises that Mariners and passengers on commercial vessels traveling through the ports of the Dominican Republic should exercise caution.

Mariners planning travel to the Dominican Republic should also check for  U.S. maritime advisories and alerts . Information may also be posted to the  U.S. Coast Guard homeport website , and the  NGA broadcast warnings .

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in  Dominican Republic . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the  International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA )  report.

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Dominican Republic travel advice

Latest updates: The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)

Last updated: April 15, 2024 13:01 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, dominican republic - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in the Dominican Republic due to crime.

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Border closure with Haiti

The Embassy of Canada in Santo Domingo cannot help you enter the Dominican Republic from Haiti.

Crime occurs in the Dominican Republic, including violent crime, especially in major cities. However, most incidents are opportunistic crime which is the most significant threat for tourists.

Petty crime

Petty crime, including pickpocketing and bag-snatching, occurs throughout the country. Tourists are common targets for theft. Crime tends to rise during holiday periods.

Incidents occur:

• at airports
• at bus stations
• on public transportation

Theft also occurs from all-inclusive hotel rooms and from hotel room safes, as well as from cars, particularly rentals.

Drive-by robberies, where thieves on motorcycles, scooters or bicycles grab bags and other valuables from pedestrians, occur frequently. Thieves may even reach into vehicles, including taxis, stopped at red lights to steal belongings.

Theft of items from checked baggage at airports has been reported. These thefts have taken place most frequently when travellers are departing. Money and personal items have also been stolen from carry-on luggage while travellers are going through security checks. All bags are routinely X-rayed upon arrival and departure.

• Be wary of individuals who ask for directions or who try to be too helpful
• Watch out for hustlers selling various wares, particularly in Santo Domingo
• Stay at hotels or resorts with good security
• Be wary of anyone who tries to enter your room
• Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Avoid carrying your bag slung over your shoulder
• Carry only small amounts of money and avoid showing signs of affluence
• Keep electronic devices like cellphones, tablets, laptops and cameras out of sight
• Keep car doors locked, windows up and your belongings out of sight
• Don’t pack valuables in your checked luggage
• Verify that your luggage has not been tampered with before you check in at the airport

Violent crime against foreigners, including assault, occasionally occurs. Incidents take place mainly in large cities, at night or early morning. Some have been targeted in armed robberies when travelling to the Las Américas International Airport, sometimes in taxis.

• Arrange your arrival to and departure from the Dominican Republic in daylight hours
• Use the taxi service authorized by the airport
• Avoid unmarked taxis, especially in Santo Domingo
• Keep car doors locked and windows up, especially at a traffic light
• Avoid walking alone in unpopulated areas and unpatrolled beaches after dark
• If threatened by robbers, don’t resist

Security forces are understaffed and underequipped. The police are often unable to respond in a timely manner to calls for assistance.

Criminals impersonating police officers will stop vehicles and ask foreign drivers for payment of fines for made-up offences.

Regulations require police to wear a nametag with their last name. You have the right to ask police for identification.

If Dominican police stop you for a traffic violation:

• request a traffic ticket
• don’t pay the ticket on the spot

Rogue lawyers

Rogue lawyers are a problem in tourist areas, particularly in Punta Cana.

These lawyers stand near the tourist police (CESTUR) station and try to recruit desperate foreigners, brought to the station for detention purposes, as clients. Then, they try to extort excessive amounts of money from them by offering legal representation or assistance getting out of jail.

Credit card and ATM fraud and cloning are significant concerns. Be cautious when using debit or credit cards:

• pay careful attention when your cards are being handled by others
• use ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business
• avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Overseas fraud

Spiked food and drinks

Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances. These items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

Women’s safety

Women travelling alone may be subject to some forms of harassment and verbal abuse.

Incidents of assault, rape and sexual aggression against foreigners have occurred, including at beach resorts. In some cases, hotel employees have been implicated.

• Exercise caution when dealing with strangers or recent acquaintances
• Be wary of rides or other invitations
• Avoid taking public transportation or walking alone at night

If you are a victim of a sexual assault or other crime, you should report it immediately to the nearest Canadian consulate or embassy.

You should also file a report with Dominican authorities. No criminal investigation is possible without a formal complaint to Dominican authorities before departing the country.

Advice for women travellers

Demonstrations and strikes

Demonstrations take place from time to time throughout the country, particularly in Santo Domingo.

Demonstrations have largely been peaceful and have not affected tourist areas, although local travel outside resorts could be affected.

Labour strikes occur frequently in the town of Higuey, near Punta Cana, and may affect hotel service.

Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Power outages

The power infrastructure is unreliable and lacks maintenance. Power outages are frequent although they mainly occur in poor neighbourhoods of major urban areas.

Recreational activities

Sporting and aquatic equipment may not meet Canadian safety standards.

If engaging in recreational activities:

• ensure that equipment is safe and in good condition
• ensure helmets and life jackets are available
• before undertaking extreme or eco-tourism activities, ensure that businesses offering excursions follow proper safety measures
• avoid excursions that are not offered by tour operators
• avoid participating in any water activities when you are under the influence of alcohol or other substances
• check that your travel insurance covers accidents related to recreational activities

Water safety

Coastal waters can be dangerous. Follow the instructions and warnings of local authorities.

Rescue services may not be consistent with international standards.

Water safety abroad

Road safety

The Dominican Republic has one of the highest road accident rates in the world.

Road conditions and road safety can vary greatly throughout the country. Although major highways connecting cities and tourist areas are generally in good condition, most secondary roads, are poorly maintained and poorly lit. Marked lanes are lacking. There are vehicles travelling in the wrong direction. Traffic is congested due to the significant number of trucks and motorcycles. Pedestrians don’t have the right of way, even at traffic lights.

Drivers don’t respect traffic laws. They often drive at excessive speeds, and are extremely aggressive and reckless. Drinking and driving is prevalent. Many vehicles are in poor condition and don’t have working headlights or mirrors.

Military and police road blocks are common, especially in areas near the Haitian border.

• Don’t drive after dark
• Be especially cautious if you need to drive during holiday periods, such as Christmas or Easter
• Take extra care when walking, particularly in Santo Domingo

The number of moped and scooter accidents involving tourists is increasing.

If renting a scooter or moped:

• be vigilant while driving
• avoid renting from operators who don’t provide a helmet with the rental
• avoid driving on roads in disrepair

Border with Haiti

The security environment is highly unpredictable in the border areas between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, particularly in Dajabón, with regular disturbances and incidents which can lead to violence. Emergency services are often not available near the border. 

If you choose to travel near the border with Haiti:

• exercise caution at all times
• avoid travelling at night
• monitor local media to stay informed of the current situation
• follow instructions from local authorities and security forces.

Public transportation

Private companies operate reliable buses between cities.

Avoid public buses and gua-guas – microbuses – which often don’t have doors.

Taxis are not metered. Upon arrival to the Dominican Republic, use the taxi service authorized by the airport.

During your stay:

• use hotel taxis or ride-hailing apps which are generally safe
• avoid unmarked taxis
• avoid using or renting motorcycle taxis (motoconchos)
• avoid route taxis (gua-guas or carros publicos)
• negotiate the fare prior to departure

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the authorities of the Dominican Republic. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months after the date of your arrival in the Dominican Republic.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required for up to 30 days Work visa: required Student visa: required Residence visa: required

Other entry requirements

Customs officials may ask you to show them a return or onward ticket.

Electronic ticket for entry and exit

You must complete an electronic form to enter and exit the country in order to share information about your health and your stay with local authorities.

You must fill this form before boarding your flight to the Dominican Republic. This electronic form doesn’t replace the Tourist card.

Electronic ticket for entry and exit – Government of the Dominican Republic

Tourist card

As a tourist, you must obtain a tourist card to enter the Dominican Republic. It is included in all air tickets issued outside the country.

If you enter the Dominican Republic by land or sea, you can obtain the card from the General Directorate of Internal Taxes at your point of entry. It is valid for one year from the issuance date and it can be used for a 30-day stay period.

If you overstay the duration of your tourist card, local authorities could deny you entry, on your next trip, if you don’t have the proper visa, even if you paid a fine when leaving the country.

Dominican tourist card  – Directorate general of internal taxes (in Spanish)

Stay extension

You can apply for a stay extension for a period up to 120 days. You must request your stay extension to the Dominican Directorate General for Migration once you are in Dominican Republic, before your tourist card expires.

If you wish to stay in the Dominican Republic for more than 120 days, you must obtain a resident visa from the Dominican authorities in Canada prior to your departure.   

If you overstay the period for which you have been authorized to stay, you will have to pay fine to immigration authorities when leaving the country.  You may also need to apply for a visa the next time you wish to return to the Dominican Republic.

Local authorities could deny you entry in the country if you don’t have the proper visa.

Stay extension  - Dominican Directorate General for Migration

Identification

Immigration officials may conduct random ID checks.

You must carry photo identification and a copy of your entry stamp with you at all times.

• Keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place, in case it’s lost or confiscated
• Cooperate with authorities if they question you

As a foreign national, you will be required to provide biometrics to enter the Dominican Republic. For instance, authorities will take your fingerprints and a photograph.

Drug screening

The Dominican Republic is actively working to fight drug trafficking.

You may be subjected to drug screening measures by authorities upon departure from the country. They may search your luggage and ask you to sign a form, in Spanish, stating that the search was performed within procedural requirements.

In some cases, they may ask you to undergo an X-ray.

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• Zika virus: Advice for travellers - 31 August, 2023
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024
• Dengue: Advice for travellers - 8 April, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Yellow fever  is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito. Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is required if arriving from some states in Brazil, including travellers having transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in those same states.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada * It is important to note that  country entry requirements  may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest  diplomatic or consular office  of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

Malaria  is a serious and sometimes fatal disease that is caused by parasites spread through the bites of mosquitoes.   There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this destination. 

Antimalarial medication may be recommended depending on your itinerary and the time of year you are travelling. Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic before travelling to discuss your options. It is recommended to do this 6 weeks before travel, however, it is still a good idea any time before leaving.    Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times:  • Cover your skin and use an approved insect repellent on uncovered skin.  • Exclude mosquitoes from your living area with screening and/or closed, well-sealed doors and windows. • Use insecticide-treated bed nets if mosquitoes cannot be excluded from your living area.  • Wear permethrin-treated clothing.    If you develop symptoms similar to malaria when you are travelling or up to a year after you return home, see a health care professional immediately. Tell them where you have been travelling or living. 

In this destination, rabies is commonly carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. In this destination, rabies treatment may be limited or may not be available, therefore you may need to return to Canada for treatment.  

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Cholera is a risk in parts of this country. Most travellers are at very low risk.

To protect against cholera, all travellers should practise safe food and water precautions .

Travellers at higher risk of getting cholera include those:

• visiting, working or living in areas with limited access to safe food, water and proper sanitation
• visiting areas where outbreaks are occurring

Vaccination may be recommended for high-risk travellers, and should be discussed with a health care professional.

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid   is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.  

Salmonellosis is a common illness among travellers to this country. It can be spread through contaminated food or beverages, such as raw or undercooked poultry and eggs, as well as fruits or vegetables.

Practice safe food and water precautions . This includes only eating food that is properly cooked and still hot when served.

Pregnant women, children under 5 years of age, those over 60 years of age, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill.

Most people recover on their own without medical treatment and from proper rehydration (drinking lots of fluids).

• Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Travellers with severe symptoms should consult a health care professional as soon as possible.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

There is a risk of chikungunya in this country.  The risk may vary between regions of a country.  Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya.

• In this country,   dengue  is a risk to travellers. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites.
• Dengue can cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to severe dengue, which can be fatal.
• The level of risk of dengue changes seasonally, and varies from year to year. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region.
• Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites . There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue.

Zika virus is a risk in this country. 

Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be sexually transmitted. Zika virus can cause serious birth defects.

During your trip:

• Prevent mosquito bites at all times.
• Use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact, particularly if you are pregnant.

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should discuss the potential risks of travelling to this destination with your health care provider. You may choose to avoid or postpone travel. 

For more information, see Zika virus: Pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.

For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.

Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care professional.

High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)   is a virus that attacks and impairs the immune system, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). 

High risk activities include anything which puts you in contact with blood or body fluids, such as unprotected sex and exposure to unsterilized needles for medications or other substances (for example, steroids and drugs), tattooing, body-piercing or acupuncture.

Medical services and facilities

Quality of care varies greatly throughout the country. Good health care is generally available only in major cities.

Private hospitals and clinics are better equipped than public ones. However, there are reports of overcharging for medical services, variable pricing and unnecessary overnight hospital stays at private facilities.

Beware of aggressive sales tactics of in-house resort doctors, who are often contracted out by private hospitals and try to sell you on their facility.

If you go to the hospital:

• inquire about fees prior to undergoing treatment
• let the hospital administrators know if you feel you have been overcharged after a visit
• request assistance in English or French from the hospital’s guest services desk

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Medical tourism

Canadian citizens have had serious health complications following cosmetic or other elective surgeries abroad.

Before leaving for a medical travel:

• make sure you have done your research
• use reputable health-care providers only

Receiving medical care outside Canada

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

In accordance with Dominican law, a person detained or arrested by the authorities may be held without charges for up to 48 hours before the case is presented to a judge.

Judicial processes may last several years during which accused individuals are normally detained. It could lead to very long prison sentences in harsh conditions.

Overview of the criminal law system in the Dominican Republic

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and heavy fines.

The island is used as a drug trafficking hub between South and North America.

The authorities are enforcing strict border controls. Should you be found transporting illegal substances, you will be taken into custody right away.

• Carry only your personal belongings, and don’t leave them unattended
• Don’t agree to carry packages that are not your own

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Reporting crime

Dominican law stipulates that victims of crime, including foreigners, are responsible for reporting incidents to police.

If you wish to pursue prosecution or seek compensation, you will have to retain Dominican legal counsel to file a formal complaint to the police and to pursue the case through the justice system.

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in the Dominican Republic.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of the Dominican Republic, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and the Dominican Republic.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in the Dominican Republic, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the Dominican court.

If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in the Dominican Republic to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

• List of Canadian Central Authorities for the Hague Convention
• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Travelling with children
• The Hague Convention - Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

Investments

If you plan on buying property, or making other investments in the Dominican Republic, seek legal advice in Canada and in the Dominican Republic. Do so before making commitments. Related disputes could take time and be costly to resolve.

Many tourists have reported financial problems and complications involving time-share arrangements and other property investment activities.

Time-share representatives may be very persistent. They use pressure tactics and offer free tours, meals, gifts or alcoholic beverages. At the airport, they pose as tourist operators and try to force tourists to make property investments.

• Exercise caution whenever approached by time-share representatives
• Provide your credit card only if you are sure you want to make the purchase

Before purchasing a timeshare:

• gather as much information as possible
• review carefully the contract; anything not included in the contract will not be honoured
• ensure that constant vigilance of land will take place, as there have been several instances of disputed land occupation in the absence of the alleged owner
• keep copies of all correspondence

Legal representation

If you are arrested or detained in the Dominican Republic, you have the right to a lawyer, who can be present during any questioning and at any trial or hearing.

If you cannot afford a lawyer, the Dominican government can provide you with a public defender.

Marriages legally performed in the Dominican Republic are legally recognized in Canada.

If you wish to marry in the Dominican Republic, you should consult the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Canada for information on documents and procedures.

• Foreign diplomatic missions and consulates in Canada
• Marriage overseas factsheet

If you are involved in a road accident, you may be detained by police until the circumstances of the accident have been investigated.

You must carry an international driving permit.

International Driving Permit

The currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso (DOP).

U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Canadian dollars are not.

Hurricane season

Hurricanes usually occur from mid-May to the end of November. During this period, even small tropical storms can quickly develop into major hurricanes.

These severe storms can put you at risk and hamper the provision of essential services.

If you decide to travel to a coastal area during the hurricane season:

• know that you expose yourself to serious safety risks
• be prepared to change your travel plans on short notice, including cutting short or cancelling your trip
• stay informed of the latest regional weather forecasts
• carry emergency contact information for your airline or tour operator
• follow the advice and instructions of local authorities
• Tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and monsoons
• Large-scale emergencies abroad
• Active storm tracking and hurricane watches and warnings  - United States’ National Hurricane Center

Seismic activity

The Dominican Republic is located in an active seismic zone. Tremors occur from time to time.

Emergency operations centre  - Dominican Republic government (in Spanish)

Local services

In case of emergency, dial 911.

Tourist police

The tourist police (CESTUR) provide a security presence in tourist areas and first response assistance to tourists.

If in tourist areas, contact CESTUR: 1 809 200 3500

Road assistance

Free road assistance is offered on all major toll highways 24 hours a day.

Dial 1 829 688 1000.

Consular assistance

For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada to the Dominican Republic, in Santo Domingo, and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

Ontario woman stuck, paralyzed in Dominican Republic after 'catastrophic' water slide accident

An Ontario woman is paralyzed and stuck in the Dominican Republic after a “catastrophic” water slide accident led to a fruitless search for a hospital bed in Toronto.

“It’s impossible for me to come home,” Corina McCoy told CTV News Toronto.

On Christmas Day, the 53-year-old from Toronto was visiting a waterpark with her 20-year-old son. Soon after, their carefree vacation came to a halt. McCoy was descending a slide on a tube when someone rammed into her from behind.

Moments later, she was drowning. Her neck had broken and a disc in her spine began to bulge.

“I can't walk, I can't sit up, I have only minor strength to feed myself with my right hand,” she said. “I’m pretty much paralyzed from the chest down.”

McCoy underwent emergency surgery at a local hospital in La Romana, Dominican Republic. Days later, she said her travel insurance claim was accepted and an air ambulance was ready to take her to St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto.

But there was a problem.

“I haven’t been assigned a doctor,” McCoy said on Wednesday, already 10 days after the accident. “St. Joe’s says they are happy to take me as a patient, but I don’t know if that’s in one day, two days, three days, four days.”

“The acceptance of a repatriation request happens after a thorough review of the patient’s medical records provided by the sending health facility or insurance company,” Stranges said.

The Ministry of Health told CTV News Toronto that it's the insurance company’s responsibility to find a hospital bed and arrange the transportation. “The patient’s insurance company may call as many hospitals as they can in order to find an available hospital bed,” a ministry spokesperson said.

Orion Travel Insurance, part of the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), is working on McCoy’s case.

CAA communications manager Nadia Matos said a bed-find request is immediately initiated once it is determined that a patient can safely fly by air ambulance. Each day, they follow-up with hospitals in the patient’s "catchment area," the zone of their Ontario residence, to find out if beds have become available.

“If a bed is not available, such as in this case, the search is quickly expanded and initiated elsewhere,” Matos said.

However, she said the process can take time since each hospital has internal guidelines as to how beds are allocated, which determines the prioritization of patients awaiting admission.

“Due to the nature of injuries in these situations, patients often require complex continuing care and cannot be safely returned without a secured bed,” Matos said. “Only once an attending physician has accepted a patient and an available bed has been secured are we able to initiate the repatriation process.”

In an update from CAA, a representative said that a bed for McCoy has been secured and she is scheduled to return home tomorrow.

Meanwhile, McCoy said she is grateful for the urgent care she’s received in the Dominican, but worries she might need a second operation and that her minimal rehabilitation treatment will have long-term consequences.

“Since Dec. 26, if I was at home, I probably would have already had 20 to 30 hours of rehab to learn to walk again…I’ve only had 60 minutes,” she said.

Language has also served as a major barrier in communicating with health-care professionals in the Dominican. Google translate has stood in place of a human translator, which McCoy said she requested from the Canadian consulate. “They said they do not offer that service,” she said.

Global Affairs Canada could not speak to McCoy’s case due to privacy concerns. However, a spokesperson said they are aware of a Canadian seeking consular assistance in the Dominican and are in contact with local authorities.

McCoy says she can see each individual working towards her transfer genuinely wants to help her reach a Toronto hospital.

“It’s just that there is no urgency,” she said.

“There is no one on the other end of the Canadian health-care system.” 

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Sixteen individuals have been charged in connection with a " grandparent scam " in which hundreds of older Americans across the Northeast people were defrauded out of millions of dollars, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday

The group is accused of operating a network of call centers in the Dominican Republic that targeted hundreds of older residents in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, according to an indictment unsealed this week. Scammers would call older residents pretending to be a relative then say they were in an emergency and needed money — often claiming to be a grandchild that was arrested after suffering a car accident, said Philip R. Sellinger, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. 

“Grandma, I love you and I trust you more than anyone,” one conspirator cries into the phone, according to a video recovered in the investigation cited by Sellinger. "Tell Grandpa I love him."

The caller then tells the victim to follow the lawyer’s instructions, Sellinger added.

"The defendants in this case are alleged to have targeted our senior population and preyed upon grandparents’ love and devotion to their family," Sellinger said. "My office is focused on protecting the rights of all victims, and we will relentlessly prosecute those who allegedly target the vulnerable to cheat them out of their savings."

Federal authorities have warned of rising scams disproportionately targeting older Americans. Elder fraud complaints rose by 14% last year and the average victim lost $33,915, according to an FBI report released on Tuesday.

Scams targeting people 60 and older caused more than $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, the FBI said, an increase of about 11% from the previous year.

Prosecutors: Five-year scheme exploited older Americans out of millions

Scammers used voice-over-internet protocol phone services to mask the origin of their calls in the Dominican Republic, making them appear from the United States, according to court documents. The scheme allegedly ran from at least January 2019 through December 2023.

First, a group of callers referred to as the “openers” would dial victims from the call center and tell them that their loved one was in distress, the indictment said. Usually, victims were told that a relative was arrested following a car accident and needed money for bail or other expenses.

After duping victims into believing a loved one was in trouble, another group of the alleged scammers, described in court records as "closers," impersonated defense attorneys, police officers, and other court officials to convince victims to provide money for the phony expenses. 

Callers would instruct victims to give the money to couriers who visited their homes, the indictment alleged. The couriers, the release adds, then brought the cash to other members of the conspiracy, who sent the victims’ money back to the Dominican Republic.

In some instances, the victims were told to send cash by mail. The scammers used false names and sent “receipts” after receiving payment.

Eleven people from the Dominican Republic — Juan Rafael Parra Arias, 40; Nefy Vladimir Parra Arias, 39; Nelson Rafael Gonzalez Acevedo, 35; Rafael Ambiorix Rodriguez Guzman, 59; Miguel Angel Fortuna Solano, 41; Felix Samuel Reynoso Ventura, 36; Carlos Javier Estevez 45; Louis Junior Serrano Rodriguez, 27; Miguel Angel Vasquez, 24; Jovanni Antonio Rosario Garcia, 45; Jose Ismael Dilone Rodriguez, 34 — were charged with mail and wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.

Each of the charges in the indictment carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, prosecutors said. Fraud charges also carry a potential fine of up to $250,000 and money laundering penalties reach $500,000. Five New York residents were also charged with wire fraud conspiracy.

Court records obtained by USA TODAY show the indictment was filed in January and unsealed on Monday as U.S. authorities sought to extradite defendants from the Dominican Republic.

An attorney for the defendants was not listed in court records.

How to protect your loved ones from scams

According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a division of the U.S. Treasury Department, financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse but remains widely unreported. 

Michael Jabbara , Visa’s vice president and global head of fraud services, says one of the best practices to protect loved ones from scams is to have a "tech check-in" with aging relatives and review preventive measures:

∎ Share with care: Limit how much personal information you share online. Set your social media profiles to private. If someone asks to connect with you on social media, only accept their request if you know them.

∎ Be wary of “emergencies”: Your family or friends can easily be hacked to send out emails or text messages claiming to be urgently in need of cash or gift cards, scamming you out of money or gift cards.

∎ When in doubt, just ask: If you really think it could be your daughter or grandson reaching out, don’t confirm by replying to the message you received. Instead, reach out in another fashion, such as calling them directly. If the message is from a fraudster, block and report it. If you receive a call from someone who says they represent a government agency, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement or the agency's official website to verify the authenticity of the request. 

∎ Report suspected fraud: If you believe you have become a victim of a scam, file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Contributing: Marc Saltzman, Amritpal Kaur Sandhu-Longoria, USA TODAY

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• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
• 16 Charged in Connection With Transnational ‘Grandparent Scam’ From Dominican Republic

16 Charged in Connection With Transnational ‘Grandparent Scam’ From Dominican Republic Following HSI New York Investigation

NEWARK, N.J — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York investigation, in coordination with the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch; the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey; the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General’s Boston-New York Field Division; the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch; and the New York Police Department has led to charges against 16 people accused of a sprawling “grandparent scam” to defraud hundreds of elderly Americans out of millions of dollars, HSI New York acting Special Agent in Charge Darren B. McCormack announced April 30 .

Eleven men from the Dominican Republic are charged in a 19-count indictment with mail and wire fraud conspiracy; wire fraud; mail fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering; and money laundering:

• Juan Rafael Parra Arias aka Yofre, 41
• Nefy Vladimir Parra Arias aka Keko, 39
• Nelson Rafael Gonzalez Acevedo aka Nelson Tech, 35
• Rafael Ambiorix Rodriguez Guzman aka Max Morgan, 59
• Miguel Angel Fortuna Solano aka Botija, aka Boti, 41
• Felix Samuel Reynoso Ventura aka Fili, aka Filly the Kid, 37
• Carlos Javier Estevez, 45
• Louis Junior Rodriguez Serrano aka Junior, 27
• Miguel Angel Vasquez aka Miguel Disla, 24
• Jovanni Antonio Rosario Garcia aka Porky, aka Chop, 45
• Jose Ismael Dilone Rodriguez, 34

Juan Rafael Parra Arias, Guzman, Ventura and Rodriguez are currently in custody.

According to the investigation unsealed on April 29 in federal court in Newark, the indicted defendants engaged in a long-running “grandparent” or “family in need of bail” scam against seniors in the United States. The scam was operated from call centers in the Dominican Republic.

An additional five defendants were charged by complaint with wire fraud conspiracy as part of the same scheme: Endy Jose Torres Moran, 21, of Brooklyn, New York; Ivan Alexander Inoa Suero, 32, of New York, New York; Jhonny Cepeda, 27, of New York, New York; Ramon Hurtado, 43, of New York, New York, and Yuleisy Roque, 21, of the Bronx, New York. All five defendants charged by complaint are alleged to have acted as couriers who picked up cash from defrauded victims in New Jersey, New York and elsewhere.

“Today’s announcement stems from the defendants’ alleged heartless targeting of elderly victims who were collectively tricked into handing over millions of dollars,” said McCormack. “For their own selfish gain, these accused individuals threatened innocent Americans’ livelihoods, and robbed them of their precious time and any nest eggs they had secured for themselves. I commend HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force Cyber Intrusion Group, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the NYPD, the FBI, the Social Security Office of Inspector General and HSI Santo Domingo for their outstanding collaboration and coordination. This can truly happen to anybody, and while we will always be there to assist victims, we hope that raising awareness will give these criminal opportunists fewer chances to target the public.”

McCormack credited special agents and investigators with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of U.S. Attorney Sellinger; the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General’s New York-Boston Field Division under the direction of acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Parker; the New York Police Department under the direction of Commissioner Caban; and special agents of the FBI under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked HSI Santo Domingo and its Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit, as well as the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue individuals who prey on vulnerable and elderly victims through fraudulent schemes,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun G. Rao of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch. “We will continue to identify perpetrators of these schemes and prioritize the pursuit of those who deliberately target vulnerable consumers, whether located in the United States or abroad.”

“As alleged in the indictment and complaint, these defendants facilitated the deception and financial destruction of caring elderly victims by taking advantage of their love for their grandchildren and loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger. “Combating elder fraud and protecting the citizens of New Jersey is a top priority for this office and our law enforcement partners. These individuals will be held responsible for preying upon vulnerable elderly Americans. I also hope today’s charges serve to inform our elderly neighbors and their caregivers about this pervasive scam.”

“Fraud targeting the elderly has a uniquely harmful effect on a segment of the population that is often amongst society's most vulnerable,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Parker for the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Boston-New York Field Division. “SSA OIG is proud to join HSI, the FBI, the Justice Department and the NYPD in investigating these complex, international scams aimed at defrauding SSA beneficiaries.”

“The FBI and its partners are deeply committed to keeping our elderly population out of harm’s way,” said Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch. “Even when components of these grandparent scams are being perpetuated from beyond our borders, those who engage in illicit activity seeking to defraud the American people can be assured that their actions have consequences. If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, please come forward and report it.”

“These charges underscore law enforcement’s commitment to protecting our older population from fraudsters and financial exploitation,” said Caban. “The crimes outlined here are truly depraved in their nature: targeting our parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and others in an elaborate venture to bilk them of their hard-earned savings. I applaud our NYPD investigators and all of our federal partners involved in this important case for their tireless dedication to our shared public safety mission.”

According to the investigation, Juan Rafael Parra Arias, Nefy Vladimir Parra Arrias and Gonzalez Acevedo operated a sophisticated network of call centers in the Dominican Republic. Their alleged victims included elderly residents of several states, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The call centers victimized hundreds of Americans through fraud, stealing millions of dollars.

Members of the conspiracy referred to as “openers” called elderly victims in the United States and impersonated the victims’ children, grandchildren or other close relatives. The call centers used technology to make it appear that the calls were coming from inside the United States. Typically, the victim was told that their grandchild had been in a car accident or was arrested in connection with an accident and needed help.

After openers tricked victims into believing their loved ones were in dire trouble, others working at the call centers, known as “closers,” allegedly impersonated defense attorneys, police officers or court personnel and convinced victims to provide thousands of dollars in cash to help their loved ones.

According to charging documents, closers — including defendants Rodriguez Guzman, Fortuna Solano, Reynoso Ventura and Estevez — typically told victims to give the cash to couriers they sent to victims’ homes to collect their money. Other times, closers instructed victims to send the cash by mail.

After victims were convinced to give cash, call center “dispatchers,” including Rodriguez Serrano, Vasquez, Rosario Garcia and Dilone Rodriguez, recruited and managed a network of U.S.-based couriers to obtain cash from the elderly victims across the northeastern United States.

Those U.S.-based couriers, including the five charged in the complaint, typically went to the elderly victims’ home to pick up the cash, often using false names and providing victims with fake receipts. The couriers then brought the cash to other members of the conspiracy, who sent the victims’ money to the Dominican Republic.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment and complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Each of the charges in the indictment and complaint carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Each of the mail and wire fraud charges also carry a potential fine of up to $250,000; each of the money laundering charges also carry a potential fine of up to $500,000.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

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Dominican Republic Has It All

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the north and the Caribbean Sea on the south, our lush tropical island paradise boasts nearly 1,000 miles (1,609 km) of coastline, 250 miles (402 km) of the world’s top beaches, magnificent resorts and hotels, and a variety of sports, recreation and entertainment options. Here you can dance to the pulse pounding thrill of the merengue, renew in our luxurious and diverse accommodations , explore ancient relics of centuries past, delight in delicious Dominican gastronomy or enjoy ecotourism adventures in our magnificent national parks, mountain ranges, rivers, and beaches.

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Getting here: air & sea travel, getting around: travel between regions, places to stay & accommodations, frequently asked questions, choose your passion, entertainment & events, water sports, adventure activities, outdoor recreation & sports, natural attractions, cultural attractions & sightseeing, family friendly activities, dining & nightlife, dominican republic, discover all that we have, over 2000 beaches, many of which remain uncrowded and undeveloped - line the caribbean and the atlantic coastlines, ranging from a brilliant white to a handful of black sand stretching southwest., bahía de las águilas.

Recognized as the most beautiful beach in the Dominican Republic, this diamond-white stretch runs a whopping five miles, boasting…

Bahía de Luperón

Beige-colored beach with large rocks and swimmable area. Tourists will often stop by before or after a visit to the close by historic…

The scenic fishing town of Bayahíbe is an attraction in and of itself, lucky to boast multiple beaches on its coastline, including…

Known for its beautiful white-sand beach, Cabo Rojo gets its name from the area’s bauxite presence and resulting dark rust-colored dirt…

The smallest of the islands off the shore of Bayahíbe, Catalinita sits in the Catuano Channel, popular for its crystal clear waters…

The Dominican Republic is blessed with the Caribbean’s highest mountain ranges, tucked in the heart of the country, where you’ll find the lushest landscapes and coolest temperatures.

Altos de chavón amphitheater.

Designed like a Grecian amphitheater, this breathtaking 5,000-seat open-air facility hosts concerts and performances from major…

Anamuya Ziplines

Punta Cana is home to the very first zipline built in the DR, and it’s built to suit all daredevils, new or experienced. Runners…

Avenida de la Marina

The scenic, two-kilometer (1.2 mile) long waterfront boulevard lining Samaná Bay wins over every photographer’s eye. Also known as the…

Barahona City

The city of Barahona is a primarily industrial town, important for its port access and commercial activities, which include sugar…

Boca de Yuma

Less than an hour south of Punta Cana, Boca de Yuma offers a daytime escape to a scenic Dominican fishing village. Boasting panoramic…

Renowned for having the most magnificent golf courses in the Caribbean region, and Latin America, the Dominican Republic is the undisputed leader of golf in the tropics.

Bella vista golf club.

Short and flat, the course was built for the executives of the large Falconbridge mining company in the city of Bonao. It was designed…

Cabeza de Toro Golf Club

One of two courses located within the Catalonia Bávaro Resort in Punta Cana, Alberto Sola designed the Cabeza de Toro Golf Club as a…

Caribe Golf Club

Part of the Catalonia Bávaro Resort, Alberto Sola and Jack Corrie designed the 18-hole Caribe Golf Club. Open from October to June…

Cayacoa Golf Club

Built in 1989 and designed by Jack Corrie, Cayacoa Golf Club is located just 25 minutes northwest of Santo Domingo, yet remains a…

Cocotal Golf & Country Club

Designed by six-time Spanish Champion, Pepe Gancedo, who has designed more than 18 golf courses throughout Spain, some rated among the…

Art + Culture

Known as the cradle of the americas, the dominican republic is full of iconic sights across its cities and provinces., alcázar de colón.

One of the most popular museums in the Colonial City is also its most impressive in architecture. Completed around 1512, this Gothic…

Bartolo Colón Stadium

Located in the small town of Altamira, birthplace of Major League player Bartolo Colón, the professional player built this stadium and…

Basílica Nuestra Señora De La Altagracia

Located in Higüey and inaugurated in 1971, this cathedral is one of the most important religious sites in the Dominican Republic. It…

Bonao Carnival

Each February, in celebration of Carnival, Bonao features its own unique characters parading to the beat of the carnival drums on…

Cabral is best known for its colorful carnival at the end of Easter, when the Cachúa characters dress in bat-like costumes and unfold…

10 Adventurous Things to Do

The Dominican Republic is full of incredible destinations that not many people know of. It's also a country with a diverse and colourful culture.

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

Horseback riding, paragliding, mountain biking.

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Last update on April 30, 2024, 7:00 pm

Tourism April 25, 2024 | 8:26 pm

Dominican Republic: record visitor arrivals signal growth and optimism

Punta Cana, DR.-  Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, David Collado, is all smiles as visitor numbers continue to smash records. Collado highlighted the impressive figures at the recent 24th Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE), announcing over 3.2 million visitors in the first three months of the year alone, with air arrivals surpassing 800,000 in March.

This surge in tourism is fueling optimism, and Collado announced plans to invest in the sector’s future. A new Higher Tourism School will be established in the eastern region, a key arrival point for visitors, to further strengthen training and skills development. Additionally, a Tourist Service Center will be built, offering a central location for visitors to access all necessary services.

“This is a super excellent figure, to have the best start of the year in the entire history of the country, and with projections that are constantly growing,” said the official, who held important business meetings.

Likewise, during the event, the Dominican Republic was recognized by Tripadvisor in the Travelers’ Choice® Awards Best of the Best for 2024, as the world’s 4th best honeymoon destination and the most popular in the Caribbean. These awards were received by Tourism Minister Collado.

The official stated that in three months running the country has exceeded the figure of 800 thousand foreigners by air and more than 250 thousand by cruise ships for a total of one million visitors.

“What we have are signs of growth, confidence, new investments, and new hotel chains that believe in what we are doing in the Dominican Republic,” he said.

The official announced that in an alliance with the private sector and international academies, he will work on the installation of a tourism training institute in the eastern region, which is where most of the tourists who visit the Dominican Republic arrive.

“We are going to make an investment with the savings we have in MITUR to create a professional tourism school to have a better service and tourism is sustainable over time,” said Collado.

He added that this initiative will be accompanied by an agreement with Education and the vision of placing the subject of tourism in schools due to the importance and leadership achieved by the industry in the country.

He also announced that on a thousand square meters of land, the largest Tourist Service Center in the entire region will be built, where all State institutions will be located to serve travelers whenever they require it.

David Llibre, president of ASONAHORES, for his part, highlighted the growth that DATE exhibits every year, which he defined as the most important event in the tourism industry.

He said that in this new version more than 800 companies participate that have scheduled 8 thousand business meetings.

He stressed that the Dominican tourism product has been evolving and developing, which is why it has become a benchmark worldwide.

He expressed that in this edition the great variety that integrates the tourism industry such as hotel, real estate, cruise and different experiences, from adventure, health, shopping among others, is combined.

How about fixing the intersections in the golden egg called Punta Cana? Lights and lane markers would be nice. Or are you waiting until some tourists die (like always). Maybe some Digisett officers to fine all the lane violations, most often committed by tourist vans?

Naw…I will be dead and gone before any of that happens…so sad…so very sad.

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