Recognized for its beautiful seashores and welcoming locals, this Caribbean hotspot attracts tens of millions of holiday makers every year. That’s why it’s essential to prioritize security from the second you arrive till it’s time to say goodbye.
As with every worldwide vacation spot, vacationers ought to familiarize themselves with potential security considerations to make knowledgeable choices about the place to remain, go to, and which actions to keep away from.
LATEST NEWS from the Dominican Republic:
March 2025: Search intensifies for lacking US scholar in Dominican Republic (CNN.com)
The seek for 20-year-old College of Pittsburgh scholar Sudiksha Konanki, who disappeared throughout a spring break journey to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, has intensified. Konanki was final seen within the early hours of March 6 on the seashore close to the Riu República Resort, the place she had been vacationing with mates. Surveillance footage reveals her leaving the lodge foyer round 4:15 a.m., accompanied by an unidentified man and two girls. Whereas her mates returned to the lodge round 5:55 a.m., Konanki remained on the seashore with the person, who was later seen leaving alone at roughly 9:55 a.m.
Dominican authorities have launched in depth search operations involving drones, helicopters, and canine models to find Konanki. Though preliminary studies recommend she might have drowned because of robust currents, her household disputes this idea, urging investigators to think about different prospects, together with kidnapping or human trafficking. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Workplace in Virginia, the place Konanki’s household resides, has acknowledged there isn’t a proof to assist the drowning conclusion right now. The investigation continues, with help from U.S. federal companies and the Embassy of India.
Dec. 2024 – British Vacationers Might Be Denied Entry into the Dominican Republic in 2025
The Dominican Republic plans to implement a brand new entry restriction for British residents beginning Nov. 30, 2025, in line with a latest replace from the UK’s International, Commonwealth & Growth Workplace (FCDO).
With the intention to be allowed entry, most guests are required to current passports with at the least six months of validity. Beginning subsequent yr, Britons might want to do the identical.
The brand new rule may additionally have an effect on residents from the USA, Canada, and Europe, although data stays unclear and contradictory to this point.
Crime Statistics within the Dominican Republic
The worldwide knowledge platform Numbeo, ranks the Dominican Republic as a rustic with a excessive crime degree, scoring 70.17 factors.
Fortuitously, not the whole territory is equally affected by violence. Listed here are some key statistics relating to crime and security.
| Stage of crime | 70.78 | Excessive |
| Rising crime over the previous 5 years | 71.53 | Excessive |
| Considerations about automobile theft | 65.77 | Excessive |
| Considerations about having your automobile stolen | 49.76 | Average |
| Considerations about being bodily attacked because of pores and skin colour, ethnic origin, gender, or faith | 24.52 | Low |
| Violent crimes akin to assault and armed theft | 69.57 | Excessive |
| Security when strolling alone throughout daylight | 55.99 | Average |
| Security when strolling alone after darkish | 26.97 | Low |
Areas to Keep away from
Vacationers ought to train elevated warning in sure areas of the island because of excessive crime charges.
These embrace neighborhoods akin to Capotillo, Cristo Rey, Gualey, Los Guandules, and Villas Agrícolas in Santo Domingo, in addition to areas close to the border with Haiti.
Official Journey Advisories
U.S. Journey Advisory
The U.S. State Division ranks the Dominican Republic as a Stage 2 vacation spot, which means the nation is as protected as Spain or Italy.
Nevertheless, the advisory highlights considerations about violent crimes akin to armed theft, murder, and sexual assault throughout the island. It additionally notes that vacationer areas are typically higher policed.
Canada Journey Advisory
The Canadian authorities advises vacationers to the Dominican Republic to train “a excessive diploma of warning because of crime.”
The advisory reads that the majority violent crimes happen in main cities, whereas vacationers are sometimes targets of petty crimes akin to pickpocketing and bag-snatching.
Be reminded that crime tends to extend through the holidays, notably at resorts, seashores, airports and on public transportation.
Security Ideas for the Dominican Republic
- Keep on with in style vacationer hotspots like Punta Cana, Bavaro, and La Romana, the place there’s a robust police presence.
- Don’t flash valuables like jewellery, electronics, or giant quantities of money.
- Go away your passports safe at your lodging.
- Don’t flag down random taxis to keep away from being overcharged.
- Don’t go to remoted seashores after darkish.
- By no means go away your drinks unattended, and keep away from accepting drinks from pleasant strangers at native bars.
- Driving situations will be chaotic for People or Europeans. Solely hire a automobile if skilled in such environments.
- Keep away from swimming alone; the island has a number of robust currents.
- When you’ve got an emergency, name native police at 911.
